Note: I wrote this post [a long time ago] and it never went up so I'm posting it now. The info is outdated, I know. Please don't take it as me holding a grudge. I just think this is a good discussion, despite the fact that incident that sparked it took place some months ago.
Being a Taylor Swift [using experiences in blogging,] you may have noticed one really negative [no, but like really negative] review go up in the past. I'm not specifying who the author is or what the book is. That just isn't nice. Anyway, the review, in my opinion, never poked fun at the author.
So what happened was that a few days ago, I was on twitter and I happened to see the @[handle] Once I clicked it, I nearly laughed [okay, I did laugh] because the author had blocked me. I'd never had one conversation with her, when I said that I didn't like her book on twitter [and kind of went into a rant], I never once tagged her. Plus, this is a book that everyone loved, so what does my negative review even matter, right?
Isn't it books ≠ author and reviews ≠ reviewer?
That's why I never understood the reviewer hate [unless of course, the review is making fun of the author. Then that's just getting personal and the review DOES equal the reviewer.]
Another thing that I don't understand is that when someone writes a positive review, the author typically goes, "thank you!" and they're on their way. So why do they take extra effort on negative reviews? There are people who appreciate your work and you focus on the negative...?
I'm not a published author at all but I do write on wattpad. If someone were to hate my book, I think I would be alright with that because I love it so much. I've always believed that authors who can't take negative reviews should:
a) NOT READ THEM! Why would you subject yourself to that?
b) Not write back! Because we've seen what happens to authors who can't keep it to themselves. And if you haven't, consider yourself lucky because the amount of incidents were not pretty and pretty much effed up the book community for a while.
So there are the obvious no-nos:
- Don't call a reviewer out because we come back in swarms [there's a whole power imbalance possibility that Nereyda talks about beautifully.]
- Don't send a mean email to the reviewer demanding that it be taken down.
- Don't stalk the reviewer *side eyes*
But for me, these are the only ones that are obvious. So below are a list of questions that I would like you to answer. Should an author respond to a negative review like this? I'm not saying, what topics make you rage. I just mean, what do you think of authors doing things like these?
- Thumbs down-ing the review on a store like Amazon or B&N
- Getting friends/fans to thumbs down the review
- Blocking the review on twitter, fb etc.
- Subtweeting about a review, just as they might've subtweeted about your book.
- Venting to other friends about it in DM or text
- Correcting a reviewer's grammar/spelling as a comment.
- Author crying, "victim" and making the reviewer look worse than he/she is
- Commenting on the negative review in general
- Say something like "too bad you don't like my book! It's published" in the acknowledgements of the book or social media
- Calling a reviewer a "bully" but not taking any further action
Call this mere curiosity and for the purposes of discussion! So friends, let's discuss.
well... this is a difficult post to write about and discuss because everyone gets so heated about things like this. Honestly, I think everyone has a right to their own opinions, but mine tend to be similar to yours. As a writer myself (I'm on Wattpad too and wish to be legitimately published down the road), I try not to read bad reviews or I ignore scathing comments. I don't delete them off my profile, because I figure I'm going to need to develop thick skin when I enter the publishing industry. I think this is a lesson that a lot of writers learn the hard way after making a few mistakes and maybe even doing a few things that bloggers or the reading community in general might look at with a sketchy side eye. I think that authors need to watch carefully how they interact with readers via the Internet. It can be a tricky place. Especially with reviews and opinions and such, but above all, I think we all (authors and bloggers and readers included) should be generous and kind in our opinions. We are all people who have feelings, and I think we sometimes forget that since we only communicate via the Internet. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of it has to do with image. No one wants to see the author stoop to a mean reviewer's level [let's say it's a mean reviewer and the author is a nice person] so we all want them to be the bigger person.
DeleteBut when the reviewer is perfectly polite and the author has a problem with the rating and not the reviewer, that's when they need to shut the laptop.
To be honest, I don't think an author should publicly react to negative reviews. It's just bad form, and it never ends well for anyone.
ReplyDeleteAnd if an author doesn't think they can handle criticism from reviewers, then STAY AWAY from negative ones. I mean, if I become an author one day (here's to hoping), I know that I am way too sensitive to read negative reviews. Even though I know I would NEVER react to it, it would just break my little heart.
So I think if a negative review MIGHT make someone angry or upset enough to have a reaction, then its time to step away and have a breather.
Exactly! I've gotten "thanks for reading" on my negative reviews and I always feel so awkward about it.
DeleteI don't think an author should publicly react to a negative review because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It could make the reviewer feel really bad for writing the review, even though the've done nothing wrong. Obviously if the reviewer is being extremely rude and getting personal about the author, then they should take action. Review the book, not the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this for sure! However, even if the reviewer is rude, it still looks way bad on the author alone for retaliating. I know it's probably like a fight fire with fire thing but it also ends up making the author look just as much as an ass as the reviewer and that isn't benefitting anyone
DeleteI don't think an author should react to a negative review publically EVER. The only exception I'd make is if the reviewer crossed a serious line: used some kind of hateful words directed at the author. That, to me, is NOT okay. I don't think the author should necessarily address it themselves, but something should be said in that case.
ReplyDeleteThe ONLY thing on your list I find acceptable is talking to a friend via DM, text, in person, whatever. If it is a private conversation, have at it! You are free to call me every name you like, if you need to get it out! I can't imagine how hard negative reviews are, so yeah, tell your mom I am a complete moron, or whatever. Just don't bring it up in a public or professional arena.
