As much as I wish it were different, I simply don’t get a lot of reviews, so take everything I say from here on with a boulder of salt. I’m not a big name, not widely read.
I guess one could argue that’s a pretty big review in itself, but let’s not get down on us.
Among the reviews I’ve gotten, of course they’re not all 5-star raves. That’s not something anyone should ever expect. Even if you make the most perfect product, book, whatever in the world, it’s not perfect for everyone. So first and foremost, always remember that reviews are opinions, and not all opinions are glowing or good. Yours aren’t, and that goes for everything you consume as a creative. Books, shows, movies. Once you come to terms with the fact that you don’t like everything, it gets pretty easy to accept that your book isn’t for everyone. At least, it was for me. Sure, reading dissatisfaction hurts, but it could be as simple as your genre was not a good fit for the reader. Maybe your writing style was the issue but the story itself was fine. Maybe the reader liked your prose but hated your characters.
None of that means you’re a bad writer. It means what you put out wasn’t right for that particular reader. But the moment you start trying to please that one reader over all the others, you do something that turns a different one off.
Basically, first off, accept that you’re not going to please everyone, and that’s a big step in dealing with negative reviews.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to be taken from them. As creators, we should always be growing and improving, striving to keep going. So if the reviews offer criticism, at least take an impartial look at them. There may be something you can use, be it a technical gripe like using one word or phrase too often or something big like exposing a plot hole.
It doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that your book is. It doesn’t mean you should stop. It means you are a work in progress with an arrow pointing towards a possible place to improve. We should be wanting to do better.
Then there’s the fun balance of “what advice/criticism do I take?” I mean, that’s a whole other conversation, and it’s different for everyone.
Kinda like opinions.
Your journey is your own. Your writing journey is unlike anyone else’s. Your decisions are your own. What advice to take, what to ignore.
Just don’t let it stop you.
I guess one could argue that’s a pretty big review in itself, but let’s not get down on us.
Among the reviews I’ve gotten, of course they’re not all 5-star raves. That’s not something anyone should ever expect. Even if you make the most perfect product, book, whatever in the world, it’s not perfect for everyone. So first and foremost, always remember that reviews are opinions, and not all opinions are glowing or good. Yours aren’t, and that goes for everything you consume as a creative. Books, shows, movies. Once you come to terms with the fact that you don’t like everything, it gets pretty easy to accept that your book isn’t for everyone. At least, it was for me. Sure, reading dissatisfaction hurts, but it could be as simple as your genre was not a good fit for the reader. Maybe your writing style was the issue but the story itself was fine. Maybe the reader liked your prose but hated your characters.
None of that means you’re a bad writer. It means what you put out wasn’t right for that particular reader. But the moment you start trying to please that one reader over all the others, you do something that turns a different one off.
Basically, first off, accept that you’re not going to please everyone, and that’s a big step in dealing with negative reviews.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to be taken from them. As creators, we should always be growing and improving, striving to keep going. So if the reviews offer criticism, at least take an impartial look at them. There may be something you can use, be it a technical gripe like using one word or phrase too often or something big like exposing a plot hole.
It doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that your book is. It doesn’t mean you should stop. It means you are a work in progress with an arrow pointing towards a possible place to improve. We should be wanting to do better.
Then there’s the fun balance of “what advice/criticism do I take?” I mean, that’s a whole other conversation, and it’s different for everyone.
Kinda like opinions.
Your journey is your own. Your writing journey is unlike anyone else’s. Your decisions are your own. What advice to take, what to ignore.
Just don’t let it stop you.
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