We all know writers know the importance of genre in marketing their work and identifying with a their target audience. But readers don't.
Before I was a writer, I read what my friends recommended were "awesome" books. I had friends who were active in their churches and friends who were Goth. Tattooed, pierced friends and friends who competed in beauty pageants. Athletes and Dead Heads...and althletes who followed the Dead. Clearly, their taste in books was as diverse as the people I hung out with. I wound up reading across genres and sat in with various target audiences. Reading the reviews on Amazon, it's clear to me others do the same.
Consider these stats:
New Moon, Stephanie Meyer's second book of the Twilight saga sensation, received 2,232 Amazon reviews that break down like this:
(1,394) | ||
(388) | ||
(191) | ||
(123) | ||
(136) |
If 3 stars represents "average," then 450 people, or roughly 20% thought the book was average or below average.
(613) | ||
(147) | ||
(44) | ||
(28) | ||
(56) |
56 people thought Jane Eyre deserved a 1-star rating!
The Stand, by Stephen King. Its complete, uncut version received 1,018 customer reviews on Amazon:
141 readers out of 779 thought The Stand was just "eh."
Just for fun, I checked out The Holy Bible. I won't post those results here, since many of the comments argued over religious tenets or over translation of certain versions, but I still found it hilarious that The Bible received negative customer reviews.
It does make my point, though. Not everyone will fit into one writer's target audience. As writers, we need to keep this in mind along every step of our journeys. Negative feedback in our careers is a statistical certainty. We'll draw it when we share our work on our blogs, with crit groups, and with agents. We'll hear it from editors and publishers. And once our books are in print, we'll read it on Amazon, Goodreads, and anywhere else where the general public is welcome to share their opinions.
When your book is published, do you think you'll want to read the negative reviews?
Why or why not?
46 comments:
I'll read them, at least at the beginning. I'm too curious. But if it starts negatively affecting my confidence as a writer, then I'll avoid them (I'm sure that's easier said than done).
But, like you said, even "great" books (which, of course, is a subjective term) get negative reviews. No writer can avoid getting them.
I'll read them. I think the negative reviews are far more helpful than positive ones. I've even sought out a new local critique group because I no longer trusted the good feedback I was getting. I can't be that good a writer.
People don't love The Stand?!
Atrocity!
You're right - the most popular book in the world is not loved by all.
I don't want to see negative reviews, but I'm sure they will happen. Hopefully they're constructive so I can learn how to do better with the next book.
First let me just say, "Wow, you have TIME to read Amazon reviews?"
As for reading my own negative reviews, that's a tough question. Everything is subjective in this business, what one hates, another loves, so I would suppose, I would read them, but only with a box of chocolates and Kleenex nearby.
First of all, thanks for the reminder that not everyone will love your work and it's more a reflection of their taste than your ability. One gal in one of my crit groups doesn't like present tense, first-person narration, so my book doesn't work for her at all. She's too irritated by the narration to even notice the story. Her crits are generally useless, but oh well.
Based on my interactions with her, I'm iffy about reading negative reviews. Probably I'll ask my CPs to bring to my attention any valid ones they see, so I can learn. The ones that are merely expressing different taste, I'd rather ignore.
i think i will probably read every review with my first novel. i'm sure it will thicken my skin some, haha.
i do think you bring up a great point that we can't please everyone. it's not possible.
No. 'Nuff said.
Oooo, great post! I don't think I would want to read them, but I am probably too curious to pull it off.
Have a great weekend! :-)
No - it gets stuck in my head and hurts too much. I think I'll concentrate on the ones who like it and use my time and energy connecting with them instead.
Interesting post. :)
Naw. Once the book is out there, reading negative reviews isn't going to help. Only constructive critcism from people who know/ like the genre in the editing stage will be useful. There are also a lot of angry people in the world who use outlets like Amazon to vent their frustrations!
Definitely not. I read some in the ABNA contest last year, and they're devastating. I think I'll just exist inside my own world when/if that day comes.
