tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post5149242525287869796..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Dealing with Bad ReviewsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48589992160376364672016-05-22T23:27:30.206-05:002016-05-22T23:27:30.206-05:00Walter Knight is correct. When people get free cop...Walter Knight is correct. When people get free copies of books they often give not only lousy reviews but also enjoy being vicious and cruel about it. In short these cheapskates are cynical, unhappy twats. Reviewing someone's book is the only time in their pathetic lives that they have a modicum of power. How they negatively use that power reveals just how mentally stunted they are as individuals. It's actually quite sad. Here's hoping these sub-human turds get un-treatable ass cancer. <br /><br />Emily Dickinsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3960259056079997122016-05-17T09:20:18.329-05:002016-05-17T09:20:18.329-05:00I wish I'd seen this on Saturday before I'...I wish I'd seen this on Saturday before I'd attempted suicide with a rusty hollow pipe. In fact the pipe was so light, I'd die from tetanus before a head injury. <br /><br />Reviews are ugly and often, unwarranted and unjust. Sometimes they are true, or at least, they may have some truth to them.<br /><br />The laughs you gave me, even though you wrote this a couple of years ago it is still valid, were enough to pull me out of my self-imposed misery.<br /><br />The reality is, a tough review should be a learning curve. If there's any truth to it, implement it. If not, ignore. But I do think you should read them.<br /><br />Now, let me see if I can put that pipe down and attempt to pick up my laptop and try and write again.Foxhttp://foxemerson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89759982393808100662016-03-12T16:33:12.819-06:002016-03-12T16:33:12.819-06:00If you find me curled up on a city sidewalk, huddl...If you find me curled up on a city sidewalk, huddled inside a doorway, ten day beard, blank expression, empty eyes, jonesing for a meeting, you'll know that I went back to reading my reviews. Gotta get down to the mission, say a prayer to be relieved of this addiction, work the steps, get a sponsor, read the Big Book, one day at a time, one minute at a time, but whatever happens, don't take a review. Never. Cold turkey. Thanks for letting me share.John Ellsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394918429025417748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84933517205382908512015-03-18T13:12:39.705-05:002015-03-18T13:12:39.705-05:00Don't know if these comments are still open, b...Don't know if these comments are still open, but it's good advice. Either don't read them, or ignore them, and if you have to respond, be polite. There's been a lot of bad press lately from authors chasing down people who gave them negative reviews on Goodreads especially. <br /><br />For me (I write non-fiction under a pen name) the most frustrating are those reviewers that don't understand the star rating on Amazon: "great book, lots of helpful advice: highly recommended": and then rate the book one or two stars.<br /><br />Very frustrating.<br /><br />These days, I just don't read them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65960177274911026772014-03-27T03:00:59.582-05:002014-03-27T03:00:59.582-05:00Thanks for posting this,I just started on Kindle l...Thanks for posting this,I just started on Kindle last month I already have 10 titles up I finally got 2 really bad reviews this week due to spelling and grammar errors.<br />But know I see clearly. If JA.Konrath gets hundreds of bad reviews as successful as you have been on Kindle.Hell what are 2 bad reviews for a rookie like me. Thanks a million for posting this.Now I'm Good! West Coast Mediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14191047072384796496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61518117757476381482014-03-13T16:08:44.059-05:002014-03-13T16:08:44.059-05:00I've self-published three books (all nonfictio...I've self-published three books (all nonfiction) and I've noticed that the bad reviews of them (one for each of them) come from people who are incredibly ignorant! Like the one I just got. I'm asking that it be removed because 1) he admits that he didn't read the book and 2) he says he gave it one star for the author who was "too lazy" to publish the book as a Kindle so he could get it cheap. (Amazon says it doesn't allow reviews that make personal attacks, so we'll see how long it takes them to agree with me that this person posted just to attack me.) <br /><br />At any rate, I looked up the guy's previous reviews. He has posted a bunch of one-star reviews, all of them pretty ridiculous. Now this guy obviously isn't the brightest penny in the pile because the city where he lives is listed in his profile. A quick google found his webpage on Guru.com where, according to him, he's an "egspert web developer who went from being an amiter to a perfessunole" a couple of years ago. And Amazon recommends that authors personally contact these people and try to reason with them? We don't even speak the same language!