Writers Should Adapt Strategies for Managing Negative Criticisms
Chill out on responding negatively to that review. Ideally, you shouldn't call the reviewer awful or bad on social media, because it'll just make you look unhinged, and most people won't even see the review unless you tell them about it first.
In interviews, stay away from making snarky, veiled remarks about the reviewer. Whining and bitterness will only present you as a disgruntled grouch who needs to get a life or seek therapy.
steer clear of substance abuse, stalking, or obsessing over other reviews the reviewer has written to prove your work is better. Don't harass the reviewer or the publication by complaining. Your opinion won't be appreciated, and you'll just come off as an ass.
It's wise not to correspond with the reviewer directly or contact the publication about your complaint. Nothing you say will help, and you'll only come off as an ego-centric daredevil.
So what should you do instead?
Embrace it. Bad reviews are just one of the many hurdles in the publishing world, like losing an editor, not liking your latest book cover, low attendance at a book reading, and people constantly asking if you know Stephen King.
Take a break to re-read your positive reviews. Remind yourself that not everyone is as blind, hopeless, or mentally deficient as that reviewer, and that most people actually enjoy your work.
Go out and party or sit down to write something brilliant because, as the ancient Latin saying goes, ars longa, vita brevis. This means reviewers are of no consequence, and most of them are mediocre. Sad but true.
Lastly, have someone you trust read through the review objectively just in case the reviewer found something valuable. Then, write it down, seal it in a bottle, and throw it into the nearest body of water.
Lev Raphael, a creative writing professor at Michigan State University, is the author of Writer's Block is Bunk and 24 other books. You can find them on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Check out more of Lev's work on his blog, Writing Across Genres.
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Resources:
- How to Respond to a Negative Book Review
- What to Do When You Get a Bad Review
- Dealing with Negative Book Reviews: A Practical Guide for Writers
- To show that you're a professional and gracious author, focus on improving your work by reading positive book reviews, appreciating constructive feedback, and working on your next project. As the renowned creative writing professor, Lev Raphael, says, ars longa, vita brevis.
- To understand if there were any valuable insights in the bad review, consider asking a trusted reader to evaluate it objectively. If there's something useful to learn, make the necessary changes, and grow as an author while keeping the negative review a distant memory, just like an old bottle cast away into the sea.
