I don't have a book published yet, but I have heard some authors avoid Goodreads or reading reviews at all. They ask someone close to share positive reviews with them, helping them avoid having to read any of the 1 or 2 stars. I think I'll probably try and do this once I'm published—although, like you, I'm not sure if I'd have the willpower not to look! Not that there isn't anything to learn from a negative review, but it's all so subjective that if I really think a negative review would ruin my day I'd rather avoid it.
I've heard some stories lately of authors replying to reviewers, sometimes in a pretty rude way. I understand the desire to defend work, but I'm also not so disillusioned to think *everyone* will love my work all the time. People are allowed to not like it, and that's okay! It won't be for everyone.
Writer Andre Maurois once said: In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.” I say, thank goodness writers have different styles, words, and imaginations. Take reviews with a grain of thought and press on to get your words out to the public!
If I can't give a book at least 3 stars, I won't review it. If I don't finish it, I won't review it. If everyone thought like me, there might be a lot of books with no reviews, but no one would have 1 or 2 star reviews. I grew up believing that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. I took it to heart. Writers are real people with feelings.
No doubt we have feelings, we dump them in our books. Ha! My mother used to say something like that to us, "If you don't have something valuable to add solve the problem, keep your mouth shut." Often I was complaining and did not have a clue as to how to solve whatever problem had transpired.
That does seem like a good idea, but I think a couple of my friends are crazier and might get more offended after reading a bad review about one of my books! LOL.
Thank you Christine,
Getting as close as possible to "your everyone," should be a goal because who wants to deal with what is essentially a customer complaint. As another author pointed out to me last night, making sure you eliminated keywords that may have led the reader to believe they would get something they didn't would be an avenue worth pursuing. Also, do not go off point with what your book actually is as far as your book description. Replying to reviewers and readers rudely for any reason is not the way. The best way is to examine if there is anything you can learn from it; if not, move on. Often we can learn things, but we need some distance (time) to see what we need to learn.
I don't have a book published yet, but I have heard some authors avoid Goodreads or reading reviews at all. They ask someone close to share positive reviews with them, helping them avoid having to read any of the 1 or 2 stars. I think I'll probably try and do this once I'm published—although, like you, I'm not sure if I'd have the willpower not to look! Not that there isn't anything to learn from a negative review, but it's all so subjective that if I really think a negative review would ruin my day I'd rather avoid it.
I've heard some stories lately of authors replying to reviewers, sometimes in a pretty rude way. I understand the desire to defend work, but I'm also not so disillusioned to think *everyone* will love my work all the time. People are allowed to not like it, and that's okay! It won't be for everyone.
Writer Andre Maurois once said: In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.” I say, thank goodness writers have different styles, words, and imaginations. Take reviews with a grain of thought and press on to get your words out to the public!
For sure, Karen, that's what writers do!
If I can't give a book at least 3 stars, I won't review it. If I don't finish it, I won't review it. If everyone thought like me, there might be a lot of books with no reviews, but no one would have 1 or 2 star reviews. I grew up believing that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. I took it to heart. Writers are real people with feelings.
No doubt we have feelings, we dump them in our books. Ha! My mother used to say something like that to us, "If you don't have something valuable to add solve the problem, keep your mouth shut." Often I was complaining and did not have a clue as to how to solve whatever problem had transpired.
I guess some people didn’t that lesson.
That does seem like a good idea, but I think a couple of my friends are crazier and might get more offended after reading a bad review about one of my books! LOL.
Thank you Christine,
Getting as close as possible to "your everyone," should be a goal because who wants to deal with what is essentially a customer complaint. As another author pointed out to me last night, making sure you eliminated keywords that may have led the reader to believe they would get something they didn't would be an avenue worth pursuing. Also, do not go off point with what your book actually is as far as your book description. Replying to reviewers and readers rudely for any reason is not the way. The best way is to examine if there is anything you can learn from it; if not, move on. Often we can learn things, but we need some distance (time) to see what we need to learn.
I was on a Facebook group the other night and someone said a funny thing, she said one reviewer wrote: "too many words."
I actually read a review once where the guy went on and on how much he enjoyed the book and then gave it two stars. What?