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I read my reviews. I want to know what people think. I got a pretty good 2.5/3 star review. I say good because not all 2 or 3 star reviews are bad. Many are good. The reader felt one way about the theme and that's valid & didn't like some of my approach. I appreciate this.
I just wanted to say that, not all 2 or 3 star reviews are bad. I'll get annoyed (admittedly) if a reviewer calls me a name or criticizes my character or makes fun of me for my typos (still trying to fix those). I'm an indie writer & don't have a huge team like Big 5 writers.
But if a reviewer says hey, this is what was good but this is what I didn't like then that's totally valid. I have a lot of writing peers who write genres I do not ever seek out and read because those topics/themes do not appeal to me. That's valid.
What I write and how I write it will not appeal to many people. I write using a lot of research, and I write characters that are complex, and I write things that make people feel uncomfortable. As a writer, I realize that once that book is published it's no longer my book.
I have seen many great reviewers give up reviewing this year because they feel pressured to say things or mark things a certain way. Writers are under pressure to produce more, get an agent, get a deal, maybe make some money or make a name for themselves in the literary world.
So it's a weird position to be in, wanting to create something that you love, but also being mindful of what people think and then thinking in the back of your mind...could I make a career out of this? Is it possible? Some people write full time, live the dream, why can't I?
So just a long post to say - you can't control what people say about your work. You also can't control how you will feel about what is said about your work. But, you have to have the thick skin to take criticism and move on and continue to create if that's what you want to do.
Don't beat yourselves up. Don't quit. Keep writing. Keep creating things. There's more than enough routes to success out there. Don't ever let anyone let you think or feel that you are limited. Anything is possible.
OH - and don't ever, ever, ever attack reviewers. Granted, if someone is saying something harmful, dangerous, or threatening, then please go via the proper channels on the review site and report. Always be professional and don't attack people publicly.
