Book reviews is the author’s bread and butter. It is the way your book gets noticed, especially on Amazon. We need the reviews to make sales and earn a living.
Do not be afraid of book reviews. Some will be good, others less so. Go with the flow. Tastes differ. Some people will love your book and give you an amazing review. Write your book and don’t worry about the reviews.
When I lock myself up to write, I cannot allow myself to think about the censor or the reviewer or anyone but my characters and their story! Judy Blume
Your job is to tell the story to the best of your ability, and to have fun while you are doing it. Why else would you want to write? Write the novel, publish it and move on to the next one.
Do not let book reviewers break you down or make you doubt yourself. As I said, tastes differ. When you have written a novel that is really good, you know it in your gut. Do not give up, ever.
When I sent “The Rose of Petra” to a traditional publisher years ago, I was told that I tried to write the great American Saga, and that it was not suitable for children.
I replied; “If you bothered to read more than one page, you would have known it was not meant for children?” After that, I could not ever send them any more manuscripts, I think they placed me on a black list.
I knew my novel was good, and I did not let any of them tell me otherwise. For years I went back to it over and over, editing until I knew it was just right. All the responses to my book has been positive, so I am happy with it.
If a reviewer is beating me up, I just say, 'Oh well, my writing is not to his or her taste.' And that's as far as it goes. Because I will simultaneously read a review where somebody says, 'Oh my God, I had so much fun reading this book and I learned so much.'
Dan Brown Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard.
John Steinbeck
So there you have it, my friends. While we hope for positive reviews and a lot of sales, we do not let it influence our writing. Keep on writing, keep on loving what you are doing.
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