Publicly: Ignore them completely.
Privately: Complain like hell to anyone who will listen.
And to cheer yourself up, remember what the great Oscar Wilde used to say:
How to Deal With Bad Reviews
Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing
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Nathan Bransford
Helping authors achieve their dreams
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Amen
Perfect pic!
You might also try screaming at pigeons. I've never had a review, good or bad, but this seems like it might help.
Yup. No one book is going to appeal to every reader. You're never going to change their minds and you just come off looking bad for trying.
I noticed when my first two novels were made available as free Kindle downloads they garnered some bad reviews by people who were shocked that they had Christian content. Come on, people. They were free!
Now, that's my complaining. And I've otherwise kept my mouth shut. See, Nathan. I've taken your advice.
Very wise. I believe this is how one should approach their entire life. Especially the 'complain like hell' part. Very satisfying.
Here's an Oscar Wilde quote for you:
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much".
Oscar Wilde
Thanks for lightening things up a bit, Nathan. 🙂
You mean creating a big public shit fight is bad?
Awesome!
Voice your complaints to a two-year old. They seem to listen, agree with everything you say, and don't mind if you cry a bit.
They also don't repeat it. (if they do, no one understands them).
Well said, as usual. Love the photo/haters mashup. Haters gonna hate, and writers gonna write. Back to it…
Here's an Oscar Wilde quote for you:
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much".
Love that, Mira! Thanks!
hahahahaaaa
WIN
I've never had an actual review, but I don't think we could exist as writers without getting feedback that hurts over the years. I've found that it hurts initially but it strengthens us in the long run. Kind of like working out tears muscle down so it can build back stronger. Of course, that's just the CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. The rest is just personal opinion and we know to toss that out because no book will appeal to all readers. It's not possible. Some people, however, are sure that their opinion is gold somehow and everyone should listen to them, not realizing that when it comes to any kind of art, there is no definite good or bad, only what each individual likes…
Great advice.
My first ebook, Vampires Rule, is going to be getting reviewed starting in June, and I am extremely nervous. My mom and I were talking about it the other day. A few of the book bloggers say they'll let you know if they're going to give you a bad review and you can ask them not to post it, but I think a bad review is better than no review. Most people want to judge a book for themselves and won't take someone else's opinion too seriously.
Haha love that picture! And how very true.
It's a pity Jacqueline Howett didn't subscribe to your views, Nathan: https://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html
Haha…love it!
Once again, the importance of a strong network of friends and fellow creative folks. Who else is going to listen to you complain, whilst ensuring you don't slosh red wine on things you really don't want to stain?
Quick and to the point. I like it.
Awesome!
Important safety consideration: Do Not Burn Bad Reviews.
Remember that only you can prevent forest fires. =)
Kellye 🙂
Oscar Wilde is one of my favs, so clever (despite his issues with women).
If Nathan will indulge me, here's another one:
The play was a great success, but
the audience was a total failure"
— Oscar Wilde
Okay, I'll stop now. 🙂
Hate on me haters hate on me….hmmm hmmm
Lived with it all my life…
Ms. Trite says:
To err is human and so is eating to much, drinking to oblivion, screwing to many strangers and spouting off your, opinions, thoughts and all around vitriol to a world of dingoes.
To forgive is not only divine it’s necessary.
Is his chair made out of Wookie or Ewok?
I used to have a roommate that would complain to a framed poster of Johnny Cash that he'd hung in his room.
He would talk to Johnny and then go quiet for a minute, like he was listening to what Johnny was saying, nod his head, and continue with his vent. It was both funny and creepy.
I stop eating cheese before bedtime
"Is his chair made out of Wookie or Ewok?"
bwahahahahaha…
The credit for this goes completely to Steve Abernathy, who you should know from the forums, but I love to think about Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer when it comes to negative reviews.
Funny. But while that's great advice for anyone whose work has actually been accepted for publication by a traditional publisher (large or small) and has been edited, it's perhaps not the best advice for the do-it-yourself publisher who just writes some drivel and uploads it to Smashwords. For that author, it would perhaps be helpful to take a deep breath and then to consider that the reviewer may have something to teach her. Reacting defensively, even in private, is not going to result in better writing.
Thanks for the great advice.
It's true for any art, be it writing, fine arts, performing arts, etc. Heck, it's even true for just being you. The haters are out there, and they will hate anything. Even apple pie!
Love it!
And then, of course, there's always chocolate. 🙂
Okay, so the guy had a few quirks. But this blog illustrates more than any what all of us, I think, aspire to. I would be ecstatic knowing my words were still being quoted a century after I left this world.
Can't we try to look like goodie two-shoes in public and thank them for their time? 😛 Stephanie Faris and Dick Margulis both mention considering what they have to say to improve writing, and I don't disagree.
Hopefully you've built up a hide like a Rhino from years of abuse adn rejection before getting to the bad reviews.
All those years had to have SOME purpose, right?
Also, i've found sucking my thumb makes it a little better.
🙂
Smart guy – Oscar Wilde.
Had to visit his gravesite in Pere Lachaise to see the kisses covering the lower half of the monument. (there's a photo of the monument on my writing blog: (scroll down – it's on the right sidebar)
https://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.com/
Yeah, haters will hate–and sheep will follow like lemmings as they fall into the black hole that is swarming (of any kind).
Ignoring a bad review is best. It's there, so what. Consider the source, but use the 3 day rule if you must reply.
Most likely you'll cool off.
You can also get them back in future novels. You have to be discreet. But there are ways 🙂
It's great therapy to eat a reviewer for dinner in fiction. You're safe there. And no one can point any fingers.
HA!
Brightened my day significantly.
And Wilde also said:
A man can't be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
reading a book is so subjective. Just because one reviewer hates it, doesn't mean they all will. It's one person's opinion. it should not be taken personally.
How to deal with bad reviews? That's what hitmen are for.
Timothy, of course creating a big public shit fight isn't bad.
Lucinda, don't just complain TO a two-year-old, complain LIKE a two-year-old. Terrible tantrums are just the ticket.
Jenny, burn the REVIEWERS instead of the reviews.
Sage advice: tell your dog. She will listen, cuddle, and tell you that it's going to be fine.
Do not tell your cat. He will say how shocked he was that it took this long to get a bad review and he thought your book was rubbish from the first moment you told him your plot.
Oh, and you have a typo on page 237.
Now, feed me.
I take criticism harshly, so whenever I received bad reviews I smile and nod and take them with as much grace as the Queen, and then rant later on to my two poor turtles.
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
I had one, from a supposedly reputable organization whose name you would recognize, that got the plot completely ass-backwards.
But, you know, I'm taking Oscar Wilde's advice (that Mira so helpfully posted). No biggie, Supposedly Reputable Organization. I'm sure you were trying your very best.
*Chuckles* Really? I missed that exact quote from Wilde. But, I get the message and it's totally on point. Thanks for reminding us, Nathan.
Have You heard what is happening to Michael Connelly?
Bad reviews for bad pricing! As a storm of protests roll in on his (some say) over-priced Kindle titles, he and his publisher are nursing a black eye this week.
Ouch! I'd love for someone to get a quote from his on this topic.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha. Well-played, Nathan. And solid, simple advice, too.
This is fantastic.
Now Nathan, does this go for positive reviews as well, or is "Thanks, Mom!" too much?
Wry wryter, ha, great quote.