by
Katie Salidas
I like to tell authors to avoid reading
reviews about their book(s). That will prevent them from being tempted to
respond. However, we’re all human, and we want to know when someone talks about
our work. I can safely assume that 99% of authors will ignore this advice
completely.
reviews about their book(s). That will prevent them from being tempted to
respond. However, we’re all human, and we want to know when someone talks about
our work. I can safely assume that 99% of authors will ignore this advice
completely.
So, let’s just assume you’re one of the
99%. Once you’ve read a review on your work, you might be tempted to respond.
The best advice I can give you for that is, no matter if they are good or bad, leave your book reviews alone.
99%. Once you’ve read a review on your work, you might be tempted to respond.
The best advice I can give you for that is, no matter if they are good or bad, leave your book reviews alone.
Firstly, reviews are not written for you,
the author. They are the reader’s personal interpretation of your story. They
need to feel free to share their thoughts, good or bad, without fear of
harassment.
the author. They are the reader’s personal interpretation of your story. They
need to feel free to share their thoughts, good or bad, without fear of
harassment.
On bad reviews: Not everyone is going to
like your book. A bad review does not mean the reviewer is personally attacking
you. It’s simply an opinion from one reader. You’ve heard the old saying about
opinions, right? Everybody’s got them…
like your book. A bad review does not mean the reviewer is personally attacking
you. It’s simply an opinion from one reader. You’ve heard the old saying about
opinions, right? Everybody’s got them…
It’s human to feel upset when you receive a
bad review. After all, you did labor over this project for countless months,
revision upon revision. It’s okay to be angry, hurt, disappointed, and any
other negative emotion that hits you. Your work is your baby, and a bad review
is akin to someone calling it ugly. As the author, you feel like any negative
is a personal attack on you. Just feel
it in the privacy of your own home. Remember, it’s one opinion.
bad review. After all, you did labor over this project for countless months,
revision upon revision. It’s okay to be angry, hurt, disappointed, and any
other negative emotion that hits you. Your work is your baby, and a bad review
is akin to someone calling it ugly. As the author, you feel like any negative
is a personal attack on you. Just feel
it in the privacy of your own home. Remember, it’s one opinion.
Lashing out publicly is never going to
bring back positive results for you. In fact, it’s going to push people further
away from you and your books. Case in point: An author disagreed with
a review posted by a blog Big Al’s Books and Pals (dedicated to indie books). What started as a simple
disagreement between the author and the reviewer’s blog quickly dissolved into
the author throwing a temper tantrum. This tantrum was tweeted, shared, linked
and spread through the Internet like wildfire. The author’s book took the brunt
of the backlash and was flooded with thousands of negative comments and close
to 100 1-star reviews.
bring back positive results for you. In fact, it’s going to push people further
away from you and your books. Case in point: An author disagreed with
a review posted by a blog Big Al’s Books and Pals (dedicated to indie books). What started as a simple
disagreement between the author and the reviewer’s blog quickly dissolved into
the author throwing a temper tantrum. This tantrum was tweeted, shared, linked
and spread through the Internet like wildfire. The author’s book took the brunt
of the backlash and was flooded with thousands of negative comments and close
to 100 1-star reviews.
The Internet is like an elephant: It never
forgets. Any comments you make, whether bad or good, will be stored online, on
servers, and can eventually be accessed and dragged out again when you least
expect it.
forgets. Any comments you make, whether bad or good, will be stored online, on
servers, and can eventually be accessed and dragged out again when you least
expect it.
Instead of channeling the negative energy
into an online temper tantrum, which will only make you look bad, why not try
to look for something you can take back from the review?
into an online temper tantrum, which will only make you look bad, why not try
to look for something you can take back from the review?
Did the reviewer point out any typos,
spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, etc.? Think of this as an opportunity to
improve your work. The nice thing about being an indie author is we have the
ability to update and improve our work. With ebooks, it’s as simple as
uploading a new file. The update costs us nothing and will correct the mistakes
for any future books purchased. With POD books, the same principle applies
(although due to cost, you might wait until you have significant improvements
before uploading new files).
spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, etc.? Think of this as an opportunity to
improve your work. The nice thing about being an indie author is we have the
ability to update and improve our work. With ebooks, it’s as simple as
uploading a new file. The update costs us nothing and will correct the mistakes
for any future books purchased. With POD books, the same principle applies
(although due to cost, you might wait until you have significant improvements
before uploading new files).
Want to learn more tips and tricks on
self-publishing and marketing your book? Grab a copy of Go Publish Yourself!
self-publishing and marketing your book? Grab a copy of Go Publish Yourself!
Katie Salidas is an author with several
successful self-published titles. Each of her titles was created in the DIY (Do
It Yourself) style, without the aid of author service companies. Through trial
and error she has gained the knowhow to successfully publish print and ebooks. Go Publish Yourself! has that knowledge
assembled into an easy-to-use format, packed with no-nonsense tips and quick
and dirty tricks, so you can take your novel to the next level.
successful self-published titles. Each of her titles was created in the DIY (Do
It Yourself) style, without the aid of author service companies. Through trial
and error she has gained the knowhow to successfully publish print and ebooks. Go Publish Yourself! has that knowledge
assembled into an easy-to-use format, packed with no-nonsense tips and quick
and dirty tricks, so you can take your novel to the next level.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go
Publish Yourself!
Go
Publish Yourself!
More about Katie:
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.
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I don't know if I could pick a favorite!Self Help
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I don't agree.
If I've reviewed because I've bought the book (not on my review blog. That is completely different because I'm doing a service.) out of enjoyment and my review gets comments from the author I'm mortified and a little bit intimidated.
I feel better about it now but before it was like being caught admiring someone famous and them overhearing and saying, “Oh, you like it? Very nice. Now run along, dear.”
In short those two words, thank you, made me feel patronised.
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I think that point that has been missed is that book blogger/reviewers are Uber-fans. It takes about 8-10 hours to read, write and post a review for the average book. This is our hobby, and we would be pretty lost without books.
Why not make someone's day and thank them for taking the time to read your book. The first time an author thanked me on my blog, after I called everyone I knew to tell them, I printed off the comment and posted it on my wall above my computer. It still makes me smile every time I look at it!
Do we need thanks to continue to read books and post reviews – no. But it certainly makes our day!
Do I suggest that you comment on every review written by nasty people without manners that “share” their thoughts – no.
Just by taking a few minutes and thanking a blogger/reviewer for a review, your kind comment will be seen by possibly thousands of other readers. What great free PR…..
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts 🙂
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Great post Katie! I agree that reviews should just be left alone. Once in awhile if a blogger specifically lets me know they're posting a review, then of course I stop by with a brief hello or 'thanks for reading'. If we as authors become upset with reviewers, then we'd better think twice about writing any reviews (opinions) about other author's books.
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Thank you so much for allowing me to visit your blog and share some tips with your readers!
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