How to Cope with Bad Reviews
Mary Lawrence, author of 2015 novel THE ALCHEMIST’S DAUGHTER, shares 15 pieces of encouragement and advice for writers dealing with bad reviews.
Not even 20 years of rejections from editors and agents prepared me for what came with the launch of my debut mystery, The Alchemist’s Daughter. I assumed once I’d crossed the threshold to being a traditionally published author, no negative remark could possibly feel as lousy as two decades of cumulative self-doubt. Welcome to the world of snark.
Order a copy of Mary Lawrence's The Alchemist's Daughter today.
Never before have authors (and other creative types), been subjected to real time, stinging criticism in a public forum numbering in the billions.
As newspapers and magazines scrap their book review sections; blogs, Amazon, and Goodreads pick up the slack. We no longer read reviews written by editors who might offer a balanced critique of a work. Readers gravitate to reviews with caustic headlines and blinking .gifs that catch their eye and appeal to the cynic in all of us. Few of these reviews are well-written and almost all usually focus on some aspect of the writer’s story or writing style, the name an author chose for a character, the author’s eye color … whatever they find objectionable. Gone is the art of a well-written book review. Welcome to the world of snark.
So as a writer, here are some points to remember when you are feeling unjustly lambasted. I’ve collected these from other authors, friends and creative sorts, and have posted them next to my computer.
1. When you read a snarky review, replace everything that person wrote with “Look at me! I am so smart and clever unlike the idiot who wrote this book! Think less of this book and more of me!”
2. The best writers are the ones who get the most criticism.
3. Controversy is good, it means people have been affected enough to voice an opinion.
4. The majority of snarky reviews are written by frustrated writers, know-it-alls, or just plain miserable people.
5. A publisher didn’t choose you because you couldn’t write.
6. If you stick your head above the crowd, you are bound to be shot at.
7. It is very easy for those who fail to sit in judgment of others who have not.
8. You aren’t writing to make friends.
9. People can’t control what you write and you can’t control what they write in response.
10. Don’t let anyone rob you of the joy you find in writing.
11. “Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”--Terry Pratchett
12. People who write mean-spirited reviews unfortunately are the ones who have the inclination and time to write them.
13. "Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”—Steve Jobs
14." Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible, and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.” --J.R.R.Tolkien
15. Get over yourself!
Mary Lawrence is the author of 2015 novel THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER(April 2015, Kensington). Mary studied biology and chemistry, graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Cytotechnology. She worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years and now runs a small berry farm in Maine. Her articles have appeared in The Daily Beast and Portland Monthly. Book 2 in the Bianca Goddard Mystery series, DEATH OF AN ALCHEMIST, will release in February, 2016. Visit her on Facebook or Twitter.