I don't think I would be able to resist...my curiousity is too strong.
BTW I'm glad you found my blog so I could find yours!
It's a great reminder that not everyone will enjoy our work or that it will appeal to everyone. I know I'll read whatever review comes my way - though, I hope I remember to not let the negatives bring me down.
Confession: I do not look for reviews of my work. If someone posts a link or sends it to me, I will read, but I know my skin is extremely thin and the negative will bruise me more than the positive would lift me up. Note, though, that I have no problem with critique: before a story is published, I can always improve it.
I know this is probably isn't the best strategy, but for right now, the pros outweigh the cons.
Also because when I Google myself I am confounded by links to a certain hot older British actress.
This is a tough topic, but I think it's valuable if you are going to read Amazon, etc. reviews, to contemplate what the motivation is of the person who writes one. Does this individual write to help the reading public, or do they write an online review to see their name in print? I haven't written a book, but noticed an interesting trend in one of the last pieces I had published, which appeared in print and online. The comments from the print-readers came via snail mail and email and were fair when they had criticism, though for the most part, they were positive. The online readers' comments were mixed. A higher percentage were negative and it appeared that many of the online readers seemed to have an agenda ...which was to make their comments snarky enough to get noticed.
Just something to consider when reading online reviews...that stay online forever. Did the reader really want to help the public...or see their own opinion "published?"
Nicole, great post and a really interesting question!
I don't know. . . I would be so tempted to, partly for curiosity and partly in the hope that they would help me grow as a writer. But I also feel that I would give the negative comments more weight, so if Reviewer A said my main character was annoying and Reviewer B said she was the best character they'd read in ages, I would assume Reviewer A was right. And drive myself insane.
That being said, it's all or nothing - if I only read positive reviews, I think I would take their feedback too seriously too ('oh, they say *that's* my greatest strength as a writer. *That* it is then, to the exclusion of all else!'). So I would either read all of them, or none of them.
I think I need more confidence as a writer before the former is an option though. . .
Good or bad it means someone's reading it, right? A friend of mine's book has been out for a little over a year and he gets hate mail because of his book. I'm not gonna lie, I'm jealous.
I've never been big on following the opinions of reviews. I prefer to make my own opinion on books that I read or choose to read.
No, I won't read bad reviews! I don't want that kind of negativity clouding my life. I probably won't read many good reviews either only because I know then I'll feel enormous pressure when writing my second book. For me, it'll be best to just write, promote, write, promote and you know, eat and sleep in between. :)
Here's a problem I see with the numbers from on-line reviews that cause them to be skewed. I believe that if you put 5000 readers of any book in a room and asked them to rate it on a scale from 1-5, you would get a dramatically different spread of results. Why? Because people who love a particular book will be more motivated to take the time to go on-line and write a positve review. Whereas a random sample of readers would be more objective and therefore less bias.
My two cents worth.
I probably will read the negative ones and agree with them. lol! I can't please everyone with what I write, but I know for a fact there are people who do enjoy my writing more than people who don't...so far.
Nicole,
I'll read the negative reviews in the beginning to get a sense for what readers are not happy about, but then again, you can't please everyone. Plus after awhile, I'm just going to hire some else to filter my reviews and only give me the good ones. ;)
Happy Friday!
It's true, it's a matter of taste. Not everyone is going to like your stuff. If I come across negative reviews, I might read them, but I won't go out of my way.
Yes, you have to accept that you will receive negative comments. I've read that some established writers never read them. Your choice...
I would probably read them. There may be some constructive comments. I've received a lot of rejection letters (form ones) in my life, but sometimes someone wrote a handwritten comment with a helpful remark. But, if you're a writer, if you want to write, you'll keep writing no matter what someone might say about something you've written.
Gosh. I think at first I would read everything, but then I would just get annoyed I think and want to retaliate and give long, boring speeches on the hours and hours of work I poured into that book and if they didn't have anything nice to say .. say nothing. But then again, I can be a little sensitive.
