I’m Gonna Go Eat Worms!
Dear Maggie,
Do you ever get bad reviews? If so, how do they make you feel?
Worried in Worcester
Dear Worried,
I absolutely get bad reviews, and of course it feels awful. When I got my first really nasty one, I wanted to bury my head under the covers. I may have chanted sadly to myself, “Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. I’m gonna go eat worms.” But don’t worry, I didn’t actually eat worms or stay in bed forever, and since then, I’ve grown a rather thick skin.
Every author gets bad reviews. My fellow writers and I commiserate about this, we comfort baby writers about it, and we talk about how to handle those buzz killers - which is to mostly ignore them. Although, I once had the idea we should make t-shirts printed with our worst reviews. My colleagues and I got a good laugh when we shared some of our favorite little gems. It really takes the sting out when you know you aren’t alone in an experience and when you can find the humor in it.
Just like reading a restaurant review, I can tell if what I offered simply didn’t appeal to a particular person’s reading taste, and that’s okay. Not everyone likes the same things. Those type of reviews feels a little different from the ones where the reviewer is critiquing my writing skills, or the review is just plain nasty. Honestly, I don’t read those. I have fabulous, professional editors for all my work, a smart, savvy agent for my speculative fiction, and trusted beta readers who aren’t afraid to give me their honest opinions. By the time my work is published, I’ve done my due diligence to make my story the best it can be, and I stand by it.
As much as bad reviews are kind of a downer, good reviews feel fabulous. I want my readers to enjoy their reading experience. I want them to get lost in the story, to laugh, cry, and stay up late because they have to know what happens to their favorite character. So, bottom line, if you enjoyed a book, let the writer know through a review. If you didn’t like it, feel free to say that too, just remember there is a real person on the other side of the screen!
Do you have a question for me? Send it to maggie@msmaggieclare.com, and I’ll answer it here on the blog.
In other news…
I am available for book club events, virtually or in person, so please reach out!
If you are a sci-fi fan, real me will be at RI Comic Con November 5-7 signing books at presenting on panels. Here’s a link to the site for more info: RI Comic Con 2021.
