When it's your first book, as it is for me, and probably any book, you have those great reviews that come in from friends and family. The scariest part of publishing your long pored over thriller is waiting for that r-e-a-l review. It is the one thing that will rip your heart out, cause you to throw up your hands and never write again if it's a terrible review. And believe me, they are out there. I'll have one as sure as the sun rises in the morning (behind the clouds in Washington State where I live.)
There are two types of general reviewers. There are those who really are sincere and those who got out on the wrong side of the bed, missed their first cup of coffee and decided to blast someone they don't know because they can't get away with it with a loved one. Voila'! You, my dear flangernoggens, are their victims. You've poured your soul into your works and had excellent reviews from other readers, and one jerk feeling the need to issue cruel and unusual punishment, dumps it on you. Some of these lovely people have selected a book thinking it will be one type but finding out it's another. My Christian writing friends see this too often. Others look through the book reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or any of the other retailers and see a book with some great reviews and decide this is the author they want to destroy. It happens again and again and again.
Now, here are my pearls of wisdom to all of you who wish to put pen to paper and write your heart out. Those who decide you are public enemy number one on any given day, those who write the worst review any of us have ever seen, will start seeing the "No" clicked in the section that says, "Did you find this review helpful?" People who are reading great reviews on a book and then come across the review written by Dumb-Dumb and his brothers Dumber and Dumbest, can see through the teeth in this nasty review and don't give it any credence. It makes no sense to anyone when there is a vicious comment when all the others are reasonable.
So when the time comes and you hit the "Publish" button, gird your loins, get out a fresh bottle of Tequilla just to keep on hand, and when that lousy review comes through, drink a toast to the guy who tried to ruin your day. Oh, and drink two toasts to all those who made your day with their own take on your book. You'll feel positively giddy!
There are two types of general reviewers. There are those who really are sincere and those who got out on the wrong side of the bed, missed their first cup of coffee and decided to blast someone they don't know because they can't get away with it with a loved one. Voila'! You, my dear flangernoggens, are their victims. You've poured your soul into your works and had excellent reviews from other readers, and one jerk feeling the need to issue cruel and unusual punishment, dumps it on you. Some of these lovely people have selected a book thinking it will be one type but finding out it's another. My Christian writing friends see this too often. Others look through the book reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or any of the other retailers and see a book with some great reviews and decide this is the author they want to destroy. It happens again and again and again.
Now, here are my pearls of wisdom to all of you who wish to put pen to paper and write your heart out. Those who decide you are public enemy number one on any given day, those who write the worst review any of us have ever seen, will start seeing the "No" clicked in the section that says, "Did you find this review helpful?" People who are reading great reviews on a book and then come across the review written by Dumb-Dumb and his brothers Dumber and Dumbest, can see through the teeth in this nasty review and don't give it any credence. It makes no sense to anyone when there is a vicious comment when all the others are reasonable.
So when the time comes and you hit the "Publish" button, gird your loins, get out a fresh bottle of Tequilla just to keep on hand, and when that lousy review comes through, drink a toast to the guy who tried to ruin your day. Oh, and drink two toasts to all those who made your day with their own take on your book. You'll feel positively giddy!