Today, I received a two-star rating on my debut novel, Passage of Promise. It was my first two-star review out of twenty that have been mostly five and four stars.
As a newly-published author, I expected to receive some ratings that judged my work mediocre. It is part of the life of an author.
Even top, best-selling authors get one-star and two-star reviews, some, unfortunately, with a few nasty remarks. It’s par for the course in the realm of the author’s world, as I said.
Experienced authors have always given the advice to newer authors that they must grow thick skins and not take reviews that aren’t spectacular to heart.
I found the two-star anonymous reviewer’s comments pretty fair. Not everyone is going to like my storyline or my writing style.
This is natural.
As a reader myself, I too, pick up books to read, and come to the same conclusions. Although, if I don’t like the writing style, I don’t buy the book, so I may be even more picky than my two-star reviewer!
The latest book I bought and am having a struggle getting through, I read the first few pages on Amazon and tended to like it because I thought the writing style was pretty good.
But I admit now that the storyline so far has been dragging, and I’m finding it easy to set down the book. The story just isn’t drawing me in to the point where I feel compelled to keep reading it.
Therefore, I understand everybody’s tastes are different, and that each author has her/his niche readers. And that’s good enough for me.
New writers out there and newly-published writers, don’t be discouraged if or when you may get a negative or lower-starred review. Count it as a good thing.
There are three things good about even two-star reviews that are somewhat negative, especially the one I received:
- The comments weren’t really insulting.
- The person took the time to leave a review.
- You learn what each reader gleans from your novel.
For someone who doesn’t really have a high self-esteem, I do know my writing is good, that my stories are worth sharing, and I appreciate the feedback.
Newly-published writers, keep writing and keep publishing your work. There are enough readers out there for each of us.
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Modest Musings 