Receiving a positive review of your book is an amazing feeling. You've put in the work writing, editing, working with designers and illustrators, and marketing, and now, your work is finally resonating with people! Amazing, right?
But what happens when you receive criticism of your work? How should you respond?
A quick caveat to remember: there's no right answer, and how you respond to criticism—if you do at all—is your choice. However, we think it's fair to say that most authors and writers have at one point felt annoyed, defensive, or hurt by criticism, and it's normal to want to respond.
So, if you're unsure of what to do when you receive criticism, keep reading!
Take a step back; don't react immediately.
Your first instinct when you receive criticism may be to defend yourself or your work, especially if you feel like the criticism you received is unfounded or due to someone misunderstanding or misinterpreting your work. However, responding immediately isn't always the best idea.
In the heat of the moment, a quick response might make you feel better, but it's important to remember that what you say reflects on you as an author. You're not obligated to share an immediate reply to a comment, and the last thing you want to do is send a snappy reply that later makes you cringe.
Instead, take a step back and give yourself some time to think about what to do and how to respond—if the comment warrants a response at all.
Know that there's a difference between constructive criticism and unkindness.
Remember, criticism isn't a reflection of you as a person. Even though it feels like it sometimes, you are not your book!
But before you get too upset, try to consider the nature of the feedback you're getting. Is someone giving you advice or sharing an opinion on what they think could've improved your story? Are they pointing out a plot hole you didn't see? Because people create art, no piece of art is perfect, and that's okay! Criticism can sometimes be helpful, and you can use valid critiques to make your next work of writing stronger.
Of course, if someone is just leaving a bad review that has nothing to do with the quality or content of your work, that's not constructive. They're not helpful. And those are the pieces of criticism that are best to dismiss.
You don't have to react at all.
Sometimes, the best response is no response.
That might sound a little strange, but hear us out. Typically, you do want to engage with your readers if they leave comments on social media or send you a message, but you're not obligated to respond to everything, and, as we've discussed before, readers do have the right to leave reviews of your work...even if every review isn't positive. Authors who have responded to negative reviews tend to receive backlash, so it's often best to ignore these reviews altogether.
Your book may not connect with everyone, and that's okay. A discerning reader will know the difference between a constructive review that shares honest opinions versus a mean-spirited one.
And if you receive criticism in other forms, online or in-person, you can simply thank someone for their feedback and move on.
Constructive criticism can be a tool to help you as an author, but not all criticism will be constructive, and you don't have to respond to all of it! Giving yourself time to reflect on the nature of the criticism you receive and deciding whether or not it warrants a response can prevent you from a knee-jerk reaction that you may later regret. Ultimately, do what's best for you, even if that means limiting your exposure to reviews for a while!
How do you handle criticism as a writer? What advice do you have for other writers who aren't sure how to handle criticism? Let us know in the comments below!
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Taylor, Emily, Maria, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“Write first! Ask questions later!”
–Chris Bat
Available Now! Bernice and the Shadow Witch!
Grab your copy of the second book in the Bernice Books Series, Bernice and the Shadow Witch, which launched on November 14th! Written by Brandt Ricca and illustrated by Matt Miller, this exciting tale follows young Bernice through New Orleans and beyond.
It's the holidays in New Orleans! It's eerily cold and dark and snowflakes are falling. Mrs. Hart is getting ready for their big New Year's Eve party and pushes Bernice to be more sociable. In the process, tales of legends in New Orleans are spun from Bernice's neighbor, Nona Devereaux, to her and her new trouble-making friend, Ellie.
After sneaking off into a white-covered St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Bernice makes her way home feeling goosebumps and falls asleep in the realm of Shadow Witches, where she finds chaos, mischief, and whispers in the dark. Guided by her Keeper, Gracie, they discover what persuades children into broken dreams and come face to face with a family secret and, more importantly...a key to rescuing a loved one lost long ago.
Check Out Bernice Book Creators On The Truth In This Art Podcast!
Recently, author Brandt Ricca and illustrator Matt Miller of the Bernice Book Series were featured on the podcast The Truth In This Art!
Join host Rob Lee as he chats with Brandt Ricca and Matt Miller, the creators of the enchanting series, The Bernice Books. They discuss their entrepreneurial journey, the themes in their books, the influence of the American South, and their upcoming release, Bernice and the Shadow Witch. Tune in for an insightful conversation at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. 📚✨
You can listen to their amazing conversation here or by clicking on the button below!
Find Your New Favorite Book From KWE Before The Holidays!
If you’re searching for a new book, KWE has you covered! We have several amazing books that have been or are due to be released soon, including Bernice and the Shadow Witch (written by Brandt Ricca and illustrated by Matt Miller), Chocolate Chip & Cookie and the Scary Bug (written by Liz Liverman), Eating and Moving for Your Cycle (written by Kailee Karst, DPT, and Heather Evans, MS), Unitive Justice (written by Sylvia Clute, JD, MPA), and Death in Ruin (written by Mayté Losada)!
We’ll make sure to share more information about these amazing books as their launch dates approach!
Fun Article About Gifts for Writers!
We wanted to share a fun article we came across that shares gift ideas for writers as we approach the holiday season! You can read the article here or click the button below to read. Either way, we think this list is helpful for anyone who’s looking for a gift for a loved one who writes—or for yourself! :)
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
In many writing circles, November marks an exciting challenge for the thousands of writers who participate in National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, and halfway through the month, we wanted to spotlight the organization itself!
NaNoWriMo is a non-profit that “provides the structure, community, and encouragement to help people use their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.” In addition to its yearly novel-writing challenge, which began in 1999 as a challenge to write 50,000 words within thirty days, the organization hosts a variety of other programs that encourage writers. This awesome nonprofit aims to help writers across the globe share their creativity; along with their challenges, the nonprofit shares a wealth of resources with its community, making it a great place to find community and grow as a writer.
To all those participating in NaNoWriMo, we wish you the best of luck on your writing endeavors!