UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
Agony Aunt
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First negative review - how did you deal with yours?
I say embrace it, Ethan.As a reader, seeing a variety of reviews lends the book credence.
I have an internal tantrum, count to ten, make myself a cup of tea, and then re-read it a couple of times.The scathing ones often make me laugh.
If the review makes valid points, learn from it and write another book. If not, shrug it off and write another book.
All 5 star reviews looks like your family are the only ones who read the book :-)
Tim wrote: "If the review makes valid points, learn from it and write another book. If not, shrug it off and write another book."Yeah, this seems like the best thing to do.
The review raises points about my writing style/plotting that I'm going to take on board for the next book.
Then it was a GOOD review. :)
In a way. Unfortunately, it's also made me think about my promotion plans. I was looking at attending a few events this year to promote the book.What I'm trying to figure out is whether this person was particularly discerning. Generally, those who have read the book have enjoyed it, but it's right what the review suggests - obviously my initial reviewers are mainly followers from Twitter etc. who knew me before the work was completed.
I'm struggling to sell copies right now, but I would hate to sell a hundred at an event only to find that most people disliked it.
Ethan wrote: "In a way. Unfortunately, it's also made me think about my promotion plans. I was looking at attending a few events this year to promote the book.What I'm trying to figure out is whether this pers..."
Visibility is surely the number one concern for authors not bad reviews. Even The Grapes of Wrath has one star reviews on Amazon.
Ethan wrote: "I'm struggling to sell copies right now, but I would hate to sell a hundred at an event only to find that most people disliked it. ..."If you know an event where this is probable, please tell me about it :-)
I have a rule of thumb, based on experience at Loncon. If you sell three books an hour, over the course of a day, you're doing really well.
I don't know if Will or MTM, who both have more experience than me (or anybody else for that matter) would up the estimate any?
Jim wrote: "Ethan wrote: "I'm struggling to sell copies right now, but I would hate to sell a hundred at an event only to find that most people disliked it. ..."If you know an event where this is probable, p..."
Well, it's not so much about the quantity :) It's about wanting to sell a quality product, regardless of quantity.
Come on now, anyone really expected to have a universally loved book?As of myself, I'm pretty surprised to have a rather positive balance (still afraid it won't last-:)).
Agree with Patty that a negative one adds credibility to the overall collection.
I respect those as somebody's legit opinion. If I see something recurrent in few reviews, then I give it more 'weight' for correction or for taking into account for further work..
A review - any review - means that someone has at least picked your book up. That shows that your cover, title and blurb are doing what they should. Patti is exactly right. A book with only five star reviews looks mightily suspicious. Having some other scores in there shows that it has been read by real people.
Then the question is whether there is anything useful for you from the review. Do they say why they didn't like it? Is that something to learn from?
If the reviewer does explain why they didn't like it, they have given you something very precious - free and honest feedback that you haven't had to pay for. In fact, they have paid you.
And when you have sold gazillions, that one negative review (plus a few inevitable friends) will be drowned out by all the cheering and dancing happy punters.
Thanks everyone! This wasn't the best thing to come across on New Years Eve, but these comments have been very valuable.It's reminded me that I've done a lot of promotion, but maybe I need to sideline that a bit and knuckle down on the next book instead.
Ethan wrote: "So, my book picked up its first negative, two-star review this morning. I've had a read and the reviewer is pretty scathing, though at least the review is well-written.Currently it's one bad revi..."
My condolences. And it is possible to give negative reviews without being scathing, so double condolences. People have such lovely manners - not!
I've had a quick look at that review, and I think the reviewer was trying to be helpful. Although negative, it is in fact very constructive - if what it says about style, content etc is true. If you find yourself agreeing, however reluctantly, with even a few of the comments, then take them on board in a fresh edit. Will's right.Don't be upset by it and keep it in context with your popular reviews. I hate garlic and would give it one star. That doesn't mean chefs are going to rush out and change their recipes. It just means you can't please all of the people all of the time because, thank heaven, we all have different tastes, in food and literature.
Pete wrote: "I've had a quick look at that review, and I think the reviewer was trying to be helpful. Although negative, it is in fact very constructive..."Just to clarify, I'm not "having a go" at the reviewer, nor do I think their review is unfair - it's obviously how they see my work.
The Scissors and the Sword is my first book, so naturally it could be seen as a bit rough around the edges. I learned a load of stuff that will feed into my next book though.
Plus, as you've suggested, I have had plenty of people who have contacted me to say they enjoyed it.
Ethan - I've followed Pete's example and had a look at the review and the first few pages of your book in the "look inside". I can see why the reviewer is saying what they are saying and I think that they are technically correct. But from the short extract I have read I think they are being more than a little harsh. I think you have just stumbled upon someone with very high expectations.
There is nothing you can do about the review. The reviewer's opinion is their opinion. You shouldn't respond to it in any way. That way only leads to pain, suffering and the dark side.
I would mark this one down as "things to learn from". The reviewer has a point (up to a point), but nearly everything they have mentioned can be fixed quite easily. And I'm sure you will find plenty of readers who aren't quite so demanding.
Keep going. You're doing great.
Any review that has constructive criticism is useful to a writer but I do feel that no book is ever going to be universally loved and acclaimed. Personal tastes come into the equation and these will include preferences for style as well as for genre. There are few readers who can stand back and give a totally unbiased review. If you get one, treasure it because the reader has given a great deal of thought to writing it. Most books have reviews of all star ratings and various degrees of credibilty, sophistication and usefulness.
