The kerfluffle lately has been about bad reviews and perhaps targeted bad reviews, and in some cases, hate mail. Sybil had a though provoking post about “taking the heat” and in the author arena, there’s been some buzz about bad reviews and such.
So what are my thoughts? Honestly, you get good reviews, you get bad reviews, sometimes you get absolutely shitty reviews. It comes with putting yourself out there in the public. As with any other performer/artist, the public will judge you on their own, without holding your hand or stroking your head. We’re not baby kittens or ducks. We’re authors, adults!
Yes, someone will say I rushed the story, or it’s not believable, or they didn’t like the hero because he had brown hair. There’s always going to be someone who just doesn’t get it, hates it, or even some that want to try to hurt your feelings or career. That’s the nature of the beast, y’all. We are out in the public eye and that gaze can be sharp as a razor. I’m not going to say grow a thick skin or shrug it off, but I will say, accept it and move on.
Yes, I care what readers think - I’d be lying if I said bad reviews don’t hurt. It also feels damn good to have a reader e-mail me and tell me they really liked my book. Not a review site or a professional reviewer, just Jane Public or sometimes John Public. That’s who I love to hear from. You don’t like my book? Tell me it sucked like a lemon. I’m a big girl, I can take it.
Some authors may agree with me, some may think I’ve been smoking something, others may get pissed at me. I just felt like I had to give my two cents to this kerfluffle… and try to deflate it. Move on, peeps, and get back to writing.
Very Much the truth.
I say a dip inthe pity pool is okay after abad review/comment, but not a full swim. :)
by Sasha November 16th, 2006 at 8:42 pm