Reviews

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There’s always much debate over how a writer should react to a review whether good or bad. I have my own way of dealing with reviews and on the off-chance it helps another writer, here is my so simple take on the subject:

Everyone is entitled to have a personal opinion and, at the end of the day, that is all a review is — one person’s viewpoint. What writers and readers need to bare in mind that most published work has already been overseen by the opinion of others — the publisher, editors, line editors and proofers have already given their approval or given in-put.

I always let a review rest for a few hours, ideally a day, after an initial reading, and then I consider whether the reviewer had something sensible — good or bad — to say. I then weigh that up with other comments I’ve received and against my own judgement. If the review is negative — especially if it’s negative — I judge whether the reader has a valid point and, knowing this, I would have approached the story differently. If yes, then I keep that in mind for the future; if no, then I dismiss it.

As J.K.Rowling once said: “I’m not taking dictation.” That doesn’t mean I dismiss the opinions of others, just that I don’t allow them to influence the type of story I wish to create beyond what is reasonable. Almost every opinion is valid and unique to its owner, but the book belongs to the author. I never let any review ruin my day for the simple reason that writing and publishing are difficult enough. One quickly grows a thick skin or seldom survives.

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