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

[lisa-schroeder.livejournal.com]

The first time around, I was lucky, and some good reviews came in first. And quite a few readers told me early on how much they enjoyed the book. From there, it was easier to read the not-so-nice ones. And yeah, I have learned some things from those. I'm also lucky in that there haven't been any terrible ones. Because of the trade paperback format, I was only reviewed by one professional journal. It wasn't glowing, but it wasn't terrible either. And I was able to pull a line from it to use on postcards and such.

The second time around, it's hardcover and I'm guessing it will get more professional reviews. I think those we have to read, good or bad. Usually, there will be something good we can pull from them to use as we need to. And we have to remember that being reviewed by those big ones, PW, SLJ, Kirkus etc. is a good thing overall, even if there is stuff in there that makes us cringe.

As far as readers, I think people will compare it to my first book. And it's different from the first one. So there will naturally be readers who are disappointed. I don't know, I just feel like I'm not going to be as lucky this time. I'm trying to decide what to do, and am leaning toward not reading any, and asking a friend or my husband to turn on google alerts for me and send the really good ones to me.

I have a new project I will be working on as the second book hits the shelves, and that's an especially fragile place to be in regards to reviews. I can't let them get to me - I need to be able to write!

It's hard. We'd like to think that we won't take it personally, that we know not everyone is going to like every book and people and a few bad reviews doesn't make a book "bad." And yet, it hurts. It does!

Lots of people are going to love your book, I'm sure. It's much easier to not let the others get to you when that's the case. So, don't worry. I bet you'll be fine!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

As far as readers, I think people will compare it to my first book. And it's different from the first one. So there will naturally be readers who are disappointed.

Oh, I hear you on this one! It's a fear that I have, too. And you're right about the fragility of new projects -- I've learned that one the hard way, by asking for criticism before the book was finished and stalling myself for literally months before I could make myself go on...

I wish you all the very best with your second, different, hardcover (yay) book!