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43245798622240566552013-08-01T10:39:19.751-05:002013-08-01T10:39:19.751-05:00I just did a give a way of my book Witches Enchant...I just did a give a way of my book Witches Enchantment on Goodreads... all I can say is ouch. I have 2 stars from 2 of the people who won so far. The first one starts off that she doesn't read this kind of book (paranormal romance) doesn't like romance at all, but won it in a giveaway... the second reviewer picked it apart as well. Although I like to learn from my reviews ( the book has some good reviews on amazon thankfully) these reviewers were lucky enough to win this book out of nearly 700 people and I spent money on postage and a personalized thank you card they shouldn't trash a book. It was interesting also that one of the reviewers had one multiple books to review.. interesting how she won mine out of 660 entries. This experience is beginning to make me wonder if I want to be on Goodreads at all. I bet neither of them has ever written or published anything and opened themselves up for critique from strangers. If they had I bet they'd think twice about leaving negative reviews. I do think I will adopt the don't read your reviews way to handle my writing career.. expect for the 4 and 5's which thankfully I've got plenty of on Amazon.<br />Thanks for letting me blow off steam and it made me laugh, smile and want to go buy a metal pipe.. just sayin :)<br />Laura J. KendallLaura J. Kendallhttp://www.laurajkendall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16282355872867761972013-07-03T14:58:05.996-05:002013-07-03T14:58:05.996-05:00I love this blog. Stayed up nearly all the night c...I love this blog. Stayed up nearly all the night catching up on posts.Christine Aurigemahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17986317464547658316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14390476450276826292013-05-26T18:33:21.372-05:002013-05-26T18:33:21.372-05:00LOVE this. thank you came at a good time :) We all...LOVE this. thank you came at a good time :) We all need to not take it so personal and remember we, ourselves do not like everything and can't expect everyone to like what we've written. But they can write a negative review in a respectful manner.<br />I don't know why it is, but we tend to give more credence to the one bad review than 8+ great reviews. We need to rethink that :)Marttha Emms Cognitive Dreamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11054803545104799980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17282788928319463992013-05-13T12:45:06.565-05:002013-05-13T12:45:06.565-05:00Love your humor so much! My favorite Amazon revie...Love your humor so much! My favorite Amazon review so far was a reader who gave my book 2 stars, but in the actual comment section gushed about how much they enjoyed it and how they hoped there would be a sequel. Hmmm.... so it was so bad it was good? <br />I just remember how many times I've not liked a best selling book. Reading is so subjective :)Kaye Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09134006398950107252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60729366911610969482013-05-05T19:03:53.817-05:002013-05-05T19:03:53.817-05:00Thanks for the awesome post. It is always a nice r...Thanks for the awesome post. It is always a nice reminder to realize that no matter what I do people will hate me and that is okay. Life goes on. <br /><br />As Gandhi said, "Nobody can hurt me without my permission." Unless of course JA Konrath beats me up with a baseball bat then I beg to differ.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709146875050298322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84815436043490153132013-04-25T17:49:54.932-05:002013-04-25T17:49:54.932-05:00Thanks for advice, man. I almost gave up on my dre...Thanks for advice, man. I almost gave up on my dream due to my one-star ratings....Your post helped to restore my confidence.<br /><br />We all need to go through this "reader filtering system" to find our ideal audience. It's a big world. They're out there somewhere. Maybe even a lot of them.Raymund Hensleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14813058517995561080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59815025608173458022013-04-14T14:53:33.943-05:002013-04-14T14:53:33.943-05:00Violence can be such an eloquent message. Tingly w...Violence can be such an eloquent message. Tingly with the thought of like-minded people that have blogs.<br /><br />Much respect,<br />Woman with a pipe whose husband has a brick. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773191818168829064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91510590795904433722013-04-14T08:23:44.655-05:002013-04-14T08:23:44.655-05:00I needed to read this today! I got such a laugh a...I needed to read this today! I got such a laugh and my two 3-star reviews didn't hurt as bad. Thanks! PS reminds of me Christoper Walken's "prank him to death with a tire iron."Nightingalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08557206288038501578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23968543925256913662013-04-14T00:44:39.260-05:002013-04-14T00:44:39.260-05:00Geoffrey,
I took the briefest look at your link a...Geoffrey,<br /><br />I took the briefest look at your link and couldn't find your email address, or I would have written you privately.<br /> <br />> I wish I'd get some bad reviews. I wish I'd get any reviews, as a matter of fact!<br /><br />If you are serious, send me a review copy of one of your Natalie Dvorak novels and if I can stand to read it all the way to the end, I promise I'll write a review to post on the Nepo Press site (and possibly Amazon). A mobi file emailed to frank@nepostism.net would be best.