Saw this over on a fellow writer’s blog:
Crossing the Line | Barry Lillie (wordpress.com)
Where Barry describes that he wrote a 3-Star book review and has later been contacted by the author asking him to change said review. I don’t know much about the details beyond what Barry describes and to be fair it’s none of my business.
The question is raises, for authors as well as readers (reviewers), is:
Should you ask for a review to be changed, if your sales/ranking are tanking?
Amazon strictly forbids this – a free copy for a good review (wink, wink) and I am not one to argue, since I believe an author is only as good as their integrity and passion, and any work must stand up to scrutiny on its own two feet. (Or four, if you’re getting Orwellian).
Barry himself mentions that to request a re-work of a review is unprofessional, and it is. Once a review is made, you pin it down as a milestone for good or ill, and take it on the chin. In my not-so humble, chaises-longues dwelling opinion, the only time you can ever ask for a review to be changed is if you come at it from the point of a new edition or imprint, where you can say: “this is how it was then – what do you think now?”
Yet that is a very limited case.
Don’t be afraid of bad reviews (and Barry’s was a 3-star, that’s not terrible!) because they’re criticism, and they’re a benchmark. Show your scars, but be aware that criticism is mostly just advice.
I’ve written about this before – like any advice, you must apportion the correct weight to the criticism, but you must also understand as an author, that you are never going to please everyone all the time.
Another thought on this: bad reviews are sometimes good. Let me explain.
I was debating on picking up a new sci-fi video game that was poorly received by a critic who specialises in being an asshat, and makes his money off it. His negativity was enough to make me try the game. I bought it and enjoyed it greatly because it was for me and not him.
That’s right, no such thing as bad PR – besides Amazon rank tables are really nice and emboldening, but Amazon doesn’t always work like that. If you want to make writing your job, you need to play the long game. That one is out of David Morell’s book 🙂 (What?? I haven’t mentioned him in six months, stop booing!)
Don’t delete your reviews or ask for them to be changed unless you have a bloody good reason. It makes you look bad, and your product look worse. If your sales are tanking, ask yourself why. The problem likely isn’t your reviews.
Be bold, be resolute, be professional. Demonstrate your confidence in your work and display your integrity, and even your detractors will praise you.
And as always – have a Great Day, Adventurers! 🙂
Mightier Is The Pen 