Reflection on Receiving Reviews & Feedback
I wanted to title this blog post 'What were you thinking?' maybe in bold or all-caps. Feedback is hard to receive. Here's what I think when I receive it. I start by talking about Em-dashes and move on to Book Reviews.
Author Trigger Warning: An instructor reviewed my cover letter and resume. He commented on my liberal use of the em-dash indicating AI use.
Would I go back and change it?
I will remove em-dashes while filing my silent objection here. Readers—be warned—you will see em-dashes splattered all over my website.
— = Opt-shift-dash on an Apple Keyboard.
Why?
I understand how someone can judge a paragraph on how it looks. However, I always use the em-dash when there's a pronounced or sudden pause as it is intended to be used in the English language. It pains me that a stupid predictive text algorithm is pushing the global narrative on a tool most real authors lean on—for emphasis.
Author Trigger Warning: Someone very close to me gave my book a 3.5 star review on Goodreads.
My anguish was palpable as the pit of my stomach fell out. But, months earlier the Wishing Shelf, a UK-based source for editorial reviews, also gave A Lion's Head a 3.5 star rating. At the time, they asked whether or not I wanted them to post this review. I said 'Yes' and in its entirety. Here's the review.
To my relief, the Wishing Chair published an enthusiastic 4.0 star rating for A Lion's Pride—I can only get better.
I admit the book is probably a 3.5. Good for my friend for pointing that out. Others, perhaps kinder—and thinking I'd be hurt if they gave me less—have marked it at 5 stars.
I have a higher appreciation for the bad reviews. I can learn what my reader is thinking—centred around their very real experience with the book. If I wanted platitudes, I wouldn't be asking for reviews or feedback. Reviews are meant to be harsh.
Perhaps this is how I differ from authors who are just trying to make money. I want to improve in my craft with a sense of perfectionism tempered with the stubbornness of pushing something different.
Would you go back and change it (the novel) based on this review?
TLDR; no.
Why?
Because he's entitled to his perspective. His perspective is formed by his age, reading history, likes and dislikes, and personal beliefs. He is not someone who is looking at my writing from the same lens as say, one of my beta readers who exudes oldest child energy.
With earlier feedback, I found my beta readers were split between the two books. One preferred A Lion's Head and the other preferred A Lion's Pride. Limited in the number of readers and their feedback—I did what I thought was best at the time. Beta readers are special creatures who are curious about the unknown. I can't force unsatisfied readers to finish a book or read the sequel. As evidenced by reviews on A Lion's Head, I have evidence on the 'why' it would have been better to publish the two as an Omnibus.
Reflection
My career as an author isn't doomed by one poor review. As an Indie author, I am learning in real time, why the polish behind the first book is vital to establishing a series. What might be my saving grace is that my WIP is independent trilogy set in the same universe. The anguish in my stomach can abate. I can let my sense of perfectionism be the motivation to make that next series that much better.
