Welcome to this week’s 52-week Blog Challenge from Marketing for Romance Writers (#MFRW). This topic is, “What I learned from my worst review.” Ahh…reviews. Something anyone with a product or service must beg for think about. Because we know reviews are the first thing we look at, right?
Whether it’s a product, a movie, or a new restaurant, usually the first thing you want to see is what everyone else thinks. As for my worst book review, it was a critique I paid for. Talk about being a glutton for punishment.
An Ambiguous Relationship with Reviews
Sometimes, we don’t agree with someone else’s review. Someone hates your favorite restaurant, that new workout tape your
friend recommended only made you hurt your back, or they couldn’t finish your favorite book or movie. I try to take all reviews with a grain of salt and consider that everyone has their own opinion.
Most authors have a love/hate relationship with reviews. We want you to love “our book babies”. We’ve poured our heart and soul into them, yet we know everyone won’t love our stories as much as us.
Believe it or not, that’s okay to say. Reviews are helpful for an author for a multitude of reasons. Even it’s only a short sentence saying, “It was okay,” or “I loved it,”or “I liked this, but not that.”
Although there are some people that aren’t really leaving a review. They’re leaving their opinion about the cover, the title or that the name of the heroine reminds them of someone they hate—sometimes even if they haven’t read the book.
A Vicious Critique
I love getting critiques of my writing. It helps me see if I’m on the right track with story flow etc. They’re kind of like a review, but just not shared online—thank goodness! That would be like showing up to work in your underwear because critiques are done as the story is being created.
I’ve had unsavory reviews online, but I’m sharing this critique today because it is burned in my brain, especially because I paid for the most unprofessional, rude and opinionated comments that were nowhere near a real critique.
I sent the beginning of GRANDMA MUST DIE to a person who bragged about providing “blunt critiques” for a small fee. Since I was seeking specifics about the story, and I’d already been developing my thick skin, this seemed like a great way to find out how the story was working. Well, no.
My story, GRANDMA MUST DIE touches on the unique challenges on frustrations of being a caregiver. Since it’s a humorous paranormal it takes these to the extreme by having grandma infected by a deadly, contagious spell that makes her beyond cantankerous.
The cross critiquer hated everything about it and was offended by everything. The title, my writing, the story and told me I must be a terrible person. And that I was certainly a terrible writer. She said anyone who might even think of being mean to a “grandma” was awful—and that I needed to throw the story out and go back and learn to write. (This is paraphrasing pages and pages of opinionated comments about what kind of warped person I was to write this. And no, this person was not a grandma, themselves.)
What I learned
People are jerks—ok, no, lol. I might’ve thought this at first after getting over the initial stunned shock, but then upon reflection I realized what she really should’ve said if it truly was an “honest critique.” That she has no sense of humor, or that she didn’t read fantasy or paranormal. She read the story as if it were a memoir, as if I was proposing taking out grandmas. (Honestly, I love grandmas—except if they’re infected with a deadly, contagious spell…)
Luckily, I sent the story to several other people who did provide honest critiques to help me improve the story. Most of them enjoyed it, and no one else told me (at least to my face) that the title was offensive or that I was a rotten person. I submitted it to my editor (she thought the title was funny) who then published it.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but sometimes it’s best to keep them to yourself. And no one should have to pay to hear it. #MFRW #review Share on XP.S. What another reviewer had to say about GRANDMA MUST DIE
“A wonderful story filled with magic, romance, secrets, betrayal and growing up to find out who you truly are meant to be may not be who you thought.” **** reviewer for paranormal romance and authors that rock
It’s a Blog Hop
Check out the other author’s horror stories about reviews to see why authors usually say they’ve had to develop a thick skin.
Great post! I have some reviews that I’d like Scruff to eat.
I’ve been appalled lately at the hatefulness in reviews coming out of NetGalley and on Goodreads (aka Badreads). I’m afraid it’s a sign of the times. God help us.
It is sad, Diane. And Scruff would be happy to eat any unsavory reviews! I appreciate you stopping by.
Enjoyed the post. I have some of comments Scruff can chomp on. And I see nothing wrong with your premise. I have to go check it out.
Glad you stopped by Helen. Thank you!
Wow! You really should write a review of her services, especially as she charges. What a scam! Actually it would be helpful to other authors if you did.
I suppose you have to take the high road, but maybe spread the word in private. We’d all be grateful.
If someone asked about her services, I would certainly tell them privately. At the time (this was a few years back) I considered putting my two cents out there about her and her services, but I feared it would make me sound like an insecure writer that couldn’t handle criticism. I can, but the ‘shredding’ part wasn’t what I bargained for. Thanks for stopping by!
I learned the hard way not to pay for reviews and to make sure that the reviewer actually enjoys reading within the genre of of my book.