Today is the first Wednesday of the month. If you don't know what that means, and you are a writer, go here right now! Big thank you to Alex, Sheena-kay, Suzanne, and Laura for hosting the Insecure Writer's Support Group this month!As most of you know, my novella, Secondary Characters, came out recently. So I have been preparing myself for the bad reviews which I know are coming. Every book gets them. And when we get them we remind ourselves, every book gets them.
But to help take the sting out even more I've been looking up bad reviews of books I loved. (Does this make me crazy? I hope not.) And I have seen some really horrible, hateful reviews for books that are really and truly amazing. So you really can't please everyone.
So next time you are feeling bad about a negative review I recommend looking up one of your all time favorites on GR and seeing what kind of horrid abusive it's gotten. Because trust me, someone out there hates it.
I hope you don't get any that crush you. It is difficult to put your creativity out there and not have it well received, but as you said, I think it's inevitable and so very subjective. All the best!
ReplyDeleteBad reviews will happen, but you just proved they happen to all books.
ReplyDeleteYou're not crazy. I do the EXACT same thing. And yes, some people are really mean about what they say in a review. It's hard not to take them a little personally, but the hide does thicken over time.
ReplyDeleteBad reviews are hard to swallow. But you're right, I believe most books get them, even some of the super awesome books. Thanks for your comments on my IWSG post. I think thick skin takes time to grow. It develops in layers, one by one. Keep your chin up, Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteI read bad reviews of my favourite books too. I think some people enjoy the act of provocative reviewing.
ReplyDelete'If you please everyone, you're doing something wrong' - I love these words from my father because they're true. Even at parties, someone always complains. Why should it be different with books? And you're right, I don't think ANY book has gotten only good reviews.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I can't believe how many people hate Dr. Suess. His books are like the best written most entertaining books for children EVER. Makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteNot crazy at all. I did the same thing and now I'm much better at shrugging off the bad.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you fight your bad reviews. I'm not even published, and I have some nasty reviews out there, so at least I'm prepared for the nasty reviews. Oddly for me, it's easier to deal with the wretched reviews. It's the positive ones that make me rather uncomfortable. I hope that you get way more good reviews than bad ones, so good luck!
ReplyDeleteI plan to celebrate my first bad review. Sure, that celebration might look like me hiding under my desk crying into a pint of Ben & Jerry's, but, you know, maybe that's just how I celebrate things.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of doing that. What wonderful, sane advice! :-) I hope your reviews are better than you expect!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to think about the bad reviews! I'll definitely have to keep it in mind :)
ReplyDeleteI understand where you are coming from and I think it's easy for me to say, "Just shrug them off and don't let a bad review bother you" but I know when it's my turn I will probably crawl into the closet and not come out. For a month...
ReplyDeleteI love how you are looking up your favorite books and reading the bad reviews for them! That's just brilliant. We must develop a thick skin in this business because it is so stinking subjective. One person may love something that another just doesn't care for. Of course, there are ways of saying it that won't crush somebody's feelings. Not every reviewer is considerate enough to word things to spare the author's feelings. On a positive note, I've noticed that most harsh reviewers, aren't writers, just readers. Which is roughly the equivalent of me watching football and talking mad trash and yelling at the TV about how bad the QB is throwing! But guess what? No matter how much football I watch, I will never be able to play like a pro! I'd like to think about bad reviews like that, to gain some good perspective.
I am not there yet in writing, but I will refuse one day...to let them into my head. I would rather read the good ones.
ReplyDeleteI think if those in the entertainment world read every negative thing that is said about them, they would get out of the business! It would be all too much for them to comprehend and harmful to their artistry.
A critique from a good reputable source is always welcomed, but some I think like to say negative things because A. They are negative anyway. B. Gives them a temporary lift in life C. They are attracting other negatives to read their work.
My opinion only!
sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com
Reviews are subjective. And every reader is entitled to their views. There are no bad reviews, just a reader who didn't understand a certain story's views!
ReplyDeleteNas
It doesn't seem crazy to me and if it helps then why not. Proves you can't please all the people all of the time.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
IWSG co-host
I don't understand why anyone would write a hateful review, just because he/she didn't like the book he/she read. It's very easy to write a less than flattering review, without being mean, getting personal or lashing out at the author for writing the book in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, I think thats a good idea, looking up bad reviews of books your enjoyed. I imagine it can help you put things in perspective- if Neil Gaiman has a bad review out there (and he's the bloomin' Lord of Awesome) then what does that mean? That means everyone has different tastes and opinion (and that some people are just plain stupid ;) ). I'm ceryainly going to bear that idea in mind :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great perspective. Wishing you only good reviews...
ReplyDeleteIWSG# 123, until Alex culls the list again. :)
hey i wrote about bad reviews too!
ReplyDeletei can be a pssimist, so my attitude is more defensive, yours is healthy!
thanks!
Bad reviews happen no matter how great your book is. I think your tip is a great way to get anyone out of a slump.
ReplyDeleteBlog: Queendsheena
IWSG Co-host
I think looking at books you think are amazing's bad reviews is therapeutic. :)
ReplyDeleteNegative reviews suck, plain and simple. I really like your strategy to help get over that suckitude, though!
ReplyDeleteYup, there's always someone out there who hates a book. Just for fun, I looked up reviews on the Bible. Now some of those were interesting. Sometimes I wasn't sure if people were just writing mean parodies or if they really believed what they were writing.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was... how do you say it? Relevant!
ReplyDelete! Finally I've found something which helped me. Thanks!
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Good point! I try not to focus on my reviews, and so far the good have outweighed the bad, but really, can't people learn to say nothing at all if they can't say something specific and constructive?
ReplyDeleteI procrastinate by reading reviews and comments on articles and books online; often I see the same reviewers again and again. They seem to like giving bad reviews and insulting other authors and commenters; I don't know why, but I don't like it. It's true that even the best books get bad reviews; I wish that the authors who were heavily criticized could have lived to see all the later generations that loved their work.
ReplyDeleteThat is so much better than hiding under the bed and eating chocolate...less fattening also. Jody the Medicare Mom
ReplyDelete