tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post8597913886508231584..comments2024-02-20T07:57:47.756-08:00Comments on Carol Hedges: Suck it Up! Dealing With Bad ReviewsCarol Hedgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-7724882028503068952015-04-27T12:04:27.028-07:002015-04-27T12:04:27.028-07:00Maybe we should be like the actors who never read ...Maybe we should be like the actors who never read the reviews in the papers in case they are bad. I definitely agree, Carol, that negative reviews would be better ignored. Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-40248619098623019162015-04-26T09:30:32.899-07:002015-04-26T09:30:32.899-07:00Thanks. I personally don't - mainly coz I rega...Thanks. I personally don't - mainly coz I regard them as being mainly for readers. Others, thought, do need to walk away...fast!Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-30217471079582521362015-04-26T07:42:54.996-07:002015-04-26T07:42:54.996-07:00That's the main point about it all, Carol - if...That's the main point about it all, Carol - if you can't stand the heat, etc.Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-55812023084355188642015-04-26T06:49:27.433-07:002015-04-26T06:49:27.433-07:00Absolutely Carol, the best thing to do is ignore t...Absolutely Carol, the best thing to do is ignore those one star reviews. Often they just aren't worth the attention they get. In fact at a recent event in the Cambridge Literary Festival James Dawson quipped that one star reviews were written by people who look at the cover of the book and don't like it. I write reviews on my blog and I have never given anyone a one star review - I know how much effort goes into writing, being a wannabe writer myself. In the majority of cases one star reviews are just mean, and attention grabbing, so the best tactic as you rightly say is not to give them the time of day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-78609545271859028922015-04-26T05:43:27.265-07:002015-04-26T05:43:27.265-07:00Yes, yes, yes. I agree. I especially agree with th...Yes, yes, yes. I agree. I especially agree with the point about the value of ignoring bad remarks. This can be a useful premise for life in general and not just reviews of our written 'babies'. If someone criticises you unfairly in real life (rather than on a site like the Amazon review site) it can be forgotten in minutes if you shrug or quietly defend yourself. But if you start shouting and complaining and threatening to sue then the 'whole world' (I exaggerate for effect!) is likely to hear about it. Great post.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-88599952120986939302015-04-26T05:24:47.880-07:002015-04-26T05:24:47.880-07:00Quite! see above for the only time when I think ge...Quite! see above for the only time when I think getting upset is OK. If you want o put your work out there, you have to take the flak. And the good stuff.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-85246599431468135992015-04-26T02:58:03.933-07:002015-04-26T02:58:03.933-07:00A fabulous post, Carol. There really is no point i...A fabulous post, Carol. There really is no point in getting upset about the odd bad review because there will always be one or two of those lurking about and most people realise when they look at book reviews there will be some people who haven't liked it. Several bad reviews on their own and the author may need a rethink but the odd one really doesn't matter. <br /><br />As a book blogger I have had some authors who are a little too big for their boots but I fix them with a beady eyed email and treat everyone equally. I don't tolerate any diva nonsense over on my blog and never flatter egos. It does surprise me what people come out with sometimes though. I had an author make such a list of demands from me the other day I wondered whether to offer her fresh fruit, lillies and room service on top of my free help hahaA Woman's Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313365709606562800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-35566435603170670712015-04-26T02:42:11.226-07:002015-04-26T02:42:11.226-07:00Haha..yes ideed.One of my less happy reviewers (US...Haha..yes ideed.One of my less happy reviewers (US) says that they don't like books written in present tense. If they'd read the free download (surely they did?) they MUST have noticed it was present tense. That's actually the sort of thing that does irritate. If someone doesn't like your stuff for taste reasons, fair comment.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-43641512986165999062015-04-26T01:59:45.068-07:002015-04-26T01:59:45.068-07:00I'll just make a note of something I didn'...I'll just make a note of something I didn't know until my husband discovered it by making the mistake himself; it might be of interest to all. You know when you see a review with 3* that just says 'haven't read it yet', or 'didn't read it'? These aren't actually reviews posted by people. They are the result of Amazon sending an email to ask for feedback for a product. Your response is automatically posted as a review, with a 3* unless otherwise stated, I think (obviously you won't give a star rating if you haven't read the book!). I imagine at some point in the future Amazon will realise that this is not an effective way of encouraging reviews. Or not. Who knows, eh?