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| My filing cabinet for bad reviews. |
It happens to every writer eventually. You
get a review that has you wanting to scream one minute and curl up in a ball
sobbing until the stars fall out of the sky. How do you deal with that?
Here's a few tips.
1. Remember it's only one person's point of
view. One person. Not hundreds of people - just one. Does everybody everywhere
like the same things? Nope, so you have to accept that there will be people who
may not like your book.
2. Print out the review and roll it up into
a ball and throw it in the bin, or use it to play a game of ping pong. The
review doesn't have much power over you now, eh?
3. Talk to other writers. Ask them about the
worst review they've ever had. Moan about it. Laugh about it. Then forget about
it.
4. Look at all your good reviews and all the
good things that anyone has ever said about your writing. Does one or two bad
reviews mean you are suddenly a bad writer? Of course not. Push away all that
negativity by submerging yourself in positivity.
5. Tell yourself that at least they bought
your book. The money from someone who leaves you a bad review is the same as
someone who leaves you a good review.
6. And, if you really get upset by reviews,
step away from the computer and STOP reading them. I know it's hard, but a
writer needs to keep writing. Any time spent being all maudlin over a review,
one person wrote, is eating into your writing time.
