They are infuriating, annoying, and often stupid. They are unfair, depressing, and disheartening.
But bad book reviews are one of the harsh realities of being a published author today.
If you’re a seasoned author, you know what I’m talking about.
If you are a new author who is about to publish your first book, you will come to know soon enough.
In This Article
Customer reviews A book review asks; does the book work for me?
A customer review is different
The worst of the worst
Free ebooks can attract negative reviews
Here we go again!
It’s only a review
Conclusion
Joanna Penn writes about self-doubt in writers. I think this is, for many of us, a very important article. Thank you, Joanna, for all your efforts.
Every writer grapples with self-doubt, but how we deal with those thoughts and feelings can make the difference between a completed book and an unfulfilled dream. Psychotherapist Philip Kenney shares the practices that he and his clients use to enable them to keep writing.
The great novelist and short story writer, Flannery O’Connor once said,
“Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay.”
Why is the great Flannery O’Connor losing her hair? And why do so many authors go through periods of despair or consider abandoning their vocation? Because writing is tough. It subjects perfectly capable people to bouts of insecurity, self-doubt and enough encounters with demoralizing rejections to last a dozen lifetimes.
I know you might ask yourself – a “furry friend”? And I’ll reply: Yes… VERY furry. The ones of you who read my blog regularly will probably know by now who I am talking about. For the clueless ones: Here he is:
Of course, we know him as TSRA, but as most of us know, behind this pseudonym a real man hides. His name: Chris Graham.
Chris is a writer supporter, an excellent blogger, an avid reader – and an amazing personality – a friend!
What is the purpose of “The Story Reading Ape’s’ blog? He writes on his “About” page:
What is the purpose of my blog?
1. To introduce YOU to new (to me) authors I’ve come across in my wanderings through books and the cyber forest.
2. To provide a platform (battered old homemade soapbox) for authors to introduce themselves to you. (See my Contact Me Section for Guest Author article Guidelines)
3. As an informal information service to authors, poets, or anyone else who is thinking of becoming a published person of that ilk.
4. To promote FUN and an OASIS OF CALM and Font of useful Knowledge and tips for Indies (please do NOT feed my naughty chimps or they may follow you home) from the woes and stresses of the real world.
But Chris does more than that. He supports, entertains, helps, consults, suggests and answers.
Whenever I have a question and don’t know where to go with it, I know I can ask The Story Reading Ape. If he can’t help, I know he’ll find a way or a person who can.
How often have I been crying on his shoulder (not literally though!) – and he comforted me. And he was there for me when I didn’t get anywhere with my book blurb – and again when I needed a cover designer.
Not to forget he was the one who spread the word about ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’ to his thousands of followers, re-blogged my posts, published guest posts, accepted me into his author’s hall of fame and supported not only my writing but also my blogging significantly.
The Story Reading Ape has a soft spot for his readers, followers, authors – and fans.
To me, Chris is one of the cornerstones during the last few years of my writing and blogging progress and a valuable and appreciated companion on my path to publishing my book. It will take another while, but I know, whenever I need help, he’ll be there.
Even though I never met Chris Graham personally, I consider him a friend, and today I wanted to say:
on Just Publishing Advice:
Writer's Treasure Chest 
You must be logged in to post a comment.