<br /><br />As for the 1* and 2* reviews, anyone who moans about them on social networking sites ought to grow up. What, you mean someone doesn't think what you've done is totally marvellous? As you say, suck it up! I also wish that all writers would distinguish between genuine 'trolls', like the competitors who tried to trash your book, Carol, but those who just... don't like your book. Didn't enjoy it. Thought it was badly written. Boring. Whatever. You will always get the idiots who leave a 1* because they thought they were buying a novel and didn't bother to read the description to see that the book is a short story, for instance, but these are not that common. (ps, hardcore moi!!)Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-43492164765865586412015-04-26T01:19:00.468-07:002015-04-26T01:19:00.468-07:00Actually, well done you. That is HARD! My 1 stars ...Actually, well done you. That is HARD! My 1 stars etc were received on the back of a lot of top reviews and so look very sad and lonely sitting down there. One's first reviews are important. I review a LOT for Amazon (mixed genres) but if I seeI am the first person to leave a review, I do try to make it a good one. If I really can'tf finda lot of positives, I wait until there are some other reviews up before posting. OK, I do believe there are a lot of books that shouldn't be published and are badly written, but I am aware that the writer has gone through the same processes as the rest of us, and that effort should be respected.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-76213098168551917512015-04-25T21:00:56.004-07:002015-04-25T21:00:56.004-07:00The first time my book received a low number of st...The first time my book received a low number of stars (but no review) on Goodreads, I was very upset. I tried to have it removed: The book was only out 2 days when it received the 2 stars. It hadn't sold any ebooks yet and nobody could possibly have received a print copy. This person just didn't like the concept, probably, or hit 2 stars by mistake. Either way, I was very upset for a while. Very upset. As time passed, it mattered less and less. Now it matters not at all. And I know that's it's important to keep focusing on the future and on the positive. Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14347464518296293051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-86014208981111716172015-04-25T10:50:19.552-07:002015-04-25T10:50:19.552-07:00I agree. It is pretty clear from reading mine that...I agree. It is pretty clear from reading mine that they readers got hold of the wrong book for them. Surprising as they can now download a sample.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-41664595873032746212015-04-25T09:53:58.137-07:002015-04-25T09:53:58.137-07:00Great post!
You know, I never noticed 'episod...Great post! <br />You know, I never noticed 'episodes not chapters' when I read Diamonds and dust, I just enjoyed it, immensely! <br /><br />You get all the stars from me :o)Kimmiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974750428498873046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-77051115824640292362015-04-25T09:52:38.852-07:002015-04-25T09:52:38.852-07:00Excellent advice as always, CarolStar. The one and...Excellent advice as always, CarolStar. The one and two stars give a bit of a jolt, but as you say, we don't really figure in the reader's eyes. I did ask Amazon to delete one 1 star review which simply said "didn't read it", and they did, as they got the point, but for the rest, it's best to roll with the punches.Vallypeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309284606572565277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-25410831996826393972015-04-25T03:49:03.421-07:002015-04-25T03:49:03.421-07:00...magnificent post 1.000,000-stars, m’Lady, Carol......magnificent post 1.000,000-stars, m’Lady, Carol !!!! :):)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02205251775637958014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-72330336748358941172015-04-25T03:03:33.705-07:002015-04-25T03:03:33.705-07:00Excellent article. Criticism obviously hurts but e...Excellent article. Criticism obviously hurts but every creative work, be it art or literature, is subjective: What appeals to one person may be total rubbish to another! In a more personal way, not everyone we meet is going to like us. We just have to suck it up, shrug it off & remember the people who think we're great!!Jacy Breanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-82173467506029003092015-04-25T01:51:26.254-07:002015-04-25T01:51:26.254-07:00"But it is also not healthy to think we are m..."But it is also not healthy to think we are more important than we are."<br /><br />Oh yes - as someone once said to me, no one should behave as if their sh*t doesn't stink! <br /><br />And it doesn't only apply to writers. Our re-standing (Conservative) MP needs reminding that she's not a goddess just because she has a huge majority - she didn't turn up for a pre-election hustings on environmental issues. Am afraid, if I did the star-thing, I'd only give her one for that!!JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-7388386755345766072015-04-25T01:13:20.985-07:002015-04-25T01:13:20.985-07:00I shall join you.I shall join you.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-66803513306119006752015-04-25T01:06:11.804-07:002015-04-25T01:06:11.804-07:00Well, being the mature adult that I am, I am alrea...Well, being the mature adult that I am, I am already preparing myself for any bad reviews I may/will! receive, come the launch of my book next month.<br /><br />I am doing this by harvesting a lock of hair from all those making a purchase which will be used in conjunction with the pins and the voodoo doll I'll have shaped in their likeness. Bitter? Moi?<br /><br />Good post Hedges! Hit the nail on the head!...(some critics should be hit with equal force!)Lynn Gerrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18061020895933480996noreply@blogger.com