I’m reading this book by an author I’ve not tried before. 35% in and I’m finding it hard going, not bad enough to stop, but a bit of a slog (cringeworthy metaphors, implausible actions, editing issues to name a few problems). When this happens, I usually look at reviews to see what other readers think and whether it’s worth continuing.
Unsurprisingly, many readers commented on the same problems and gave negative reviews. What prompted this post is the fact that the author engaged with the readers who wrote the negative reviews in an effort to defend the work. While the author’s comments were polite, they only served to elicit more negative feedback, and even went as far as to put off a number of readers (including myself) from picking up this author’s work again (I won’t name author or book so as not to harm another author’s career).
It’s damaging behavior and (IMO) looks unprofessional for an author to enter into a discussion over a bad review. Not everyone will like your work and that’s normal. Some reviews will be genuine and others won’t, and a thick skin is needed to survive in this business.
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I completely agree. I’ve only ever responded to one review. The reader loved my book but thought Peri and Skip were having way too much sex (even tho it’s not graphic). Ordinarily, I would have just let that go, but I apologized and told her it was not my intent for them to be so busy, but I couldn’t seem to stop them. I assured her that I’d try to keep them a little calmer in the future. That reader became one of my biggest fans and supporters.
So I guess if you want to reply to a review, there’s a right way and a wrong way.
Yes, and I’d say you did it the right way with engaging humor. Your comment made me laugh.