How to Handle Good and Bad Reviews on your Books?

Having read a comment in a forum about reviews, I learnt quite a few things.


I have learnt that good reviews differ from great reviews and although all reviews which compliment your work are good, great reviews show potential buyers that:

• Your book is really worth parting their money for,
• The success of getting an audience for the sequel will be high and;
• The storyline was strong enough for someone to take time to write such a glowing review

This does not mean I am telling you not to celebrate good reviews as I really think you should, however, great reviews are the ones which will really gain the attention to your book.


However, if your work is selling or receiving great reviews, just like any other role where you are celebrated for an outstanding achievement, you will also have the 'haters'.


These 'haters' are the ones, who make it a point of writing bad reviews or being overly critical. 


These people can come under the following categories:

• They are very critical of every book they read so there was always going to be a slim chance yours would be any better than the rest,
• Your work generally wasn't to their liking and unless there is a flaw in the storyline, the grammar, the characters or the ending, there isn't much you can do about this. Your work and stories will not be to everyone's taste and you've got to just deal with that;
• Your reviews have come from fellow authors in your genre and they want to discredit your work with these bad reviews to make sure you do not succeed.

Hints and Tips on getting through the Bad Reviews

• Take the constructive criticisms on board but do not take them to heart. Remember these are the readers you want to buy your books so listen to their issues with your work and amend it.
• If you can, reply to some of the reviews by thanking them for taking time to write the reviews and make them feel like valued customers by letting them know you will take on board what they have said to help you with future work.
• If it is just nasty comments, report it to the website provider and if they feel it is necessary they will remove it for you.
• I always remember the phrase from a Hip Hop artist which went something like this, ' Haters don't really hate you. They hate themselves because you're a reflection of what they wish to be'. Keep that in mind when you are reading some of the bad reviews!

Hints and Tips on dealing with the Good/Great Reviews

• CELEBRATE! Do something special to celebrate your first good or great review! Whether it be with a bottle of wine, a nice takeaway, buy yourself a nice gift, something to celebrate such a special moment!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!