In the four or so months I’ve been book reviewing on this blog, I’ve given out some pretty bad reviews.  As an amateur writer myself, I can understand the crushing feeling authors get when someone gives them a bad review.  Although I can sympathize with writers, I would never have started a book reviewing blog if I couldn’t handle giving out bad reviews when they are deserved.  So, all you writers out there, please read on and keep these things in mind when (not if) you get a bad review.

1.  It’s not personal.

Unless the reviewer is a complete jerk, a bad review is never personal.  They aren’t criticizing you; they’re criticizing your work.  There’s a huge distinction between the two, although it doesn’t seem that way when your precious work is being trashed.  Giving you a bad review is not an attack on your character, beliefs, etc.  It is simply criticizing a product you have put out into the world with the expectation that people will buy it and talk about it.  If you’re still convinced that bad reviews are always personal, let me ask you this: When you last criticized a product, were you personally attacking the creator of the product?  Probably not.  And yes, your book is a product for all intents and purposes because you are selling it. Continue reading →