Sticks, Stones, and Bad Reviews

[rj_anderson]

No worries about that subject line, I haven't personally had any bad reviews yet (phew!). But then, I've hardly had any reviews yet at all... and I've been thinking about how to handle it when the comments really start coming in.

To any of my fellow writers who may read this, whether you're ficcers or in a critique group working on getting published or (especially) if you're an established pro -- how do you deal with reviews? Do you:

A) read them avidly, good and bad, trying to see what you can learn from them? (And if so, have they actually taught you anything, or just alternately exhilarated and depressed you?)

B) read only the good ones, and ignore the bad? (And if so, how do you manage to do this?)

C) read no reviews whatsoever? (And if so, why?)

I'm still undecided about the whole thing myself. I love hearing nice things about my writing (who doesn't?) but I also don't want to turn a deaf ear to any advice that could help me improve. On the other hand, as has often been said, "reviews are for readers", not the author, and many authors feel that reading them is really not helpful on a practical level and is only likely to discourage you and hurt your confidence in your next project. I'm not sure what the argument is for reading no reviews at all, though.

Anyway, if you have thoughts on this subject, as an author or a reader or a critic, I'd be glad to hear them.

Comments

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

I haven't been reviewed professionally as yet, but I do appreciate critiques of my work in whatever form. Determining how your audience reacts is an important part of the creative process. Not the most important part, by a long chalk, but useful inasmuch as it functions as a sort of mirror for your own intent.

Are they seeing what you wanted them to see, or picking up on something else? Do your characters, situations, ideas ring true or false? Can they add to your understanding of the subject? (OK, that last one might apply to non-fiction only).

On the other hand, I also feel like it's important to maintain a certain perspective on where that audience is coming from, what preconceived attitudes they're bringing to the review. Reading all the reviews is fun, but responding to them should I think be a whole 'nother matter.

I would certainly give more weight to a respected authority in the genre than a random blurb on a forum, for instance. Within those categories you can discern on further biases - someone who clearly has a soft spot for faery stories, say, as opposed to someone who can't stand the thought. :)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that responding to reviews, no matter how misguided or unjust you might feel them to be, is a no-no. It took me a long while to learn that lesson, but I think it has finally sunk in...