<br /><br />Frank<br /><br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08643429893700999792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48223781317190131522013-04-13T18:40:41.394-05:002013-04-13T18:40:41.394-05:00I wish I'd get some bad reviews. I wish I'...I wish I'd get some bad reviews. I wish I'd get any reviews, as a matter of fact! I've had almost no reviews at all, which makes me worry that I'm neither good enough to get a lot of positive responses nor bad enough to inspire attacks. Mediocre and ignored? It's hard for me to see what could be worse than that. If I had reputation for bad writing, at least people might want to read for themselves to find out what the fuss is about.Geoffrey A. Fellerhttps://facebook.com/GeoffreyAFellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34349721306524383402013-04-13T10:30:42.479-05:002013-04-13T10:30:42.479-05:00Thanks for the first laugh of the day. Brilliant f...Thanks for the first laugh of the day. Brilliant fantasy list.Mackenzie Crownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14495228596521457813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89135460074624297012013-04-13T09:31:42.358-05:002013-04-13T09:31:42.358-05:00Thank you for giving me the first and maybe the on...Thank you for giving me the first and maybe the only laugh of the day.<br />I'm a writer and this really is good.<br />PattiPatriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11512099085568969698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14850554563483020142013-04-13T09:20:02.669-05:002013-04-13T09:20:02.669-05:00LoL It's brillLoL It's brill Shehanne Moorehttp://shehannemoore.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29079616021160689902013-04-12T19:04:57.129-05:002013-04-12T19:04:57.129-05:00The post is funny. However...I often find negative...The post is funny. However...I often find negative reviews to be the most helpful. <br /><br />I got a two star review for one of my stories, and after thinking on it, I realized they had a point. I changed the cover and let the reader know I appreciated her input. Then she changed her review to 5 stars.<br /><br />...now it looks like all my reviews are fake. (I'm trying to make the transition from fanfiction to original fiction -- please feel free to laugh -- most everyone who has bought my stories followed me from fanfic and like my style).C. Gockelhttp://www.amazon.com/C.-Gockel/e/B009WVEFEU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11116519385053828432013-04-12T17:51:26.244-05:002013-04-12T17:51:26.244-05:00Very funny post. One of my buddies directed me her...Very funny post. One of my buddies directed me here after I received a harsh crit. I can usually take a few punches, but this particular crit hit home.<br /><br />Anyway, I laughed so much while reading this, I had tears running down my face. THANK YOU! <br /><br />Nicola (now a devoted fangirl) :)nj layounihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00542995704390593106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1842023936433563052013-04-11T18:56:08.515-05:002013-04-11T18:56:08.515-05:00Too bad you were kidding, 'cause I was takin&#...Too bad you were kidding, 'cause I was takin' notes! Mary Marvellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015719890476028848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21981389240382758052013-04-11T16:21:55.753-05:002013-04-11T16:21:55.753-05:00Don't worry - a reviewer of Dante Alighieri...Don't worry - a reviewer of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy gave it one star and wrot " 1.0 out of 5 stars nonsense<br />By e: D. A. D Orlins (boca raton, florida) - See all my reviews<br />(REAL NAME) <br />This review is from: The Divine Comedy (The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso) (Paperback)<br />I last read Dante's "Comedy" in college. I thaught it might be rewarding to read it again, 40 years later. Now everybody finds out what a low-brow I am. "The Comedy" is a collection of nonsense from an age so seeped in religious nonsense that nothing was in excess in the name of God. Considered a "Classic" by generations of Christian zealots. I consider it (brace yourselves) trash. "<br /><br />Feel better now????<br /><br />Do not read the reviews of your books, please!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43597089881492431152013-04-11T14:59:28.936-05:002013-04-11T14:59:28.936-05:00Funny post, Joe! Thanks for the laugh. When you wr...Funny post, Joe! Thanks for the laugh. When you wrote, "Joe Average whining his opinions to the world without backing them up with an iota of sense, logic, or proof. I'd add "correct spelling, proper grammar and punctuation."<br /><br />I'm someone who does read my reviews. Mostly they're positive, which is something that still is wonderful and amazes me. I've also learned what readers like, which I feel helps me with new books.<br /><br />I don't want to bludgeon stupid or ignorant reviewers, but I would like to have a conversation. I would ask questions like, are you sure you're talking about MY book. I didn't have (whatever they accused me of) or I did have whatever they said I didn't(did you read chapter 10?) Or, in one case, it's not my fault my (traditionally published) book didn't download to your Kindle. You should complain to Amazon and work with their customer service to fix the problem.<br /><br />A couple of times readers have pointed out errors that got past my developmental and copy editors, and I have responded to those reviews, thanking them for the feedback and saying I'd correct it immediately. Thank God with self-published books you can change things!<br /><br />One of my favorite bad reviews is a two star where the reader accused me of being living in Southern California and never visiting Montana (the setting for my Montana Sky Series.) I do live in California, but I can TRAVEL! How in the heck would she know if I've been to Montana? Has she followed me around my whole life? So, on my next visit to Montana, I made sure I blogged about being there and included photos.Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24219887441916862462013-04-11T14:16:04.712-05:002013-04-11T14:16:04.712-05:00I'm going to print this out and tape it to my ...I'm going to print this out and tape it to my bathroom wall. Loved it!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08902579033256859779noreply@blogger.com