Guillermo Paxton's Blog - Posts Tagged "classics"
The bad review-stab a writer in the heart with a dirty knife
While every writer loves to see those four and five star reviews, those occasional two and God forbid, one star reviews pop up and hit a writer like a sack of those old Aol dial-up internet cds.
Don't fret, fellow writers. Your book is a work of art; the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone considers the same work of art to be just that-a work of art. For some it is trash, crap, boring, poorly done. Others see that same work as a masterpiece.
The critics hated The Grapes of Wrath when it came out. And Lord of The Flies. And Brave New World, The Catcher in the Rye, Moby Dick, and well, the list goes on. One last one-The Lord of The Rings. Hell, Tolkien's own friends didn't like it.
So when the major publishers and literary agents send you a rejection letter, or the occasional Goodreads reader really didn't care for your book, just remember that not everyone will like your writing. Or maybe just not this particular book. You put in the hours to write it, did your best to perfect it, and the fact that anyone has taken the time to actually read it is already more than many writers can boast. And a lot more than those that only say they are going to write a book but never do.
It is a wonderful time for artists. The internet continues to work wonders for all of us. Even if your work of literature is not "commercial" enough, you can bypass the gatekeepers and publish yourself and someone will read your work. And maybe they will even give it a five star rating. And for those of you that read an unknown author and liked what you read, please do take a minute to rate the work and spread the word. I guarantee that an unknown author will appreciate your support more than any "commercial" writer will, and you can help them from being unknown to a known one.
Don't fret, fellow writers. Your book is a work of art; the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone considers the same work of art to be just that-a work of art. For some it is trash, crap, boring, poorly done. Others see that same work as a masterpiece.
The critics hated The Grapes of Wrath when it came out. And Lord of The Flies. And Brave New World, The Catcher in the Rye, Moby Dick, and well, the list goes on. One last one-The Lord of The Rings. Hell, Tolkien's own friends didn't like it.
So when the major publishers and literary agents send you a rejection letter, or the occasional Goodreads reader really didn't care for your book, just remember that not everyone will like your writing. Or maybe just not this particular book. You put in the hours to write it, did your best to perfect it, and the fact that anyone has taken the time to actually read it is already more than many writers can boast. And a lot more than those that only say they are going to write a book but never do.
It is a wonderful time for artists. The internet continues to work wonders for all of us. Even if your work of literature is not "commercial" enough, you can bypass the gatekeepers and publish yourself and someone will read your work. And maybe they will even give it a five star rating. And for those of you that read an unknown author and liked what you read, please do take a minute to rate the work and spread the word. I guarantee that an unknown author will appreciate your support more than any "commercial" writer will, and you can help them from being unknown to a known one.
