Every now and then I do a google search on each of my pen names and my book titles. It’s a great way to find out if you have any new reviews on your books you didn’t know about, what readers are saying on their blogs, which countries are carrying and selling your books and much more.
However, during my latest foray around the world wide web, I found a review on Amazon UK titled “Hated It,” which detailed a bunch of reasons why they, well…hated it.
Now I’ve been in this business long enough to know that some occasional bad reviews are just part of being a writer. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t wince with each bad word written about me or my work. And the fact that I’ve seen literally dozens of great reviews or great comments for every bad one doesn’t seem to make those few bad ones hurt any less. After all, a lot of myself went into each and every book, and no matter how much practice you get - it’s hard to realize that criticisms of your work aren’t really criticisms of you.
Don’t get me wrong, I won’t dwell on those few bad comments for very long, but they do strike a blow to my writing self-esteem for a few long seconds.
I know some writers who refuse to look at ANY reviews or comments about their books or their pen names. I’ve thought about adopting that same practice, but reading those great reviews and those great letters I get from readers really gives me a boost, and helps me speed forward through whatever writing I have to accomplish for that day. So, I guess I’m not willing to totally turn my back on all reviews, which means I just have to develop some tough skin and keep on hoping the good to bad ratio stays at much more good than bad. 
How does everyone else handle the occasional bad review? Any nuggets of wisdom?
Cassie/Tina
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I love our local writing chapters. They bring in fellow writers (NY best selling authors, USA best sellers, local authors that have made it, Unpublished, Beginners) to speak about their experiences in a wide range of topics:
• About the craft (character development, plotting, pacing, etc.);
• Or, about the business side of writing (website/myspace management, importance of blogging or promotions, etc.)
The speakers have also been agents (Deidre Knight – Knight Agency), people who have worked in the publishing industry (Jerry Simmons), CSI investigators, FBI and local detectives and lots, lots more.
I’ve enjoyed every one of the talks and enjoy networking with my fellow writers each month. We celebrate the successes (contracts), celebrate reviews, celebrate the rejections and people submitting manuscripts.
The local chapters give free workshops, encourage new members, and hold local conferences (e.g., Desert Dreams). Everyone is encouraging, motivating and has helped me more then I can ever repay.
Please join your local chapter and write your heart out.
www.desertroserwa.org
www.valleyofthesunrw.com
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Hi everyone! My newly updated Tina Gerow website is up
A big thanks to Justin Knupp at Stonecreek Media for building me such a beautiful site! I’m still updating the content and will be for the next several weeks, so all of that is on me, not Justin…LOL. Now he’s off to work on the Cassie Ryan site.
Anyway, in honor of the new site - I’m running a contest. See the Contest link on the new Tina Gerow site for details! And please, sign my guestbook so I know you stopped by!
Tina/Cassie
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What do we look for in our characters as writers or readers? I know when I read a book, I’m always attracted to the one person who sacrifices something they deeply care for to save another person or crucial situation.
I thought I’d take a look on the net and search for everyday heroes. Some might spur me on to write about them as characters in a new book, but some might just make me grateful that there are people out there who are willing to make deep sacrifices for someone other than themselves.
I decided to celebrate those everyday people by finding a Hero of the Month. I’ve stumbled upon far more people than I ever thought I would, so it was very difficult to find that special person until I read about a man in New York City:
A teenager fell off a subway platform right onto the train tracks with an oncoming train fast approaching. A man saw what had occurred and at first thought he might be able to pull the teenager up off the tracks, but then realized he didn’t have time. So instead he dove on top of the teenager and pushed him down on the track.
According to reports, the train’s operator saw them and applied emergency brakes, but not quickly enough. Two cars passed over both men with only a few inches to spare.
I don’t know about you, but to me that truly is a heroic act. Thank you, Wesley Autrey.
Until next time.
Lynne Logan
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