How to Deal with Negative Reviews
I keep seeing all these articles and blog posts with tips authors can use to cope with negative reviews. People sub-tweet or sub-comment about their terrible experiences. Then everyone hugs it out. And I'm like, Seriously?
It's kind of a peeve of mine, because I feel like this support group approach to negative reviews is making a mountain out of a molehill that really shouldn't exist in the first place.
The fact of the matter is, negative reviews just shouldn't that big a deal.
So somebody didn't like your book. So what? It's not a career-ender. It doesn't even necessarily mean that this particular individual is washing their hands of you for good. It's an isolated incident involving one particular person who did not like a particular book.
Why is that so hard to come to terms with?
When I see people talking about haters and hurt feelings because someone gave their book a less-than-stellar review, I get frustrated. Writing is about creative development and artistic integrity, not friendship bracelets and forget-me-nots.
The best way to cope with a negative review is to ignore it. Or learn from it. Or both. I mean, if hugging it out is the only thing that is keeping you from lashing out at reviewers, then by all means, hug it out. But I think viewing negative reviews as a devastatingly traumatic event that must be overcome is a bad idea in general.
Anyway, those are my thoughts.
It's kind of a peeve of mine, because I feel like this support group approach to negative reviews is making a mountain out of a molehill that really shouldn't exist in the first place.
The fact of the matter is, negative reviews just shouldn't that big a deal.
So somebody didn't like your book. So what? It's not a career-ender. It doesn't even necessarily mean that this particular individual is washing their hands of you for good. It's an isolated incident involving one particular person who did not like a particular book.
Why is that so hard to come to terms with?
When I see people talking about haters and hurt feelings because someone gave their book a less-than-stellar review, I get frustrated. Writing is about creative development and artistic integrity, not friendship bracelets and forget-me-nots.
The best way to cope with a negative review is to ignore it. Or learn from it. Or both. I mean, if hugging it out is the only thing that is keeping you from lashing out at reviewers, then by all means, hug it out. But I think viewing negative reviews as a devastatingly traumatic event that must be overcome is a bad idea in general.
Anyway, those are my thoughts.
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Aj the Ravenous Reader
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Nov 15, 2015 01:16AM
Loving the vibes, Nenia. ♡
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Aj the Ravenous Reader wrote: "Loving the vibes, Nenia. ♡"Thanks, Aj. ♥
Nice article Nenia! Everytime I start writing a bad review I feel a little bad, because I know that writing takes effort and dedication. But at the same time, it isn't personal, at least not for me. I'm just giving my opinion on a book I read. You can never please everybody, no matter what you do and just because a reviewer didn't like your book doesn't mean the entirety of humankind won't either.
It's just personal tastes.
It's just personal tastes.
Great post! I think some writers are very sensitive about their work. Perhaps they consider it a piece of themselves they are putting out there and so take all negative opinions to heart. But, at the end of the day, the book is sold and is a product like any other. I mean, I don't see the creators of that ridiculous range of "pens for women" (whatever it was called) crying into their pillow at night over all the hilariously scathing reviews on Amazon?! My reviews are honest because I parted with money for the book and so if I don't like it, I feel I have a right to say that. Authors need to consider themselves business people as well as artists and maybe feelings wouldn't so easily be hurt . . .
Agreed! This also means not the only one who thinks people tend to get a little...stupid, when it comes to bad reviews. They take as if it is the end of the world.
*thunderous applause* Really great post.
And really, there's no such thing as bad publicity. I often pick books based on the negative reviews. e.i...OTT controlling a-hole -I need this book now! LOL
Mila wrote: "Nice article Nenia! Everytime I start writing a bad review I feel a little bad, because I know that writing takes effort and dedication. But at the same time, it isn't personal, at least not for me..."That's true. There's a great Japanese saying that says, "Ten people, ten colors." It's a more poetic version of "different strokes for different folks." <3
Ally wrote: "Great post! I think some writers are very sensitive about their work. Perhaps they consider it a piece of themselves they are putting out there and so take all negative opinions to heart. But, at t..."That's true. Writing really is like a business, and you have to treat your readers with respect if you want repeat business. I think it can be hard to dissociate yourself from your work, but it one cannot achieve that one really should not be a writer because it will just cause all sorts of problems.
