I’ve been wanting to write this post for quite a while now. I wanted to write it when I read an unfavorable review of one of my books and wanted to quit writing altogether. I wanted to write this when I went through my depression. I wanted to write this when I start or end whichever book I was beginning or ending.
I’ve read a lot of other writers’ blog posts on when it feels like the right time to quit. I’ve also read posts that encourage writers that are going through writer’s block or lack of motivation to take a break then come back to that chair and write again.
We as writers are told to grow a thick skin. That when we put our work out there, there will be praise as well as criticism as well as the “mehs” and the DNFs (did not finish). There will be three star reviews with the reviewer saying it’s a great book as well as five star reviews that says love the story but it’s not my cup of tea. Huh? What? Scratching my head here.
What I learned from reading my reviews is:
- This is someone’s opinion.
- Their opinion isn’t dissing me or praising me as a person. It’s the book, the story, the characters, the choice in words or lack thereof, that they like or didn’t like.
- Their opinion is to help another reader pick up or pass over the book. We have different likes and dislikes. It’s what makes us interesting.
We all have different tastes and that’s what a review is, someone expressing their tastes for the product.
I doubt I will continue reading reviews of my books. Reading the reviews to me is to go through the highs and the lows. Of being happy or losing the passion to write another word. I don’t write to make a living. I make a decent wage. I write to get out of my head the voices. Call me crazy. I’m okay with that ?.
Thank you for letting me vent! I appreciate all of you!
xoxo,
A.M.