Review Group discussion

Question: how does it *feel* to you when you get a bad review?

I keep seeing posts pop up asking writers how they deal with bad reviews. I thought I'd write some advice our here.

I don't want to just dump the blog link, though. If you have any further advice, or if you disagree completely, or just want to chat, please do. :)

https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...

Thank you. A very down to earth review of reviews! It hurts to get a poor review, but something strange inside you screams out for more. The one I hated the most was a 2 star review, with no comment; so frustrating, but maybe saved me from greater misery but saying nothing.

Arch, Liz, a silent two-star is just infuriating!

My phone autocorrected "argh". Haha.

I don't think anyone has got as bad a review as the one I got below. Although it was a review of one of my fanfics, not of a book, I'd like you to read it and tell me how I should feel about it. It's right at the top of this list...

https://www.fanfiction.net/r/13290261/

The review you got is what they call a "hatchet job." It has happened to other writers/celebrities. This was someone doing their best troll imitation. Reviews are supposed to be objective, but this was not an objective review. I think you can safely ignore it because it doesn't actually make any specific criticisms. The reader hated your writing. Okay, that's them. What about your writing? There's nothing in this review about it. No one's writing is perfect, but I don't see any criticisms here. Just a lot of exaggerations. Forget about it. Absolutely deep six it. Pay attention to real criticism and praise. This is phony.

Bad reviews don't bother me. We all get them. That person just isn't your type of reader, and you're not their type of author.

One thing that is frustrating is when someone gives you low marks and does not explain why, no comments, no review, just a star or two. If a reader is going to give such a grade, I feel they should at least explain themselves. Personally, I appreciate real constructive criticism. It's what helps me grow as a writer.

Any additional puzzlement for me is when they give a low grade and then go and read the next book in the series. How bad can it be if you read the next book?

I would love to understand the mindset (someday) of people who do this.

I can accept a bad review from an everyday reader. They like what they like and that's that. 1 star, 2 star - that is their choice. If it is another author, I would take it with a pinch of salt. Usually, there is some agenda - i.e. someone else has rated them badly and they need to hit out at someone. Unless someone has sold thousand of books and won major prizes, they are in the same boat as everyone else.

What is a genuine reviewer like myself to do if I honestly want to offer to review somebody's book for them? Is it allowed? The drawback would be that so many people would instantly assume that I am dishonest or want to charge them for it. I have never and would never accept money in exchange for giving my opinion of a book. I just like to help authors of genuinely good books get the word out about them. If I see an author of very interesting books on Goodreads, is there any rule against me asking if they would like me to review their book for them?

Some people like to rain on other's work, and I honestly don't know how they get a kick out of it.

I don't mean genuine ratings, for example, let's say a book was published with the TOC missing some links it can be frustrating for a reader and makes the rating system (whatever it may be to them) justifiable.

But if someone deliberately wants to give you one star and throw some troll keywords because they know it will hurt you, it's sick.

Best advice I learned for the author: do not read your reviews.

Bruce wrote: "Best advice I learned for the author: do not read your reviews."

Well said.

I rarely post a two star review because I rarely make it past the sample of a two star book. When I do, the book had some potential that kept me reading.

If the potential is not met, I post a review with my constructive criticism. Usually, my two stars go to new and/or self published authors. The problems are most commonly - "too much tell" or "protagonist issues (unlikable, dumb as a post, inconsistent" Granted, these issues reflect my personal taste, so I check to see if I am alone in my opinion (I never have been).

I hope the authors do read these reviews because they have promise. My frustration with the story is usually - it could have been so terrific if...

In these cases, I kind of assume the gushy 5 stars are industry or author friends and relatives. But there's no accounting for taste.

S. wrote: "What is a genuine reviewer like myself to do if I honestly want to offer to review somebody's book for them? Is it allowed? The drawback would be that so many people would instantly assume that I a..."

Like most self-published authors, I work very hard to find appropriate reviewers for my books. (I write in a fairly narrow niche of Biblical fiction.) So when someone volunteers to review my book because they found it on their own, I love it.

I would be shocked if very many writers felt otherwise...

By all means, jump in and make an author's day...

Ned wrote: "The review you got is what they call a "hatchet job." It has happened to other writers/celebrities. This was someone doing their best troll imitation. Reviews are supposed to be objective, but this..."

Miriam wrote: "Some people like to rain on other's work, and I honestly don't know how they get a kick out of it.

I don't mean genuine ratings, for example, let's say a book was published with the TOC missing s..."

