When You Get a Negative Review

If you are an author, at some point, you are going to get the dreaded one or two star review. It could be ten days or ten years into career, but it will still always affect you, often like a punch in the gut. However, you should not immediately act in any way on that feeling because acting in a moment of emotion can lead you down a path of career suicide. What you say or do affects the way readers see you.

So, then, what do you do when you get a bad review?

The first thing to do is get some distance. Don't look at it or think on it for a few days. When it is fresh, all you feel is either anger or defeat, and neither is conducive to the right action.

After you have taken that time, go back to the review and see if there is any truth you can find in it; any criticism you can take and turn into something better next time. Even if it is not something you intend to change, it can give you insight about readership; who you should be targeting and who you should not.

For instance, one of the most negative reviews I received was about the lack of R-rated/X-rated scenes in my series. You see, I had a purpose for not having any until book three, and even then i really didn't want to be super graphic. This reader thought it was immature for there not to be these things happening between the characters yet. This tells me something about my readership. I am not quite YA because the characters do eventually come together, but a younger crowd, or those looking for more magic and action rather than sexual encounters are going to be my target, rather than a typical romance reader.

Lastly, do not respond. Yes, there are awful reviews out there that are either ridiculous or tear the book and author down for no reason. All you can get out of these is a lesson in ignoring haters.

Feel free to comment and tell me about how you habdled a negative review!