Comments on: What do you do with a bad review? http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:56:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1089 S.C. Butler Sat, 24 Nov 2007 01:17:03 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1089 Welcome to the club. Maybe we should talk about each other's books and get the ball rolling. Welcome to the club. Maybe we should talk about each other’s books and get the ball rolling.

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1082 Diana Pharaoh Francis Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:06:14 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1082 SMD/Karen: Yeah, like I can STOP worrying about. Did I mention total neurosis? Okay, maybe it's more I'd rather focus on that than on my current revisions, which should tell you a lot. And nothing good. Kristen: I'd want those dolls. Maybe I should buy a Mister Potato Head so I can do some demolition . . . Lyda: Yeah, I can see that. Well, I bet when I'm not in the middle of revisions and waiting to hear on another proposal and thereby more vulnerable to this stuff I'll see it. I hope. Catie: (And oh, so sorry not to have had a chance to hang out at WFC), I am so impressed by your strength of character and resolve. Picking the scab. Yep. That's me. Sigh. S.C.: I know you're right. I'm repeating that. Ignoring is worse. So now I will stew more about that as no one talks about my books. See? Neurosis will rule, no matter what it takes. My powers of insecurity are powerful. SMD/Karen: Yeah, like I can STOP worrying about. Did I mention total neurosis? Okay, maybe it’s more I’d rather focus on that than on my current revisions, which should tell you a lot. And nothing good.

Kristen: I’d want those dolls. Maybe I should buy a Mister Potato Head so I can do some demolition . . .

Lyda: Yeah, I can see that. Well, I bet when I’m not in the middle of revisions and waiting to hear on another proposal and thereby more vulnerable to this stuff I’ll see it. I hope.

Catie: (And oh, so sorry not to have had a chance to hang out at WFC), I am so impressed by your strength of character and resolve. Picking the scab. Yep. That’s me. Sigh.

S.C.: I know you’re right. I’m repeating that. Ignoring is worse. So now I will stew more about that as no one talks about my books. See? Neurosis will rule, no matter what it takes. My powers of insecurity are powerful.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1081 S.C. Butler Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:02:39 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1081 As far as I'm concerned, all reviews are good reviews. Being dumped on is much better than being ignored. Of course I have to remind myself of this several thousand times when I get that bad review... As far as I’m concerned, all reviews are good reviews. Being dumped on is much better than being ignored. Of course I have to remind myself of this several thousand times when I get that bad review…

]]> By: CE Murphy http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1077 CE Murphy Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:36:58 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1077 Except on the rare occasions somebody (usually my editor, but once in a while a reviewer) actually emails me a review, I don't read 'em. I discovered in very short order that even the good ones make me neurotic ("Oh my God! What if I can never live up to this? My career is at an end!") and the bad ones, well, we all know how we react to those. :) I think the hard thing for most writers is sort of not picking at the scab, as it were. We know the reviews are out there. It's hard not to go look. -Catie Except on the rare occasions somebody (usually my editor, but once in a while a reviewer) actually emails me a review, I don’t read ‘em. I discovered in very short order that even the good ones make me neurotic (”Oh my God! What if I can never live up to this? My career is at an end!”) and the bad ones, well, we all know how we react to those. :) I think the hard thing for most writers is sort of not picking at the scab, as it were. We know the reviews are out there. It’s hard not to go look.

-Catie

]]> By: lyda morehouse http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1071 lyda morehouse Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:16:08 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1071 I also get personally attached to reviews. I had one make me cry. But I do think bad reviews can be good, too -- if they're the right kind of negative review. One reviewer of a book of mine (Tate's actually), pointed out that I could be read as anti-Catholic, which I never, *ever* intended. Her comment made me write the subsequent books more carefully. I wanted to curl up into a ball, but like any critical critique I found myself listening all the same... to, IMHO, good results. I also get personally attached to reviews. I had one make me cry.

