Gavin McCallion's Blog
August 26, 2018
The Blind Reading the Blind Vol. 1 - Bad Reviews by Crappy People
EDIT: Blog post originally published over at www.itsgavinwriting.com - feel freel to go read this post in all its image-enhanced glory over there! //
So this is something I do now – helpful content. Little Experiences from an indie writer who’s working on it. A monthly blog about writing as a mediocre, hapless indie, the things I've learned, and the indie stuff I've read.
It’s going to be alright.
Now, you might not want to take advice from someone who admits he might be only as experienced (or less) than you but stay with me.
I've written a book. Right now, I'm writing my second book. I'm learning every day. What, am I supposed to wait until I'm accomplished before I share the shit I'm learning? Nah. Even if half the crap I'm going through is exactly that, I want you to hear it here first.
Writing is hard, and it's lonely, and if you're reading this, you're probably in the same boat. Let's wade through this shit together.
Below, you'll find a bit of banter on my subject of the month, an indie book review, and probably a closing sales pitch for whatever I'm supposed to be shilling.
Okay, let's get into it. My maiden voyage:
BAD REVIEWS BY CRAPPY PEOPLE
Back in the first few months of Grim's release, I was trolling the internet for reviews. I read everywhere that reviews will make or break my work, and that I had to make a concentrated effort to get them because waiting for them to "just happen" is ineffective at best.
Fine, I'm thinking, I'm confident in my book. Let's go hunting.
The People I Asked
I'm an indie-writer approaching other indie-writers who have book review blogs.
A lot of sites were cool about it. Their submission page looked something like:
More often than not, that's what I was looking at. A mutually-beneficial agreement between two writers just trying to get their shit read.
But Then There are The Bampots*
But there was another type of submission page. This page was the page that wasn't about a mutually-beneficial agreement. This was me asking someone who has a SUPERIOR OPINION for a favour:
I don't like these submission pages for two reasons:
Most prevalently, you're just asking for permission to be an asshole.
Eh, aren't we on the same team?
*A bampot (or a wee bam) is Scottish for a hooligan, more or less. Don't be a bampot.
Well, Aren't We?
To me, this type of submission page is about dick-swinging.
At what number of followers do these people realise they don't need to be nice anymore? Okay, they're an ‘influencer,' but don't they remember a time when maybe having the heart ripped out of their work doesn't feel so nice?
The Damage
A bad review posted publicly on a page where the book is available for purchase doesn't help anyone. Twenty five-star reviews and a single one-star will cripple that little indie book. There isn't a big company behind it to absorb the damage that review does, that review is on there, and someone is getting hurt because of it.
The Most Helpful of the Bunch
Right, but if this person doesn't know where they're going wrong, then how are they supposed to get better? Constructive (constructive) criticism is how people improve, after all!
The answer is that it's 2018. There are a dozen ways to get in touch with the writer that doesn't involve pulling their knickers down in front of the whole school.
The one sub page I admired said something like this:
This person has the right idea.
Look
I'm going to say this every week because it's what this blog is about: writing is lonely and hard, and we're just trying to get through it. Sometimes it feels like getting kicked in the genitals by your self-esteem and I - personally - don't need that shit affirmed.
If ever you end up with one of these reviews, try not to let it cripple your writing. Try to dig around the poison and find the root of what they're saying, then present this point to someone who cares. Someone who'll be honest with you and find a positive way to let it help you.
Bad reviews suck, but remember you're always a hundred percent better than you think you are. You're your own worst critic, nobody can say any worse than you already think yourself. Dust it off, and write another thousand words.
What's Your Process?
Have you had any brutal reviews that could have been handled better? Do you think lousy work deserves a public execution? Uh, why?
Let me know!
So this is something I do now – helpful content. Little Experiences from an indie writer who’s working on it. A monthly blog about writing as a mediocre, hapless indie, the things I've learned, and the indie stuff I've read.
It’s going to be alright.
Now, you might not want to take advice from someone who admits he might be only as experienced (or less) than you but stay with me.
I've written a book. Right now, I'm writing my second book. I'm learning every day. What, am I supposed to wait until I'm accomplished before I share the shit I'm learning? Nah. Even if half the crap I'm going through is exactly that, I want you to hear it here first.
Writing is hard, and it's lonely, and if you're reading this, you're probably in the same boat. Let's wade through this shit together.
Below, you'll find a bit of banter on my subject of the month, an indie book review, and probably a closing sales pitch for whatever I'm supposed to be shilling.
Okay, let's get into it. My maiden voyage:
BAD REVIEWS BY CRAPPY PEOPLE
Back in the first few months of Grim's release, I was trolling the internet for reviews. I read everywhere that reviews will make or break my work, and that I had to make a concentrated effort to get them because waiting for them to "just happen" is ineffective at best.
Fine, I'm thinking, I'm confident in my book. Let's go hunting.
The People I Asked
I'm an indie-writer approaching other indie-writers who have book review blogs.
A lot of sites were cool about it. Their submission page looked something like:
‘hey, send me your stuff. I get a lot of people asking for reviews, so I can't guarantee I'll say yes or even get back to you, but I'll try. Send me your work, and if I fancy it, I'll post my review to the site, Amazon, Goodreads, etc.'
More often than not, that's what I was looking at. A mutually-beneficial agreement between two writers just trying to get their shit read.
But Then There are The Bampots*
But there was another type of submission page. This page was the page that wasn't about a mutually-beneficial agreement. This was me asking someone who has a SUPERIOR OPINION for a favour:
‘Hey, I'm swamped with submissions right now, but send me your book, and I'll try to get to it. Be warned, though, I will be brutal and honest. If that means a 1-star review, then I'm going to post it.'
I don't like these submission pages for two reasons:
Most prevalently, you're just asking for permission to be an asshole.
Eh, aren't we on the same team?
*A bampot (or a wee bam) is Scottish for a hooligan, more or less. Don't be a bampot.
Well, Aren't We?
To me, this type of submission page is about dick-swinging.
At what number of followers do these people realise they don't need to be nice anymore? Okay, they're an ‘influencer,' but don't they remember a time when maybe having the heart ripped out of their work doesn't feel so nice?
The Damage
A bad review posted publicly on a page where the book is available for purchase doesn't help anyone. Twenty five-star reviews and a single one-star will cripple that little indie book. There isn't a big company behind it to absorb the damage that review does, that review is on there, and someone is getting hurt because of it.
The Most Helpful of the Bunch
Right, but if this person doesn't know where they're going wrong, then how are they supposed to get better? Constructive (constructive) criticism is how people improve, after all!
The answer is that it's 2018. There are a dozen ways to get in touch with the writer that doesn't involve pulling their knickers down in front of the whole school.
The one sub page I admired said something like this:
‘If I read your book and consider it two-stars or under, I won't post it. I'll email you and let you know the issues I had with it, and if you still want me to post, I can do.'
This person has the right idea.
Look
I'm going to say this every week because it's what this blog is about: writing is lonely and hard, and we're just trying to get through it. Sometimes it feels like getting kicked in the genitals by your self-esteem and I - personally - don't need that shit affirmed.
If ever you end up with one of these reviews, try not to let it cripple your writing. Try to dig around the poison and find the root of what they're saying, then present this point to someone who cares. Someone who'll be honest with you and find a positive way to let it help you.
Bad reviews suck, but remember you're always a hundred percent better than you think you are. You're your own worst critic, nobody can say any worse than you already think yourself. Dust it off, and write another thousand words.
What's Your Process?
Have you had any brutal reviews that could have been handled better? Do you think lousy work deserves a public execution? Uh, why?
Let me know!
