In a previous post, I wrote about working with book reviewers. In this article, we will explore the tough parts of negative reviews.
“What’s THIS?” Reacting to Negative Reviews
“What’s this?” is probably a nice way to respond to a negative review. In my imagination, that question also includes a foot stomped on the ground, a look of scorn, and arms crossed angrily against a chest.
Fear surrounds negative reviews. Every author’s heart lurches a bit when that first negative review is left. In contrast, the stigma doesn’t necessarily mean doom and gloom. Negative reviews can bring an author validity; a nice balance of reviews is often very attractive to potential customers.
My mom was talking to me about a favorite cozy mystery author—Lauren Carr. Lauren published a book called Authors in Bathrobes, which I believe is out of print right now. One of the most admirable things Mom read was something Lauren said about negative reviews. I’m paraphrasing, since I can’t get my hands on a copy of the book, but Lauren said something like, “I knew I’d made it [in the writing industry] when I received my first one-star review.” She celebrated!
Types of Negative Reviews
So, Lauren Carr celebrated a poor rating. What kind of rating was it? Scathing? Honest and polite? Ridiculous? Let’s look at the kinds of negative reviews you may experience.
- “Book was late getting here.“ If you’ve spent enough time reading Amazon reviews, you know what I’m referring to. However, if you’re confused, that sentence encapsulates a customer’s purchase feedback, NOT a review of the book. If you see such a sentence, rest easy. It was an error on the customer’s part and doesn’t reflect poorly on your writing. Additionally, you may be able to get Amazon to delete these.
- “This book was too [preachy, explicit, violent, etc.].” I see those comments from time to time. The reader was unaware of the existence of content that would be offensive. Is that a fair review? Maybe. Note: If several readers are reporting confusion in such a way, it may be time to market a little differently. Do some research or talk to a publicist to see how best to market future novels so that you’re attracting your desired reader audience.
- Mistaking one star for five. Occasionally, an individual confuses one star and five stars. In such a case, a well-meaning reviewer may love a book but accidentally mark a one-star rating instead of a five-star rating. This is not a reflection on the author, and readers aren’t going to be dissuaded from buying because of the error.
- Inflammatory. You may have occasionally seen these on other authors’ pages. I don’t think I need to explain that you’ll want to avoid reading them if they’re left for your work. They’re not kind, and they’re not worthy of your attention.
- “I never give five-star ratings.” That’s a comment I’ve seen a few times in book reviews, and it’s sometimes followed by the statement “There is not a perfect book.”
- Constructive feedback. I saved the best for last. These are the reviews that sting a little. The difference with these reviews, though, is that this kind of feedback can reveal wise (and free!) nuggets of information.
Applying Constructive Feedback
As mentioned, constructive feedback can hurt a little, especially if most of the other reviews reflected high praise. So, how should an author apply this feedback?
Most importantly, remember that reviews are opinions, and the purpose of reviews are to aid customers in the purchasing of merchandise. All levels of ratings are important for potential customers.
What to Do with negative Feedback
- Read it (or don’t—that’s ok, too!) and walk on. If reading negative feedback causes anxiety, ask a friend to read and share with you any feedback that can help you with your future projects.
- Reassure yourself that negative feedback provides balance and validity to the other reviews. Customers look for low ratings so they can know what to expect. If there are only five-star ratings, and the reviews are short and vague (i.e. “Best book I’ve ever read!” or “Read it—you’ll love it!” or “I’ve not read it yet, but I know I’ll love it!“), readers may be skeptical. Most readers I know are only dissuaded from low ratings if there are serious issues reported with the novel’s development.
Consider the advice of reviewers who leave constructive feedback, especially if several are offering similar suggestions.
What not to do with negative feedback
- Don’t engage in debate. If you must respond to a review, make your message short and keep it on a thank-you level. “Thanks for supporting my work and taking the time to provide honest feedback.”
- Don’t try to influence readers to provide feedback that will be dishonest.
- By all means, don’t take your feelings against a reviewer to social media. That has never turned out well for anyone.
- Don’t stop writing! If feedback has revealed a need for further work, invest in that work. Invest in yourself—you are worth it. There are multitudes of books on writing and lots of free advice online. Also, if your budget allows, there are online master classes in writing available.
Own the Feelings
After you receive negative feedback and say “What’s THIS?” let yourself feel the hurt. You’re invested in your creativity and your characters, and it’s perfectly normal to feel shocked by a negative review. However, after you’ve had a moment, let go. Walk away. Look at funny pet memes. Whatever you must do, take yourself away for a bit.
Be Reassured
If you’re here because you’ve been dealt some rough feedback, know you’re not alone. Remember, when you put yourself and your work in the public arena, there are going to be hurdles.
No doubt, you’ve heard the statement bad press is better than no press. Reviews mean that your novel is being read. Readers who consider buying your book will likely read the reviews, and the comments will help them determine if the book is what they want. You’re going to want to attract the right readers, so embrace the bad with the good, because it will help guide the right readers your way. Also, negative reviews are almost always far outweighed by positive reviews, so don’t let a small percentage of negative reviews rob you of your joy.
Take heart in the fact that a bad review doesn’t mean the end of your writing career. Check out the reviews of your favorite authors’ books; I can guarantee they have negative reviews, because that’s just part of the process. If you’ve just gotten your first negative review, remember the words of Lauren Carr—you’ve made it!
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*Grateful Mention: Thanks to Charles Deluvio for the adorable pup photo.
