I’m a reviewer. I hang out on message boards frequented by other reviewers. One popular topic on these message boards is that of authors who comment on reviews of their books.
Almost all reviewers agree that authors shouldn’t ever do it, and when it happens, someone often links to the site where it’s going down, so we can all go over and see how badly everyone behaved.
It’s kind of a lame spectator sport, and it’s really not funny because these authors are more often than not doing terrible damage to their reputations—and their sales—sometimes permanently.
It happens again and again, especially on Amazon. And, it seems to happen most often with first-time authors and self-published authors, probably because they just don’t know not to. Some of these conversations started off okay, but then very often quickly become defensive and unpleasant. More often than not, other readers/reviewers jump into the conversation and it really spirals out of control. What the author has done is drawn more attention to the review.
When an author has commented on a review, I’ve sometimes seen others comment that they’ve “added the author to their never-read list.” Don’t let this happen to you. For everyone who leaves such a comment, there are many others who feel the same way. They will write you off as someone whose work they won’t ever support.
Reviews are certainly important; without them books are unlikely to sell well. Given the huge number of people who read them, there’s a very large potential readership that you have the ability to alienate, all in just a few keystrokes. Some Amazon.com reviews are propagated to Amazon’s international sites as well. So, it’s better to just let your creative work speak for itself.
If you choose to reply to a review, just understand that you will do it at your own peril.
Here’s what you must understand about reviews:
While authors can certainly learn from reviews, reviews aren’t primarily meant to be a conversation between an author and a reviewer, but between a reviewer (reader) and other readers.
If you disrupt that little ecosystem some people will react very poorly to it. And the reviewer who said whatever it is that you don’t like won’t pay the price – you will.
[See: Streisand Effect, in which trying to suppress bad press only amplifies it: these things multiply with attention. Goodreads also explains this problem well.]
If someone says something false or negative, just let it roll off you, rise above it. You can’t please everyone. There will be other reviews, which will be positive, and factually correct. Enjoy those and just ignore the others.
A writer’s job is to write, not to try to manage readers’ reactions.
Negative reviews may not even hurt your sales.
Many people are going to look at your book page and the book’s reviews.
One – or even a number of negative reviews – won’t sink a book’s sales! (But an author behaving poorly will.) What bothers one reviewer might be just what another reviewer will like about the book.
Potential buyers also want to look at a range of reviews. People will naturally have a variety of opinions (and even what they believe to be fact). That’s what you want; when everyone posts the same, super-positive, perfect-5-star reviews it can seem fishy. Readers expect – and respect – some dissent.
Remember, even beloved authors like Shakespeare, JK Rowling, and Dr. Seuss have critical reviews. And, think of all the times you read a critical movie review – but bought a ticket anyway, to see for yourself.
Readers will also usually pay little mind to reviews which are obviously inappropriate, abusive, are badly written, or seem poorly considered.
Don’t even leave a positive comment.
If someone leaves a good review, don’t comment then, either. Reviewers don’t like to think that an author is, in effect, hovering over them and passing judgment on their reviews either way. If your readers think you’re going to scrutinize and critique what they write, they are going to be less likely to leave a review. And that can’t benefit you at all.
If you like the review, there are things you can do.
Tweet it. Share it on your Facebook, G+, LinkedIn, and other social sites. Quote it on your website. These are all great.
And, of course if someone leaves a nice comment on your website, feel free to thank them, briefly. (But it’s still best to ignore any negative comments – just let those go.)
Do you have experience with this issue?
If so we’d be glad to hear about it – just leave a comment below.
(And, be sure to check out our article with tips on where to find reviewers for your book.)
Joshua Chase says
There is one time I responded to a review on Amazon, but the response was not directed at what was said in the review. It was originally on the first edition of the first book of my series, but when I published the second book it was in conjunction with a second edition of the first one and somehow the review got switched to the second one. I tried to get Amazon to put it back with the correct title, but they treated me like I was only trying to get it deleted and refused to do so. It was a negative review, but I was NOT trying to get rid of it. My only wish was to get it on the correct listing.
