No No No...That's Not For You!
I’ve written before about why authors should not read reviews of their books. You know who else shouldn't read reviews, at least not the bad ones? Their editors.
*sigh* Yeah, sooo… recently I went through a bit of a bout of professional depression and some serious imposter syndrome. It was brought on by one thing, spurred on by others, and then brought to a beautiful head by reading the reviews of a book I edited. And I fussed, and sulked, and turned to my st@lkersisters, some close author friends, my bestie Fran, and my inner bad@$$ for advice, insight, and reassurance.
And one thing kept coming up: stop reading the reviews! Dude, taking your own advice is hard!
So that made me think, if I shouldn’t be reading reviews, why are they even there?
Well, for one- it’s not a don’t read ALL the reviews blanket statement. Reading positive reviews can actually be quite the pick-me-up. Several of my bookish friends started sending me screenshots of good reviews for books I’ve worked on. Kinda like what I do for authors I love when they’re feeling self conscious and imposter syndromy. And you know what? It really helped! Reading someone else’s kind and uplifting words about something you worked on is a huge boost for self esteem and confidence.
Then there’s that word: KIND
Several readers asked me recently how they can let authors know they had issues with their book if not in the reviews. Well, that is an excellent question. And I have some thoughts on this too.
For one- be kind! Your opinion and your review are always a reflection of who you are more than who the author is or what the book was. There is a way to leave a negative (or neutral) review that does not require you to become a douchecanoe. Attacking the author or their work is hurtful and honestly kinda makes the reviewer look like a troll.
Also think about how you communicate your thoughts. If you’re reading an ARC, message the author or their PA/group admins about concerns or issues you have. Give them a chance to hear and consider your feedback while they still have a chance to fix/change/alter the questionable material. Especially if it’s something sensitivity related.
Here’s a little personal anecdote to explain a bit further- I have 2 spawns. Both are within the LGBTQ+ community. And I know from listening to them that language is always changing. Terminology is always evolving. And things that wind up in books may be outdated and sometimes hurtful within the context of that community. Author friends have asked me to consult with them on language and terminology to make sure they’re not using hateful slurs or misrepresenting a community they are writing about but are not part of. And that is an absolutely beautiful thing. If I encounter something in a book that I think is questionable, and the spawns confirm that it is, I’ll contact the author. What I won’t do is write a review shaming the author for their language without reaching out. Because, let’s be honest folks- we do not know the brush the author is using when they write. We do not know their background, their family history or make-up, etc. And just because I think it’s offensive or inappropriate does not mean they even knew it was. And since I believe in kindness, I will always reach out privately first. ALWAYS! And, I will always listen to their perspective before making any judgments.
But what if they decide not to change what I find offensive?
I move the frack on. I’m not going to blast them. I am not going to write a negative review. I am going to wash my hands of them and move on to other authors. Because there are sooo many good authors out there waiting for the page turns in KU, that one-click status, and that good review. And I want to spend my time (and money) on them.
So, wow. That kinda went off the original rails there. (Thanks brain squirrels!) But it still comes down to the same questions for me: Who are reviews for? And why shouldn’t I read them? And if they’re not important, why do I keep writing them?
Well, I write them because I want to uplift, hype, promote, congratulate, and celebrate authors and books I love. I read them because there is still value in reviews- I just won’t read the 3 or lower stars for books I’ve worked on. And who are they for? Well, I guess that depends on how and why you’re writing it. I like to think 4 & 5 star reviews are for authors who need a little pick-me-up. To know their characters and words are resonating with their readers. To get that extra little push to keep putting pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) for those readers who connect with them and their characters.
Oh! And one more thing… While looking at some of the 3 and lower star reviews for a book I worked on recently- that I only proofread, so no hand in developmental aspects of the story- I had a moment of serious self doubt because while I believe the book to be 5 star worthy, others were not feeling it. I honestly stewed over why my review was so “off” from other readers’. And I decided it doesn’t matter. I don’t read to match others’ opinions. I read for myself. And what resonates with me will not always resonate with others. And that is 100% OK!
So, Bookwyrms, here’s the crux of it: Read what you want. Review how you want. But do so with kindness. And if you’re involved with a book’s production (author, editor, etc), just don’t read those negative reviews. They are not for you. They are not a reflection of you. They are solely owned by their writer- the reviewer. And opinions expressed by some readers do not always (or even usually) reflect the feelings and beliefs of all readers.
