In the past, I’ve dealt with the subject of handling rejection from publishers. But how do you handle simple criticism of your work? What do you do if you get comments or reviews bashing your work or even you as the author? In this post, I’ll attempt to address this sometimes delicate issue.
In any line of work, you’re going to be subject to the opinions of others, but in no field is opinion more prevalent than in creative pursuits. It’s always nice to receive praise and compliments on our work, but sometimes it is received with less enthusiasm, and that is where things can get interesting. First of all, know that it is important to read every review, since these are people essentially taking time out of their day to critique your work without being paid for it, which means they are truly passionate about their opinions. But especially read the negative ones, as it is from those that you will often learn the most. That is not to say every negative comment is helpful. The kind that simply state that “This book sucks!” or “So-and-so’s work is much better!” do nothing for the author or the potential reader.
However, if the person leaving the review explains why the book sucks or why another author’s work is superior, take note. Perhaps the explanation is utter nonsense, or based purely in opinion. However, if they explain how the plot structure didn’t live up to their standards or mentioned something flawed about the mechanics of the writing or inconsistencies, you should most definitely keep them in mind for your next work, or even future impressions/editions of the work being criticized.
Now of course, positive reviews can be helpful as well. If you receive a 5-star review that describes in any detail what you did right, then be sure to take note of that as well so you may continue to do what works while improving on the areas that need improvement. In a way, these are the rarest kinds of reviews, since the majority of positive reviews tend to consist of empty praise. While good for the ego, these do little to help improve your craft.
In many cases, you will get a mixed review: some positive aspects as well as some negative ones. With these, again, it is best to glean the important parts of what can be improved while seeing what you did well so you may maintain the high points while elevating the low points, thereby elevating the overall quality of your work in future.
On occasion, you will get a chance to respond to critiques and reviews directly, especially if you have a noticeable social media presence. This is a definite double-edged sword. For while interaction with your audience can be an excellent way to maintain your readers’ loyalty and interest, the temptation to respond in kind when someone offers criticism can be very dangerous depending on your temperament. Just remember, every negative experience offers some kind of silver lining. If you get a “hater” in the comments who seems to have legitimate grievances and is not merely “trolling”, there is a golden opportunity to address those criticisms directly, and perhaps get that disillusioned reader to give your work a second chance, if handled skillfully enough. As always with such situations, sit back and think for a moment before acting. It could save you and your readers a lot of grief down the road.