Do Online Reviews Matter? Well, Sort of.

It’s every authors worst nightmare— negative reviews.  The sad reality is, we’re all going to get one eventually, authors both big and small must embrace this.  Today, it’s so easy to post a negative review that it has some authors thinking twice before publishing.  That’s because it’s not  professional reviewers who are posting  venomous and even libelous diatribes these days.  No, no, these are everyday people who don’t like you or your book!

Hilarious, Bizarre & Scathing Reviews:

I found this set of reviews of Stephen King’s new book 11/22/63 fascinating, some reviewers called it, “His Best in a Long Time” while others insulted both the author and the book and wrote things like, “How to Mess Up a Great Idea in 800 pages.”

Speaking of negative reviews, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the newest erotic thriller 50 Shades of Grey.  Though it’s a bestseller, the first 6 pages on Amazon are filled with bad reviews.  I even stumbled upon this reviewer who took the time to post a video.  While expressing her disdain for 2 minutes, she wraps up the video by sticking out her tongue and giving it the raspberries.  Priceless!

Think that was funny?  Check out this review for “The Secret” it includes prison rape and a stabbing!

Now, I know what you’re thinking “Rachel, that’s what they get for writing crappy books!”  But this isn’t a cross that only modern authors have to bear.  Today, not even the literary greats like Toni Morrison, J.D. Salinger, or F. Scott Fitzgerald are safe from negative online reviews.

Why You Shouldn’t Sweat It:

If you check out the links above (which you should, I did that for you!) you’ll see that some of these Negative Nellies openly admit they never read the book they’re slamming!  Some of them claim to have been so overwhelmed with all the horrible writing, they had to put it down and seek shelter.

Ratings vs Reviews  

As if that weren’t enough, it’s now even easier to trash a book with just a click of a mouse.  For those reviewers who don’t like typing and junk, there’s still a way to give your two cents by using a simple five star rating system.  Now all you have to do is click and walk away.

Here’s the problem most authors have with that, some sites like Goodreads allow you to “rate” a book without having made any purchase, or giving any proof that you even read the book.  I was able to rate Fifty Shades of Grey 5 stars without purchasing the book, or listing it on my “to read list.”  Goodreads automatically put it on my read list.  Interesting eh?

Like it or not, it’s open season on you and your book.  You are at the mercy of some of the most idiotic, bizarre and insane people online.  Sadly, there’s nothing you can do but suck it up least, you end wind-up doing an Anne Rice and have a complete conniption on Amazon.  P.S. I know I’ve posted this before but it’s my favorite author conniption of all time!

No matter what you may have heard, we authors need to just take it on the chin and keep going.  Otherwise, we risk looking petty, not to mention, unprofessional.  This is where a pen name comes in handy. :)

Well I hope I made you feel better, I know I’m starting to!