I feel a bad review is not good enough. I recently had a rude/ insulting review from another writer who s niche was poetry. I didn't feel it was a fair critique or a fair match. Also it was a suspiciously fast turnaround compared to my other reviewers which made me feel the story wasn't even completely read . The person was clearly in a hurry to rack up reviews on their work and move onto the next reading round as quickly as possible. It isn't always about the 4/5 star reviews ,its how rude and curt SOME authors can be in order to elevate themselves instead of being helpful by being constructive.
I have re-edited the whole of my book based on the very constructive feedback since and it has been a great help from those people. I thank them for being constructive critiques and not rude and demeaning. We are all in the same boat helping is positivity. We can all get somewhere with this its the internet.

I think you should be very careful with your comments. There are several reader/reviewers in the group, myself included, who read and review books quickly. Implying that a reader who has taken the time to read and review a fellow author’s book hasn’t “completely read” it, and has completed it “suspiciously fast” is offensive and against the spirit of this group.

I join a lot of review groups--have for years. Mostly my experience has been positive; however, I have experienced unfair reviews. For example, one reviewer stated that he had skipped pages and then complained that the plot had holes! My pet peeve, though, is reviewers who give a bad review simply because the book was not their cup of tea. We are assigned books to read in the review groups. How likely is it that we will be assigned the type of book we like? Not very. If I gave honest reviews based on my personal reaction most of my reviews would say, "I was bored by this book" simply because most of the books I am assigned to read are books that I would never have chosen for myself. Instead, I review as objectively as I can, and I try to review from the perspective of the audience for the book. My reviews are based on these questions: How well did the author meet the expectations of the intended audience? If I was an English teacher reading this book to assess proficiency in narrative writing, what grade would I give?

J.E. wrote: "I think you should be very careful with your comments. There are several reader/reviewers in the group, myself included, who read and review books quickly. Implying that a reader who has taken the ..."
I have gotten reviews from "reviewers" that had obviously not read the book. Some are just regurgitations of the blurb, and others are fallacious statements about nonexistent plot elements or statements that critical info was missing--and the info was not missing. I am not talking about misunderstandings or interpretations. I am talking about statements made about plot that are objectively inaccurate.

I worked and worked on a short e-book, after many years since my last publication. I was a bit pleased with myself.

Then... nothing, nothing, nothing. So I requested a Kindle promotion, a few days with its price set at "free," hoping to give it a little boost.

Finally, I see an Amazon review. No, just a rating. Two stars.

I think most likely some anonymous shopper/reader read anything from just the blurb to the whole thing, didn't care for it, clicked two stars and continued on their way. Just as they might do with any other product on Amazon and as is their right and their prerogative.

But still... :(

Carly wrote: "I worked and worked on a novella after many years since my last publication. I was a bit pleased with myself.

Then... nothing, nothing, nothing. So I requested a Kindle promotion, a few days with..."
I'm sorry you have had this disappointing and frustrating experience. I hate drive-bys too and my guess is that most of the people who give a one- or two-star rating without explanation have not explanation--it's just being nasty for the sake of being nasty. Perhaps you could join a reading round here on Goodreads for reviews? The reviews tend to be analytical, which might be helpful.

Thanks, Laura. I mean, it is funny in a way. For ex. It comes up in my feed right next to an alleged children’s book called “Face or Butt?” That I ordered for a gag gift. Face or Butt” rates 5 stars, with over reviews. 🤣

I meant with over “100” reviews lol.

How many beta readers did you have before you published it? If you have gotten tons of positive feedback from the beta readers, you should not worry about the reviews.

I had plenty of critiques and etc. and am not a newbie. You can get low star ratings regardless of what you do. Oh well, no biggie.

So just sharing a “moment” here, not really looking for advice. :)

Sorry, probably should have mentioned that with my original post.

Well then, don’t worry about it. Hater’s gonna hate. You know what you have and others will too.

Thanks, Juliette.

I suppose I would want to feel it is deserved. I work very hard on my craft and aim to create an immersive fantasy tale. It could be its just not your thing, and that's okay, but if you rake it over the coals, I would prefer it was for reasons of poor execution or content, and not because of personal taste. but....What can you do?

If I have a lot of reviews already, I can sluff it off. But if my review count is still low, a poor review can kill it dead on the spot. I would not like that.

But...if they point to my poor execution, and its right on...it would be easier to accept.

As it is, I wont like it, but come back in a few days, and I'll be over it. If I agree, I might even go and fix it.

If I was to feel it was totally undeserved, I might complain, but I would not expect anyone to care. I would also think that it might show that way to others reading it. So its effect would diminish. Sometimes things say more about the one reviewing, than it does about the target of the review...

I would say, it may be true that getting a bad review can be helpful. Books just cant always be 5 stars, and without some low ones, the credibility of the system looks skewed. And some of those reviews might draw attention to the book in a way that still gets others to read it. So...there is good and bad in everything.