Inkweaver wrote: "Agreed! This also means not the only one who thinks people tend to get a little...stupid, when it comes to bad reviews. They take as if it is the end of the world."You're definitely not the only one. :)
SUSAN wrote: "*thunderous applause* Really great post."Thanks, Susan! <3
Trina wrote: "And really, there's no such thing as bad publicity. I often pick books based on the negative reviews. e.i...OTT controlling a-hole -I need this book now! LOL"Same here! I actually have a shelf dedicated to books with ratings lower than 3.5 that I want to read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
My thoughts exactly, Nenia. Well said. I wish more authors/writers had the same attitude you do.
Rose wrote: "My thoughts exactly, Nenia. Well said. I wish more authors/writers had the same attitude you do."Thank you, Rose. :)
I absolutely love this and I agree with you completely! I have come to learn particularly when a person dislikes a book that you love is all deals with what is happening currently in your life. At the end of the day whether subconsciously or not we are trying to find a character that we can relate to in a book whether it's the main character or not. When I read Catcher in the Rye as a teenager I absolutely hated it but for my fellow peers it felt like they finally found a voice who can speak up for youth. Lately now those who loved Catcher I've noticed hates it now as an adult because they found Holden annoying and not relatable now that their priorities are different in life.
My motto is unless you absolutely hated the book, you should always read a book three times in your life. The first time when you are young, the next is when you are an adult, and finally when you are old. There are books that don't apply to a particular person at the current moment but 10 years for now it can be one of their all time favorite.
It hurts when a person I know hates my favorite book but I've learn to keep my comments to myself and in the end there will always be someone out there who loves the books that which those do not. Sorry for my long rant but I love everything about this post!!
Matthew wrote: "I absolutely love this and I agree with you completely! I have come to learn particularly when a person dislikes a book that you love is all deals with what is happening currently in your life. At ..."That's an interesting philosophy! I appreciate your comments, and your contribution to the discussion. I admit that sometimes I am sad when one of my friends does not love a book that I love, but I also think that their differing opinions can really add a lot to a book's discussion potential. :)
This is how I handle it. A Review is a review, if it sucks ignore it. Honestly I try not to read my reviews at all.
Renee wrote: "This is how I handle it. A Review is a review, if it sucks ignore it. Honestly I try not to read my reviews at all."I looooooove reading my reviews. Sometimes even the bad ones! I have to admit that some of them were so funny they made me cackle with glee. But yes, it is important to be chill when it comes to reviews and not looking is also a wonderful tactic.
When it comes to reviews they are people's opinions and sometimes someone needs to have their ego balloon pricked. This is not to agree that people who are just downright assholes in their reviews are okay, but some constructive criticism is good. How else is an author supposed to get better at what they do? When I have to write a review for a book that I rated a 1 or 2 I spend more time on it trying to be constructive and not hateful and list what I thought was wrong for me. They are about as hard to write as a review for a book that I loved lots and lots. I’ve given reviews of 3 or lower to books that just didn’t work for me, but I know that someone else will like them and in fact in some I literally say “this was not the book for me.” I am more apt to read reviews with 3 or lower reviews because most of those times people are more truthful about why they did not like the book. Sometimes those 4 and 5 star reviews are more of a popularity sort of post to either pad the author’s book with good reviews or those reviews written where they try to be entertaining instead of ... yanno actually reviewing the book.When there are books where people think they are soooo awesome and “I don’t get it” I remind myself that some people like pepsi and some people like coke and that book was totally pepsi to me ... I drink coke.
I was making a point in there somewhere I think.
Besides, their book could be the GREATEST. BOOK. EVAH. and it would still get a negative review. Books hit people differently is what I mean.
Llaph | No Frill | No Shill wrote: "I was making a point in there somewhere I think."You made a good point! I'm a Dr. Pepper-drinker, myself.
Dana wrote: "Besides, their book could be the GREATEST. BOOK. EVAH. and it would still get a negative review. Books hit people differently is what I mean."Exactly. I mean, even the bible gets one-star reviews. :P
