The Truth About Bad Reviews
You know all the advice you might read on the internet about how to handle bad reviews? About not responding, not taking it personally, not drawing attention to it, and always acting with courteous professionalism? Well, that's all true. And I try to abide by that, because the only person you're hurting when you lash out at a reviewer who just trashed your book is yourself. For real.But here is something else that is true. Bad reviews STINK. They really do. They hurt, more than they should, and they can get me in a funk for days even though I try to brush them off. When my first book came out, I was so naive. I honestly, seriously thought everyone would love my book. I can't believe I did, but I did. And then I got my first review on Amazon--my very first--and you know what it said? 'This was my first read from Kate Hewitt and I was disappointed.' And it went on from there. And I was devastated. My first book, my first review--and already I had a reader telling me she wouldn't read any more of my books! Books I hadn't even written yet!
Since then I've had plenty more bad reviews. And plenty good ones too, but being an insecure, narcissistic writer, I tend to dismiss good reviews as flattery or delusions and see the bad reviews as truth. As Maisey Yates would say, it's that darn doubt crow! My attitude towards bad reviews is a little more worldly-wise now. Now I see the one star on Amazon and think, 'Really? You really felt so strongly about my little book that you had to write a paragraph about its suckitude?' Then I go into my funk, but usually it only lasts a few hours.
But here is the good thing about bad reviews, and I will admit this is true for me, but might not be true for other writers. I learn from them, even the rabid rants. If people felt strongly enough to publish a bad review online, to take the time to explain to the world at large why they did not like my book, then maybe I should listen. And I'm not going to take everybody's advice, and I'm not going to attempt to please my non-fans, but I have learned quite a bit from all the negativity. I learned to tone down my internal dialogue. I learned that my heroines need to have a stronger sense of self. I learned that angst is great, but too much repetitive angst is boring.
So now, with my 12th book just having hit the shelves last month, I've learned to take bad reviews mostly in stride. They still hurt; honestly, I don't know how they can't. But they don't devastate me and they don't make me think I'm the world's worst writer. I can look at them objectively--mostly--and move on. Well, I'm trying! And I'm also trying to believe the good reviews a bit more too. Now I know writers who don't read their bad reviews, and that is fine. I don't think I have the will power for that! But in any case, I'm glad I've read both the good and bad, and I'm also glad for the grace and humility that has grown in me through having had bad reviews. So that's another good thing! But in the end? Really? They stink.
Labels: reviews, writing life
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Hi Kate,
As a reader and a lover of HM&B all lines, I would say a person who doesn't read HM&B would never understand the escapism and the feel good emotion of reading a HM&B, hence the bad reviews.
Recently on one of my 5 star reviews of a HM&B, someone took the trouble of logging in on Amazon and ticking it as not helpful! I mean, if you don't find it helpful, why bother? Go and look for books you like. Leave me to mine!
But your attitude is great!
All the best!
Stupid doubt crow. Don't listen to him. ;) I think it's great that you learn from your bad reviews. I don't think I do! LOL. Because I am more than willing to change things my editor asks me to change, and once she signs off on a book, I'm more than happy to agree that I did the best I could with it.
Having said that, one reviewer pointed something out in my debut that I know I would NOT do now. And I agree with her point. Absolutely. I know what I was thinking then, but I wouldn't do it now!
There are haters of the genre, Nas, but then there are people who just hate your books ;) And that's ok. Not everyone has to like your style--something I've learned along the way!
Maisey, I completely agree with you that once the book is accepted, you've done the best you could with it and you should be happy with that. I don't want to change the books I've already written, just keep growing and improving as a writer, and I think--for me anyway--reading the bad reviews is part of that process.