I would love to hear your thoughts. How do you internalize negative feedback and criticism?

Amber Skye Thanks for the question! Thick skin is a must.

I think there are two things to consider:

1. Someone called good money on me, and I didn't like it.
2. I failed to consider the source.

Let's face it, not everyone is going to love us...and ratings and comments are subjective. But we have to be objective. Sometimes, after the initial hurt subsides, I can see where the reader has a few points. So I consider them and make little adjustments my next go-around if I think it's warranted.

But some folks simply lack manners. My mama always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing." While I didn't always take mom's advice, she was spot on here. I never respond to negative feedback or argue with a reviewer. I did have a recent exception, however. I received a two-star review for Fender Bender on Goodreads. It turned out that the reader felt duped into buying my story; she felt misled that it was a romance, not an erotica piece. She wasn't snarky or nasty about it; she simply stated her frustration. What did I do? I contacted her about her misgivings (I didn't argue with the review; it's her review, after all). She was kind and gracious when I offered her free copies of my two romantic pieces to make up for her feelings of being misled.

At the end of the day, as a writer, I am putting myself in a position to be criticized! I have to take whatever comes, fairly or unfairly.

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