Bad Feedback??

[Dark Phreak]

Okay I've spoken to some writers on Facebook and asked, do your like negative or bad feedback about your book? Or do you just ignore it and move on to the next positive comments?

Is ad feedback really bad or is it constructive, helping you develop your skills?
I wanna here from you guys about what you think!

[David]

I think negative feedback is ok as long as it's constructive. I also think that feedback should be thought of as being for other potential readers. Therefore a negative if properly outlined, could be a positive to a diferent reader. Eg, the reviewer might think the descriptions were to lengthy but another reader might well like that kind of thing.

[Gemma]

Yes, constructive is good even if the review is bad! I believe ts a learning curve for an author, they get to know what the reader really thought and where they maybe going wrong!

[Emma]

As long as the reviewer doesn't make the review a personal attack and gives a reason for not liking it then feedback would be helpful. It lets you know where you went wrong for that reader and if all your readers say the same thing you know not to do it next time.

[Andy]

All feedback is welcome, so long as it's constructive. Although it would be great to have someone say "fantastic 5*" and nothing else, I think I'd rather get a lower score with a well written review.

I've received some truly brilliantly written 3-4* reviews (glances at Lily) with some insightful comments that have enabled me to eliminate stupid errors and improve my writing style (I hope!)

[David]

If it gives info that allows you to improve, it couldn't be better, Andy, I agree.

[Sammi, Cherry Blossom]

Its always important to remember as a reader/reviewer that no two writers are the same. Therefore its unfair to be biased against someone’s writing style. I see this a lot with some reviewers. Its unfair to think that a book by Karina Halle (for example) is going to be written in the style and complexity as Michael Crichton, or something along those lines. Its silly and unrealistic.

I think its very important to start a book with a clear and unprejudiced open mind (by this i mean... judging a book by its cover and the like) and base your review and critique on the writers own merits and style.

I'm a firm believer in constructive criticism, however this may delivered. On the other hand, if i can clearly see that a book has been churned out with no thought or care, i will say so. The key to a popular and loved book, is the level of love put in by the writer.

I've said it before & I’ll say it again -GIVE ME CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!! lol

Make me love them, cry for them, hate them, want to kill them!! Just dont let them be flat and lifeless. Its enough to turn a book from a 5* to a 2*

[Andy]

♥ Lily (The Novel Nerd) wrote: "Its always important to remember as a reader/reviewer that no two writers are the same. Therefore its unfair to be biased against someone’s writing style. I see this a lot with some reviewers. Its ..."

Hear hear. If there was an emoticon for a round of applause it'd be at the end of this sentence.

[Vincent]

Speaking of bad feedback, I just saw a rating of "1" for my book. I thought "Man..my first 1 rating." Then I went and looked at that person's ratings, and he/she rates every book as "1!" Every book he/she ever reads! Way to spread that positivity around. D'oh!

[David]

Obviously someone who doesn't actually like reading, Vincent. Or likes to bring authors down just for having the temerity to write a book.

[Sammi, Cherry Blossom]

Quite right david. Else its another author who's jealous of other people as they themselves are a shockingly awful at writing!

[Emma]

Maybe she's got the rating system backwards and is actually really confused as she thinks that everyone else hates reading?

[Vincent]

Who knows. I found the whole thing confusing because her books were: romance, romance, romance, story about a haunted village in China, romance, romance...
Oh well.