Reviews are designed for readers and often make a book more marketable. They are important and are there for readers to connect and engage, an avenue to discuss what worked and what didn’t, and why other readers might enjoy a title or want to make a different choice. Reviews are not designed for writers.
Regardless, I most certainly read my book reviews. Curiosity is a basic human characteristic and it is not uncommon to wonder what people think of your writing. I know that a bad review is simply one person’s opinion and I let it roll off my back. On the other hand, a good review warms my heart and brightens my life. It is the inspiration to write another book – one even better than the last one.
Fact is:
- We are often our own worst critics.
- And when it comes to sales, book reviews are not the end-all, be-all.
- Bad reviews only mean one thing: you’re a published author.
- Nowadays many people discover books the old fashioned way: word of mouth.
“Linda has published fifteen books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”