And I know, if it were me as the author? I would STAY AWAY from reviews, unless I knew they were glowing. And I ONLY mention authors if the review is a gush fest, so if I were the author? I'd stick to the gush fests only. And if I accidentally came across one, I'd look first for the rating, and if it was below say, 3.5 stars or whatever? I would abandon ship immediately. No need to do that to yourself! GREAT topic, Nova! I don't think this will EVER stop being relevant!
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight
It's actually not helpful for an author to read reviews at all. The book is already out, what are they going to do, right? Most of the time, it's based off reader opinion, anyway. One reader will love the MC and another will think they're a whiny brat. There's just no pleasing everyone, which is normal.
DeleteHowever, the whole gush fest thing has its downsides. If an author only reads their positive reviews, it might be like being stuck in a room without being able to go outside, or at least, that's how i see it!
I don't understand authors who react publicly to negative reviews. If you can't handle it, then don't go looking for reviews at all. This is part of the business; not everyone is going to love your book. Plus, going out of your way to then block the reviewer or do something as retaliation is a little pathetic. It's not like we hate the book = hating the author.
ReplyDeleteAs a sensitive person, I understand why an author would feel hurt reading negative reviews. But again, if they're that way, they should just avoid reviews all together.
Exactly! Most of the time, if I hate a book, I'll still give the series a shot if recommended. I'd like to think that I'm open-minded that way. However, doing something in retaliation completely DESTROYS any chance of us being friends and for me, I don't HATE the author. I just hate the book and in my mind, there was always a separation.
DeleteFor me, it's very unprofessional for an author to lash out on a negative review. You shouldn't humiliate/criticize the reviewer for her opinions, I mean, not everyone has to love your work. And I think there's nothing wrong with reading negative reviews as long as you take it openly and use it for the future.
ReplyDeleteAND I just want to point out that reviewers, on the other hand, should also be careful with their words. People might take it the wrong way and see it as downright insulting. I've encountered reviews that are just over-the-top scathing and needs a dose of censoring.
YEP! I agree with this.
DeleteI don't want to defend mean reviewers but I feel like for the author, it's ALWAYS a lose-lose situation because the reviewer isn't the only who has to appeal to the audience to sell their book. It's unfair for sure, but true.
Don't engage. If I was an author that'd be my golden rule. Don't engage in negativity. As a public figure, you're constantly being watched. It'd be a PR nightmare. Just don't do it. Shit would go down on both sides and reviewers get upset because if authors back one another up then it becomes this whole other shebang. That privately DM and texting bit though is all good I guess. It's private. Don't put it on the net. Shit stays there forever.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an interesting topic!
YES! Other authors take sides and bloggers go to the other and there's another divide and we don't need another frickin rift.
DeleteI really don't think an author should do anything if they get a negative review. It's just the reviewer's opinion. And it's okay if someone doesn't like it. Not everybody likes the same things.
ReplyDeleteIt's like if I were to cook tacos for my family. What if not all of my family liked tacos? That's just their preferences and their own tastes. It has nothing to do with my cooking.
TACOS. This was a beautifully done metaphor. I applaud you.
DeleteI don't get why authors keep reading negative reviews of their books if they can't take the negative feedback of constructive criticism well. Not everyone's going to like your book, and that's a fact. It comes with the job.
ReplyDeleteI once wrote a negative review of a series finale that I was expecting to love (because I loved books 1 and 2) but it was so disappointing that I kind of went on a rant on my review why I thought it was disappointing (and trust me, I never once attacked the author; that's not my thing. My feedback was based on the book only). I later learned that the author subtweeted about me on her Twitter account and I was like "WOW. PROFESSIONAL MUCH?!?!"
I mean, really? Seriously? That only makes you look like a bitter author. :(
Faye at The Social Potato
Exactly! This goes for ANYTHING you do, whether it be authoring, cooking or art! I can't believe an author did that about you. I would actually be laughing because it's really pathetic for them to get so heated. It isn't like you're going to take down the review or anything.
DeleteAh gosh these things unfortunately do tend to get sticky - and really, they shouldn't. It's a fact that not *everybody* who reads an author's book is going to love it to pieces - heck, some people may just hate it, and that's their opinion. Yes, an author is entitled to theirs too, after all - they put all the effort into writing that book. However, it's never a good idea, like Jess said above - to get involved in negative activity and spread it. There shouldn't be an author-reviewer divide. We exist in an interdependent relationship - without authors, we wouldn't have books, and without reviewers (many of whom do look for the positives), then word wouldn't get out about that book as wide as it does.
ReplyDeleteFascinating topic with so much room for discussion!
Eugenia @ Genie In A Book
Yep! I don't think it's right for an author who can't resist being quiet and a reviewer who's far too mean to split the entire community. it just seems really selfish
DeleteHonestly, I think authors should take negative reviews with a grain of salt because being an author is putting your life's work out there to be judged. People are going to love it. Others are going to hate it.
ReplyDeleteI had an incident when I gave a book a negative review, and I never called out the author in the review or on any form of social media, and she still said something about me on her Twitter. I pretty much decided then and there (my first month of blogging) that I would never read anything by her again because it was so uncalled for.
Beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteEveryone (blogger or any kind of reader who wants to share their opinion) has the right to say whatever they think, whether it's positive or negative. True, it's always great when someone likes your works but when you publish a book you have to take into account that somebody out there won't like it because we're not all the same. They should take the bad reviews as well as the good ones, see if they can correct some flaws or if it's just about something you cannot change, like writing style and so on.
The important thing is to be respectful. Even though I didn't like a book, I'm nobody to say that the author cannot put two sentences together or insult them because it's just my point of view on the matter :)