Anyway, when Amazon refused to listen to me, the comment I left on the review was to tell potential customers which title for which it was originally left and to keep that in mind when considering what was said. I agree with everything you said in this article about letting negative critiques roll off you, but I’m curious as to your thoughts regarding this relatively unique situation.
Nancy P says
Very well written & easy to understand. Thank you for the review on reviews! :D
Rosaline says
I definitely agree with this. Such an important point. There were countless times I didn’t buy an awesome sounding book just because of the author’s attitude towards the reviewers. I wish more authors would realize that reviews are not personal attacks on them!
Sunny says
I once left a review of a book and gave it 4 stars mentioning some grammar issues etc. The author responded with a comment asking what grammar issues those were. So I replied back, pointing them out, one by one. I can imagine the author went away after that to correct the mistakes. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I respect authors more who want to improve their work.
I only mention this because the premise of this article appears to be ‘NEVER EVER comment on reviews’ and I disagree with that.
Rebecca says
You advise that “If someone says something false or negative, just let it roll off you, rise above it.”
Suppose a reviewer of your next publication maliciously wrote “In Denise’s latest work she claims the holocaust never happened” and as a result, readers of the review didn’t bother reading, dismissing you as nut.
Apparently, if you took your own advice, you wouldn’t ever respond to that fabrication.
D. Raphael says
Hi Rebecca,
You’re right. I wouldn’t respond. People certainly have said things critical of me and my work online. I don’t get involved in that. I just move on.
You can’t control what people think. You can’t control what they say. People have different opinions. Some people will say things that are stupid or untrue or which you wish they wouldn’t say. That’s just life.
To get sucked into an argument with someone who is clearly irrational is a very bad idea. You won’t win – you’ll just wind up in some protracted argument that can’t be won. Don’t lower yourself to their level. There is no point in doing damage to your reputation as a writer by getting tangled up in an argument.
When you reply to such a comment you actually draw attention to it! That’s the opposite of what you would like to happen, right?
So, if you get a bad review — as every author eventually will — let it stand. Move on. Be glad that others feel otherwise. Even Shakespeare had – and has – his critics. Everybody does.
Anyone who reads your book will know what you have and haven’t said. Those who choose not to read a book based on a critical review or falsehood are unlikely to have ever bought it anyway. I have bought many books with critical reviews, as I suspect you have — it’s hard to find one that doesn’t.
Studies have shown that even when the only existing review is critical, the book is more likely to sell than one with no reviews at all. Books with some critical reviews also sell better than those with only 5-star reviews (which actually appear suspicious).
Critical reviews do not hurt you. So why get hung up on them?
A writer’s job is to write, not to try to manage readers’ reactions.
best,
Denise
Barbara Falconer Newhall says
Denise, I very much enjoyed this post and I think you are probably 100 percent right. Nonetheless, I ventured to read and comment upon a review of my book. Couldn’t help myself! Here’s why: https://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2016/10/06/authors-read-reviews/
Rest assured, I’m keeping your advice pasted on the inside of my forehead in case my books ever get reviewed in the future.
Danail says
If someone says something untrue or defamatory, I would try to comment without going down to their level—just for the readers.
For example:
Dear Sir / Madam,
Would you tell me on which page it was written that the Holocaust never happened because I have not seen such a text in my book neither in the lines, nor between the lines.
Thanks,
The author
christy nathan says
Yeah, good tips, but our book reviews are also helpful if we want to know the mistakes of our ebook.
Denise Enck says
Hi Christy, Thanks for your comment. Checking your work for errors isn’t really the function of a reviewer. That’s what editors and proofreaders are there for.
It’s best to get feedback on your book (ebook or otherwise) before you publish it. You can send it to family and friends – or find an website where people will do beta reading for each other (those do exist) for general feedback.
Ideally, you’d hire an editor and/or proofreader to go over it before publication. A proofreader will catch the typos and other little errors that crop up and distract from the reader’s experience. An editor will catch inconsistencies, awkward phrasing, check that the writing flows well, and more. Some people will do both things for you. These services aren’t necessarily expensive, either.
Then the reviewers can read and your best work, rather than a draft.
Getting everything right prior to publication will save you a lot of headaches – and negative reviews – in the future!
