Those 2 Star Reviews Aren't as Bad as They Seem

I know ... based on this title, you're thinking I've gone insane. But the truth is that those 1,2, and 3 star reviews really aren't the end of the world ... or your writing career. While they can be hard to swallow and make you start to doubt yourself, they can also help you. Not only can they encourage you to continue writing in order to avoid more bad reviews (Note: There is always going to be someone who doesn't like your book. That's just the way it is, but that doesn't mean you are not good at what you do), but they can also help you determine your strengths and weaknesses. Because, let's face it, we are our own worst critic.

But how do you decide which reviews are helping you and which are just bashing? It's not easy, but after nine books, I think I'm finally getting the hang of which reviews to take seriously. On my most recent release, The Shift, I received a three star review. Let's use that as an example, shall we?

The review, and how I use it to my advantage (None of what I say is against the reviewer. Rather how I was able to use the review to my advantage):

"I want to start off by saying how I thought Elli's concept was great! I loved see that someone's opinion about "love is love".  (Okay. Good start. At least the biggest point of the book was a hit.)

I started having the problems with this book when Noah showed up. Noah is significantly older than her. (It's a shifter book, so his age doesn't matter to me. Of course, I'm one of those people who think age is just a number) I feel he eventually takes advantage of a lonely 18 year old who lusts after him. Maybe I see this from a mother's point of view but to have a "neighbor" live close to her and watch her grow up then jumps her bones at 18 (They are mates, so it wasn't like it wasn't mutual attraction)  isn't exactly "sexy" to me.

Noah seems more like just another father for her and less of a mate. always trying to protect her and Elli just listens?! I wouldn't listen if I was out for revenge.... (Everything in the paranormal world is new to her, so that's why she listens instead of going off half-cocked on her own and probably getting herself killed.)

I don't want to spoil anything so I will say that the death of characters is downplayed. Meaning that the other characters move on quickly. yes they seem to care but they jump right back to work. I didn't really get to slow down and experience the loss/emotion. (I can understand this, but they "moved on" because they had a war to overcome. There was emotion, but they didn't break down and become useless, because they knew they needed to have the strength to fight.)

Example is only a few hours after someone Elli loves is killed she then gets "threatened " by the team members about how to treat Noah (whom is at least twice her age).

“Don't break his heart,” she warns me, “or you'll have to answer to us.”

Saying this to a girl who has just suffered a major loss is severely insensitive. 

It really put a bad taste in my mouth.

I wish we would have got more of a history of the team and all their abilities. It became confusing to keep track of them during the fighting scenes since I only just heard their name a few pages ago. (Fight scenes are my weakness, so this I understand. Plus, I knew that I wanted to keep the team as secondary characters because I didn't want to just be writing the same things when their books came about.)

The book felt rushed once we got to the actual figuring stuff out pages.... I wish for more detail and a little bit of a slower pace. (Again, rushing is one of my problems, so I'm working on it.)

I did actually like this book. (Yay!) I'm still not a huge fan of Elli and Noah though....

(I wish they would have entered this whole thing as a friendship then once she gets a little older and working together they finally give in. their whole relationship seems like teenage lust and not a true "mate") (To each their own, but they have been friends for eighteen years so...)

I would rather see Elli as an independent woman trying to figure herself out before getting involved with a much older guy who now seems like he controls her.  (I honestly didn't see anywhere where he controls her, but the story comes across different to each person.)

The description of the change is a breath of fresh air for me. it's unique and I loved it.

"Unlike the book and movies explain, the transformation doesn't feel like my bones are breaking and reshaping. It feels like I'm being turned inside out, revealing the other creature residing beneath my skin. My bone structure doesn't change, and my organs don't move, but what does happen hurts just as much. Like a performer in a costume, my human body is encased within the animal, compressed and bent to fit." (This is the best news of the whole review! I was so worried about this idea, but I'm glad it's coming across well.)"

Now, see how I sort of work through the "bad" and turn it into "good"? Most of what this reviewer had trouble with was her own opinion and not really my writing. Since reviews are just that, opinion, every reader is entitled to their own. What you have to do is find the good within the bad. She didn't like Noah, but she liked Elli (the main character). She felt there was a lack of climax, but she liked the concept. 

