T-Minus 6 Days & Counting – Thick Skin
So this time next week my book will be live and people will have parted with their money to purchase my book – to those people that have pre-ordered it already, I thank you wholeheartedly for your support and I hope that you continue on this journey with me.
With my book being out there, it is open for all and sundry to comment on. If you’re familiar with Amazon and Goodreads, anybody with an account can put a review up. It means they can put a 1 star review up and basically say “Crap” and leave it at that. There will be lots of people that say that that review is helpful. How can a one word review be helpful, but perhaps that’s all people need.
Then there will be the 3 star reviews which people will say they enjoyed it, but it didn’t quite rock their world. Those types of reviews are good because it piques people’s interest, they’ll wonder why wasn’t it worth the two extra stars and maybe that will be enough for them to purchase it. I hope it is.
Then there will be the 5 star reviews where people say they just couldn’t put it down. Those are the reviews that all authors want.
For me, being brand new I’m going to have to build that thick skin and not pay attention to reviews. If I pay too much attention to them it’s going to bring me down. I know there are books that I don’t like, but I certainly don’t leave 1 star reviews. It may be because I know how much blood, sweat and tears went into to writing that sucker! I know that I will not check all the boxes with some readers and I accept that. I will still silently thank them for taking a chance and buying my book.
Reviews are a big part of the industry now, you cannot avoid them. And that’s fine, everything has a place and a reason. I just have to remember to be the duck and let it roll off and not the sponge that soaks it all up.
Don’t forget to enter my contest by clicking on the lovely button to the right!
Tomorrow will still be review Tuesday so remember to look in and see what book I’m reviewing tomorrow.
Keep safe and happy writing!!
The Conversation
I know EXACTLY what you mean! And at the risk of increasing your paranoia, I have discovered another problem – I received my first review on Goodreads today. Not quite sure how, as she seems to be in the US, but anyway. It was a thoughtful, intelligent, fair, three star review and I’d love to thank her for it, because even though she didn’t love, love, love the book, I really appreciate her taking the trouble to read it, do the review and do it so well. But is that weird? I think some people find author feedback weird. Yet another thing to worry about!
Yes I do understanding. It’s often said that no contact is better because even though you are sincere someone with a cynical mind may think there is a slight tinge of sarcasm in your response. It was something to think about though.
Now was it a review site? Did Destiny put it up on Netgalley for review? That could be how she got it.
I know of an amazing author who absolutely refuses to look at any reviews. She worries it will affect how she writes her next books. She’s a best selling author, so clearly something she’s doing is right. That being said, there are people who have given her terrible reviews. I admire her for finishing a project and moving on to the next one without dwelling on the reviews. I hope to be like that, but I know myself too well. I’ll be glued to the computer reading every review out there. Ha!
Wow I think that’s the way to be. Also stop looking at Amazon at your author ranking. It’s not going to change by you staring at it. Of course I’m sure I’m going to be obsessive about it too. But the novelty may wear off quickly LOL
[…] Amazon, B&N and blogs, the opportunity to review books is available to all. As mentioned in another blog, you have to have a thicker skin nowadays than you did, say 20 years […]