100% agreed. Often I will find factual errors -- demonstrably wrong things -- in Goodreads and Amazon reviews, and I still won't engage with the reviewer. There's no value in it for anyone. And I certainly have no understanding of being angry over a 4 out of 5. That blows my mind, that an author would freak out over that. I have my issues with the trad publishing world for sure, but one thing they tend to be good at: coaching authors from apprentice to professional. Not always, but usually. Having a pro guide you through the steps of acting like a pro can be a real asset often overlooked in the indie world.
a prolific website recently reviewed my book and wrote something demonstrably inaccurate as well. I told my husband and a friend and moved on from it. These things must resemble water off a duck's back. The moment those drops penetrate is the moment we have traded our mental health for ego.
I admit it took many years and a lot of treatment to get to that point. Those of us with, shall we say, pre-existing conditions need to be especially vigilant when it comes to reading our reviews. They can kickstart a legit downward spiral.
I have an author friend that left social media simply because something like that caused them to spend too much time navel gazing. They knew their boundaries/limits and removed themselves from the temptation altogether. Wise.
100% agreed. Often I will find factual errors -- demonstrably wrong things -- in Goodreads and Amazon reviews, and I still won't engage with the reviewer. There's no value in it for anyone. And I certainly have no understanding of being angry over a 4 out of 5. That blows my mind, that an author would freak out over that. I have my issues with the trad publishing world for sure, but one thing they tend to be good at: coaching authors from apprentice to professional. Not always, but usually. Having a pro guide you through the steps of acting like a pro can be a real asset often overlooked in the indie world.
a prolific website recently reviewed my book and wrote something demonstrably inaccurate as well. I told my husband and a friend and moved on from it. These things must resemble water off a duck's back. The moment those drops penetrate is the moment we have traded our mental health for ego.
I admit it took many years and a lot of treatment to get to that point. Those of us with, shall we say, pre-existing conditions need to be especially vigilant when it comes to reading our reviews. They can kickstart a legit downward spiral.
I have an author friend that left social media simply because something like that caused them to spend too much time navel gazing. They knew their boundaries/limits and removed themselves from the temptation altogether. Wise.