But I do think bad reviews can be good, too — if they’re the right kind of negative review. One reviewer of a book of mine (Tate’s actually), pointed out that I could be read as anti-Catholic, which I never, *ever* intended. Her comment made me write the subsequent books more carefully. I wanted to curl up into a ball, but like any critical critique I found myself listening all the same… to, IMHO, good results.

]]> By: Kristine Smith http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1069 Kristine Smith Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:11:24 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1069 I'm going through pretty much the same thing right now--new book out for a few weeks, first bad review on Amazon. In truth, it isn't that bad a review. But the reviewer took me to task for an aspect of the storyline, and got a major fact wrong in the process. I had explained the thing s/he took issue with several times over the course of the series, but s/he either missed the explanations, or didn't feel them sufficient. And you aren't supposed to respond to reviews, so a wandering reader might be left with the impression that I blew it, when I really don't think I did. My consolation is that while Amazon is very visible, most folks don't buy their books there, and the ones who do likely don't read all the reviews, or disregard them. This review may not impact that many, if any, potential readers. We takes our comfort where we can gets it. But I am thinking of coming out with a line of Amazon Reviewer Tear-Apart Dolls for writers of my acquaintance. I’m going through pretty much the same thing right now–new book out for a few weeks, first bad review on Amazon.

In truth, it isn’t that bad a review. But the reviewer took me to task for an aspect of the storyline, and got a major fact wrong in the process. I had explained the thing s/he took issue with several times over the course of the series, but s/he either missed the explanations, or didn’t feel them sufficient.

And you aren’t supposed to respond to reviews, so a wandering reader might be left with the impression that I blew it, when I really don’t think I did.

My consolation is that while Amazon is very visible, most folks don’t buy their books there, and the ones who do likely don’t read all the reviews, or disregard them. This review may not impact that many, if any, potential readers.

We takes our comfort where we can gets it. But I am thinking of coming out with a line of Amazon Reviewer Tear-Apart Dolls for writers of my acquaintance.

]]> By: Karen Wester Newton http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1068 Karen Wester Newton Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:39:29 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1068 SMD has it right. There is no book that everyone likes. My favorite author is Neil Gaiman, but I have good friends--smart, well read people-- who don't like his work. Go figure. The wonderful thing about novels is the connection between the writer and the reader, but you (the writer) are only half that equation. Don't sweat the other half. SMD has it right. There is no book that everyone likes. My favorite author is Neil Gaiman, but I have good friends–smart, well read people– who don’t like his work. Go figure. The wonderful thing about novels is the connection between the writer and the reader, but you (the writer) are only half that equation. Don’t sweat the other half.

]]> By: SMD http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1067 SMD Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:45:15 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/21/what-do-you-do-with-a-bad-review/#comment-1067 Honestly, don't worry about it. You were reviewed by my blog friend SQT, who has been kind enough to send me books from publishers and help me to get in on the 'game' (bad word I'm sure) of doing reviews. She loved the book. She has very good judgment in my opinion. But realize that not everyone is going to love your work. I mean, look at Stephen King. A lot of people love his work, and some people can't stand it. I've only finished one SK book (Cell) and have tried over and over to get into his other work and failed. Or perhaps look at Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini. A lot of people love his books to death, and then there are those who have gone all out and made websites dedicated to tearing it down (which is useless because the publisher really doesn't care if 10 million people hate the books so long as 1 million buy them). So, don't sweat it. You can't please everyone :P. Honestly, don’t worry about it. You were reviewed by my blog friend SQT, who has been kind enough to send me books from publishers and help me to get in on the ‘game’ (bad word I’m sure) of doing reviews. She loved the book. She has very good judgment in my opinion. But realize that not everyone is going to love your work. I mean, look at Stephen King. A lot of people love his work, and some people can’t stand it. I’ve only finished one SK book (Cell) and have tried over and over to get into his other work and failed. Or perhaps look at Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini. A lot of people love his books to death, and then there are those who have gone all out and made websites dedicated to tearing it down (which is useless because the publisher really doesn’t care if 10 million people hate the books so long as 1 million buy them).
So, don’t sweat it. You can’t please everyone :P.

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