I'd probably read them. If for no other reason than, I ultimately understand not everyone likes the same things. I'm almost betting whatever negativity I cross, won't be half as judgmental or harsh as I am already with myself. (Hugs)Indigo
I've read my negative reviews/comments. As long as they're constructive, they can teach you something. And I can always learn.
I think the negative reviews are far more helpful than positive ones
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I think I'd read them, but I'd be careful about it. I'd read in order to learn what not to do for my next book. (There's a certain chick lit author who has been criticized on Goodreads for using a formula for all her stories. I wonder if she knows this.) But if the negative reviews got in the way of my positive thinking, I'd probably limit how many or how often I read them. Great topic!
Hope you had a good week, Nicole. Been thinking of you. :)
I think I'll read them but I'll feel pretty horrible doing so. May need a pound of chocolate and a glass of wine. But I hope I can read them and weed through to get the truly helpful stuff that will help me craft better the next time.
My novel got a 3 star review and it shook me a little, but in the end I realized that it was a fair review and, most importantly -- my book just wasn't the reviewer's cup of tea. She liked a different genre, and mine fell outside that category.
It really is all subjective -- some people will love a book while others hate it. I know that Wuthering Heights is considered a classic but I really didn't like it when I read it :/
I don't think I will read them. Because some of those negative reviews will be right, but what good will that do me after the book is out in print? Can't fix it anymore.
I don't think I'll want to, but I think I will. :)
I probably will, even though I'll know the whole time that it's not in my best interest to do so. :-P
I think I probably will read the negative reviews...cautiously. Mostly because if I hear one complaint more than any other I'm going to have to consider I may have a writing weakness and work hard to correct it with the next book.
I'm sure I'll be drawn to them, but ultimately I'd like to think it didn't matter. That one person's trash is another's treasure. It's how it works. I'd like to think I wouldn't be offended too, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I bet I'll start smashing things in my house ;)
I’ve read some really nasty reviews on Amazon on various books. They weren’t helpful, just hurtful. “The plot was boring and stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid” –That is an actually review over on Amazon for a book that has a cumulative total of 4.5 stars. I would rather have someone else read the reviews, pull out the helpful information, and then pass it along.
That's a good point and a good question. I think not. Even if the critiques were constructive, the book is already out there, so it would be absolute torture not to be able to change things. Plus, even if the reviews were bad, at least somebody cared enough to take the time to write about it.
I would skim the negative reviews. You grow by seeing yourself as others see you. They may be wrong, but something about your writing hit them in an off-key way. See if there is truth to it.
If a pattern occurs in the negative reviews, then there would be probably some truth to them. Ouch. Roland
I'll read them, most likely just to torture myself at the off chance that I might actually learn something. At the end of the day they all come down to just being opinions but there might be that one that really makes me learn to be a better writer.
I don't want to - but I will. I will try to put perspective on the negative, but I'm guessing they'll still cut deep.
I will also believe the wonderful comments and reviews, because there will be those too, right?
Oh - and Jane Eyre and The Stand. Love these.
I think I'll read everything people say about it. Sadly, I'm pretty sure it's the people who say something negative (probably 3-2 stars) that will help me improve my next novel the most. Despite that, every 3 star and below is gonna just plain hurt.
Yes, because you will learn from them. You can see how others view your work. You can also tell if a person is just being vengeful or if that person really does have a valid point of view.
But we should all remember that it's far easier to write a review than it is to write a book and get it published. :)
You're right - the most popular book in the world is not loved by all.
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I have never read The Stand and so don't know if it's good or not. Probably wouldn't like it if it's horror. However, I can say "Eyes of the Dragon" is fairly good- but long. =) I'd say good or bad, I'd read the reviews. It won't hurt to see what the customers say.
I have never read The Stand and so don't know if it's good or not. Probably wouldn't like it if it's horror. However, I can say "Eyes of the Dragon" is fairly good- but long. =) I'd say good or bad, I'd read the reviews. It won't hurt to see what the customers say.
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