It's the dreaded one star review. That's the thing that makes some authors go batshit. Hell, apparently a three star review can do the same thing.
Authors are so special, aren't we?
Well, I'm not. I've got some stories out there with one and two star reviews. I have one review : They Hated Me that has to be one of the best reviews evah (yes, I'm Sami Summers and I wrote that wonderful story).
Isn't that a great review? And the comments cracked me up. Also, there were plenty of one stars on Goodreads for all my titles and Amazon has one or two also. What does that mean to me as an author? It means someone bothered to read the book and comment. That's all it means.
Some people aren't going to like what you write. It doesn't mean you failed and it doesn't mean they're wrong. It means that nothing is beloved by everyone. Hell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has 27 one star reviews. (If Little Women has 27 one star reviews, how the fuckety fuck does any author think they're not going to get some also?)
I learned a long time ago while in college that your work needs to stand by itself and get ripped. There's nothing like a college creative writing class critiquing something you think is wonderful to help you lose your ego.
And that's all it is. Ego.We hate being told we aren't perfect but seriously, we aren't.
To Kill a Mockingbird has 111 one star reviews.
Pride and Prejudice has 43 one star reviews.
The Old Man and the Sea has 72 one star reviews.
Seriously Miss Author, you think you're better than that?
I don't think a lot of the people writing today who are having fits over anything less than "I loved this book!!!!!!" took writing classes in college.
ReplyDeleteWell, I never took writing classes. Why the heck should you need to take writing classes to know your work will not be universally liked? That's just logic.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lori, you can't use batshit anymore. Get with the program!
You take writing classes to learn craft. Thankfully they also provide some great ego killing learning.
ReplyDeleteAnd to anyone covered in bat guano I apologize for saying batshit. I don't mean to be rude.