Christy Nathan says
Hi Denise,
As you said above that for mistakes editors and proofreaders are there for, So, after publishing our ebook is someone is also there who can give us all information about our ebook sales and where the ebook is purchased.
norma hines says
Everyone is busy and so when a critic takes the time to give his/her opinion on a book the author should be grateful. Even if there are negative comments the author should try to learn something from what is stated. Humility is fast becoming an archaic virtue but it is still needed to accept criticism graciously.
Denise Enck says
I agree completely, Norma! Well said.
Urthwild says
I know this is an old topic, but I published a particular review in March 2014 on Amazon/Goodreads, my site etc. The writer still has not let it go to this day, he fills twitter with vitriol. He has even had his author profile removed from Goodreads because of the way he has behaved. Since this was my first such reaction I was a little shocked at first, but it has not put me off reviewing self-published authors surprisingly.
Denise Enck says
What a story! It’s an excellent (but sad) example of the self-inflicted damage an author can do to their own book, success, and reputation.
Barbara Falconer Newhall says
Glad to hear you were able to let this “review of your review” roll off your back — and continue putting your reviews out there.
Joe Haldeman says
In Ernest Hemingway’s published letters there are a few really blistering responses to critics, with the notation “not sent.” A good lesson implied there (by a man who was not famous for restraint).
I send a short note in response to a review if the critic has found an error in fact that I can correct in subsequent printings. I think that’s just common courtesy. Thanking him or her for liking your book, especially in correspondence that might be made public, is probably unwise.
Denise Enck says
Hemingway was a wise man!
Michael J. Gayda says
Thank you for this site and your comments. I just published my autobiography on Amazon and B & N. Because my book is an autobiography I can easily internalize what people say. I finally decided to not read ANY reviews. I want people to read my book because the message is what is important. I am highly fortunate to even be alive after the life I led and that’s certainly worth being thankful for. What you say is important: let readers respond any way they want to.
@EAkinStelling says
Authors, Do you agree? https://t.co/zNW6HqJBEp
Maricela Baird says
This entry was posted and tagged authors, bad reviews, criticism, dealing with bad reviews, literature, masq2, never respond to reviewers, writing. Bookmark the permalink.
R.W. Ridley says
Great advice. I totally agree. I would add that taking to Facebook and Twitter complaining about a bad review isn’t a great move either. It’s true you may get a lot of sympathy from your friends and followers, but that sympathy may turn into a witch hunt. Authors may suffer a backlash when their readers come to their defense and start flaming the negative review with comments that may get personal and ugly. That reflects badly on the author and makes him/her look petty.
Empty Mirror says
[In reply to Paul Maher Jr.’ s comment below]
This article is mostly directed those authors (many of them self-published), who at the hint of any criticism or dissent, are tempted to attack the reviewer. Too often, self-published authors who don’t know any better, find themselves antagonizing their readers, and shutting down sales.
I’ve seen this scenario many times, especially on Amazon, where tens of thousands of self-published authors – many of them first-time authors – sell their books, and where most of the reviewers are ordinary readers rather than professional reviewers. These authors often take deep offense, just because someone doesn’t give their book a 5-star review. They love their book (of course) but think everyone else will too, and react badly when that’s not the case.
It happens often. Someone will say something innocuous in a review, like “I didn’t find it believable in this novel, that someone could drive to San Francisco from Seattle in one 14-hour nonstop trip, and still have enough energy to go dancing until the bars closed.” Or, “I don’t like a lot of detail about landscapes, so found this book hard to get through in places.” And the author takes deep offense at the minor criticism and jumps down the reader’s throat for it.
Authors who do that are going to do more harm than good. You’ve gotta pick your battles.
For most authors, sales are important. They publish their books with in the hope that they will sell and gain a readership.
Whether they decide to comment on reviews or not, authors should first be aware that there may be consequences of jumping into the fray. Then, they can make that decision for themselves.
Empty Mirror says
Thanks for your comment. (And cool site, by the way!) It’s understandable that authors are proud of their work – they’ve poured love and time into it. But they should understand that every writer has room to improve, and that not everyone will love their work as much as they do – and that that’s OK! Got to have pretty thick skin to be an author!