I am blessed (and I do mean blessed) to have many such positive reviews on my novel, The Boy in the Basement. When I read a review that demonstrates to me that the reader really understood where I was leading them; I feel so humbled and validated.

However, although the vast majority of the reviews are positive (4.4 out of 5 on Goodreads), when I get a negative comment, it does a real number in my head. If I allow it, the comment can weave intricate webs of doubt into my brain. So I don’t allow it to fester. Instead, I utilize self-talk, affirmations and other Mindfulness techniques to push through the negative thoughts. And they go away.

I pose this question, in all sincerity, to all my author friends: How do you handle negative reviews? What are some tools that I can add to my toolbox? Would love to hear from you all!

Angela

9 thoughts on “Writer’s Perspective”

  1. One of my author friends never reads the reviews at all. I received feedback from a judge on a Regency story informing me she hated the words I used and later stated she didn’t read historical novels. Wait…what? I’ve read negative reviews from people who obviously did not read the story. I learned to look at the negative review and ask, “Is their criticism valid?” What can I learn from it? Then I ask, “Do I need to change for them?” Every single time, the answer to the second question has been no.

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  2. I think almost all of us latch onto that one negative comment. But people read and see life through filters so often their view is more a reflection of them than anything else. It can be hard to take that on board … but the majority view is usually the right view.

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  4. It is that story, make lemonade out of lemons!

    Well, the sincerity of those who hate us or act against us can be an instrument of improvement if it is treated with the perspective of causing self-development and our own evolution.
    Otherwise, they are just offensive stones on our roof with the purpose of depreciating and/or nullifying us.

    So, make lemons a lemon plantation.
    Therefore, entrepreneurship is revolutionary!

    Success, lady!

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  5. Like someone else said, I think there’s wisdom and not reading reviews or having a trusted family member filter them for you. There will always be haters no matter what. I’m so glad that you are using mindfulness techniques to return to positivity!

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