Tim wrote: "If the review makes valid points, learn from it and write another book. If not, shrug it off and write another book."What he said. After you have called the reviewer every name under the sun, of course. Also, killing off the reviewer in a future book is always good therapy.
Darren wrote: "...killing off the reviewer in a future book is always good therapy." -:)
I've liquidated a lit. agent in mine -:)
I turned a moderator into a night club singer and fork-lift truck driver.....
With a knockout dress.Darren killed her through a glass roof.
I think Darren has killed me more than once.I'm still waiting for my dress.
Reviewers beware of ruthless authors and moderators
Here's a flowchart How Authors Should Deal with Negative Amazon Reviewshttps://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Anna wrote: "Here's a flowchart How Authors Should Deal with Negative Amazon Reviewshttps://www.goodreads.com/author_blog..."
This flowchart is amusing.
Forum moderators are heroes in mine. It's editors and dungeon owners that need to worry!
I've mislaid my cape. Found my underwear on top of my clothes, though.No wait. Down my pant leg.
Tim - out of curiousity, how many dungeon owners do you know? Are we talking about Mr Grey's room of pain here? Or maybe one of those suburban houses which look normal on the outside, but have a cellar full of fur lined handcuffs and riding crops?
The pawnshop in Pulp Fiction?
Dang, but my imagination is going into overdrive right now!
What did I do to annoy you, Tim?
Nothing - I'm an equal opportunities slaughterer / disappearer :)
With militant blokes around, I've a feeling if I write a couple of 1-stars, a massacre happens ?
I only have one negative review and it comprises of two words 'basic novel'
'Basic instinct' could've been more complimentary, but 'novel' is also not bad
LOL! I love this. Writing up a 'bad reviews' chapter for my latest now. you can't get upset (well, you can, but you shouldn't). Each to their own. When Amazon first appeared all my reviews were dreadful - yet people were buying the books. I wondered why none of my readers who liked them ever reviewed them!my fav bad review went 'Although the author has a decent imaginative [sic], this is the worst book I have ever read.' :) :)
Patti (baconater) wrote: "I say embrace it, Ethan.As a reader, seeing a variety of reviews lends the book credence."
That's a great point. It's suspicious if everybody loves a book days after it comes out
I wrote a controversial nutrition/health/weight loss book so I guess I was expecting that there would be some pro-GMO, attacks, but wow.. when I saw them on my amazon it still stung. Twenty people went on to bad mouth and discredit me. It was terrible. Funny thought, I never thought to embrace it... ;) I mean those reviews were lethal... Check them out if you like. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019...
Louise wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "I say embrace it, Ethan.As a reader, seeing a variety of reviews lends the book credence."
That's a great point. It's suspicious if everybody loves a book days after it..."
I guess that's true.
Nancy wrote: "Louise wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "I say embrace it, Ethan.As a reader, seeing a variety of reviews lends the book credence."
That's a great point. It's suspicious if everybody loves a boo..."
I checked out your reviews. Nasty people trying to make a political point. if they have a criticism of your book fine but it's clear they have not read it.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "With a knockout dress.Darren killed her through a glass roof."
Point of order. If you remember, the whole point of the story was that she could not break through the glass ceiling. Not sure this makes it any better though.
Louise wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Louise wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "I say embrace it, Ethan.As a reader, seeing a variety of reviews lends the book credence."
That's a great point. It's suspicious if everybo..."
I know I know it's a tough one to embrace! Thank you though for the kind words...
I just got my first negative (2 star) review for PRIDE'S CHILDREN: PURGATORY - and I'm delighted.1) I think it means I've arrived (not sure where, but somewhere) - real authors get negative reviews
and
2) It is a very nice negative review - she said she didn't like it much, that it was too long, and that I shouldn't put epigraphs at the beginnings of my chapters. (No author is universally loved, and I did those things deliberately - Dorothy L. Sayers is one of my favorite authors)
and
3) it ups the review count (I'm up to ten!).
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PS I still have electronic Review Copies for anyone who would consider writing a review.
Bad reviews always knock the wind out of my sails. Bad reviews that state why the reader disliked the book are very useful though; and several along the same lines can only help you as a writer.
Those other reviews (I had one that simply said "Rubbish") I tend to ignore, because if I were searching for a book and came across such a remark I'd think the reviewer was an imbecile rather than the book was bad.
Knuckle down and crack on.
Andrew wrote: "Bad reviews that state why the reader disliked the book are very useful though; and several along the same lines can only help you as a writer..."I think in this case the reader was not in the target audience - and that's fine. Though someone thought she was; the book was recommended to her - which means someone else read it, and liked it enough to recommended it. That's a postive.
If there are more in this vein...
(Can you tell that I'm an optimist?)
The reviewer didn't point out actual mistakes (typos, misspellings, plot holes) - which I would correct right away.
You're right though. Constructed well thought out criticism grows you.
Actually I think we have to accept the difference between a negative review and a review which is honest and says things about your book which you'd rather not hear.The first is just mindlessly slagging you off, whatever you do, you'll not win the writer of the review over, there's nothing you can do other than have them die horribly in the next book.
The second is where somebody has pointed out a genuine problem and it is up to you whether you address it.
(Note I've written 'you' throughout because it's less clumsy than writing 'we' or 'us' :-) )
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Books mentioned in this topic
Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should (other topics)Pride's Children: Purgatory (other topics)
Currently it's one bad review vs about 7 good ones, so hopefully it won't cause me too many issues.
How did you guys deal with your first negative review?