There' s is nothing about this review that makes me want to stop writing. Why? Well, because without the criticism, I would never improve. And I'd rather be told the truth than have 100 reviews of "fluff" because people don't want to hurt my feelings. Yes; sometimes, reviews give me doubts, I'll admit that, but the best day of my writing career was the day I told myself "Write for yourself, and if the rest of the world doesn't like it, then so be it." I love my readers, and I want to please them, but in the long run, my books are for me. So as long as I like them...

That's not to say I love everything about my writing, but I am starting to improve. From the very first book I ever published to now, I'm really starting to see where I've added more strengths and eliminated some weaknesses. I still have some to overcome, but that will come in time.

Now, on the other side of the spectrum. The above review isn't really considering a "bad" one to me. But this next one certainly is, because there is nothing helpful what so ever about it. This was on my short story, His Brother's Widow. Now, I'm aware that story needed some work, so it's not that that's the problem. Actually, the problem is fairly obvious when you read the review ... if you could call it that.

"I wish I could give this story negative stars, because it's even worse than some books I've rated one star. Do. Not. Bother."

..............

Um ... what the hell was that?! I mean, how was it worse than some books you've rated one star? What didn't you like about it? Tell me something! Why did you even bother "reviewing" if you weren't even going to say something worth reading? 

This is what I call a "throw away review". That means I give it no merit what so ever. It's trash, just like they say my story is. Hmmmm ... is that what they call irony?

So, what have we learned here? Lower rated reviews are not always a bad thing. They can be really helpful, actually. So take the bad with the good, because you need both for your writing to balance. Nothing will ever be "perfect". In fact, that word shouldn't even be in your vocabulary, because there is no such thing. Everything and everyone has flaws, even if you can't see them at first glace. That doesn't make the bad or useless; that just makes them normal. It's the truth that not everyone will like the same things, and that's how the world runs. Otherwise, we'd all be robots, liking the same things, dressing the same way, etc. Who would want that?

My go-to saying is "focus on you". Write what you want, what you like, what you find entertaining. There are so many readers out there that you'll find the ones that like the same things as you. It may take a while, but they're out there. So "focus on you". Because, you do, and always will, come first.

Author Tip: People Watching

Between this blog and my Facebook page, we've discussed both Author Bibles and Idea Journals. Now, it's time to talk about something that most people take for granted, but is actually a very helpful tool for writers.

People Watching

One of the most important things about writing a book is to make your characters realistic. This isn't by creating their personality or their families ... it's about the way they move, the way they speak, the way they behave. And one of the best ways to write that is by watching people in every day life. 

Example: Going to the horse races and watching how a man reads his betting program. Maybe he strokes his goatee as he contemplates which horse is the best bet. Or perhaps he leans back, his belly protruding, and lifts his falling belt with one hand while holding the program with the other. 

Whatever it is, pay attention.

In fact, just like the idea journal that you should now have in your bag, have a small notebook to write down your observations as you watch the other people around you. For me, I simply go to the dollar store and purchase a pocket notebook with a button enclosure. For you, it might be something different. But whatever it is, use it. There is no such thing as too many tools when it comes to being a writer.

Next time: Taking Criticism

It Takes a Team

Remember in the last post how I talked about having a team of researchers? Well, they aren't the only ones on my team. I also have a typist, proofreader, promoters, a secretary, and a personal assistant. They are an amazing group of people, and I wouldn't be able to do most of my work without them. 

A lot of authors don't have the privilege of having a team behind them, but I've been lucky enough to find a group of gals who support and guide, receiving little in return. I wish I could give them more for what they do for me, but it's not in the cards right now ... like it might not be for other authors. That is why every day I thank the cosmic powers for them and their willingness to help. 

They're friends and family. 

This isn't a long post, and it really doesn't have much in the way of education on the life of a writer, but it's an important post nonetheless. I want to thank them all for everything they do.

Crissy Sutcliffe, Christy Parks, Bridget Parker, Ebony McMillan, Jessica Tahbonemah, Aislinn Pearce, Kelly Langford, and Stephanie Puterbaugh. This post is for you. <3