Negative Feedback
Okay, breathe. This is the point when words can sting. You have poured your heart, soul, and sanity into a book and someone wrote a less than glowing review. Ouch. Been there. It truly hurts to see that someone out in the great wide open doesn’t see your work as the masterpiece you believe it is.
Now, take a step back. Look at it from the eyes of another person. You can’t satisfy everyone. Don’t believe me? I can prove it.
Picture a family get together. Everyone is there and so is all the food people bring. Look at the table covered in food. Take note that there are two plates of…deviled eggs (or whatever food you prefer). In my family it was deviled eggs. These two platters vary in flavor. Like, not even close. Each creator believes theirs is the best of the best. They would be right. Why? Because to their tastes, and the taste of those who prefer theirs over the other, are correct…to them.
Make sense? Not everyone will love what you wrote and that’s okay. You must prepare yourself for that going in. I really suggest a critique group so you can get perspective from others and see what could happen from the outside world. My critique friends vary in their tastes. Not everyone likes my urban fantasy style of writing, while I’m not a YA love story kinda reader. I have nothing against it. It simply isn’t my thing. See what I mean?
When I see that I have received a new review I take a moment and prepare myself for what could be said. I allow my mind to drift to the worst-case scenario and I work through it before I open the review. Most times I am pleasantly surprised and others, well, I am prepared for it.
No matter what, no matter how nasty- do NOT reply to a negative comment. This will only feed the fire. Allow that person to have the opinion they have and move on. Your work must be able to stand on its own. You can’t sit in everyone’s living room and argue how great your book is. It’s not possible. Move on and keep writing.
Geesh. I need a cuppa coffee after that. I have to say I have received a few reviews I wish I could have asked the writer about, but I didn’t. They wrote what they wrote, and I need to respect that. Now, let’s commiserate by the coffee pot. I bought some caramel pods to try out. Who’s up for the challenge? Grab a cuppa and something to nibble. Meet us out on the reading rug and we will talk about other stingy things.
Dealing with Rejection
I don’t care how awesome you think you are; you have been rejected in some form or another. Not picked for the kickball team, debate team, or lead dog walker, whatever it was, it happened. I have been rejected. I know, hard to believe, but it’s true. Book rejections, agent rejections, idea rejections, they happen. What you need to hold close is, there is another way.
Like the feedback sting I wrote above, the professional world of writing, or any other business, may not want what you have to offer. Well, not all. Maybe you need to query someone else or a different publisher. Come on, Harry Potter was turned down a dozen times before it was picked up. Look how successful that became. They kept trying. Self -publishing is always an option. If you pick up a fair readership a publisher may change their mind and bring you into the fold.
If becoming a successful author was easy, everyone would be one. It takes work. If you aren’t ready to put some blood, sweat, and a ton of tears into it, it might not be for you. Would I like to be as successful as J. K. Rowling? Duh. Am I willing to work as hard as she has to become the best I can be? Absolutely. And I am willing to do the work even through the rejections.
I wish I could say that we solved all the issues but, nope. More to come with a few suggestions to make it through.
Until then… keep writing, and…
Polish your sparkle and keep twirling.
Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
I’m always looking for new friends!
Like Follow Share
I follow back!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiciaRani
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarrentNella
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nella-Warrent-1863744137235991/?ref=bookmarks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ticia-metheney-22181476/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellawarrent/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18848350.Ticia_Rani
Universal Code for O-B*tch-uary: https://books2read.com/u/bOZe8o
Universal Code for Sin Full: http://books2read.com/u/m2Vdqd
Author Page: amazon.com/author/nellawarrent
New Ink. Used Ideas. 