Criticism makes us the most vulnerable people in the world. It pulls us down to the earth and makes us question everything we have done so far. But does it matter if it’s a bad one?
Of course not.
Books for authors are their life’s work. Their ambition, and what they desired to achieve. They have pulled all-nighters to be where they are. Bruised their fingertips, and had so many cups of coffee just because they needed to check that deadline. So many things and fights they’ve been through just to be where they are.
Is it logical or valid to have just one review ruin that all?
Reviews are a lot like rejections — they come and go, and they often linger in your mind. Some may even haunt you. But what truly matters is how you choose to respond to them. It’s strange how we tend to weigh feedback unevenly: when someone leaves a positive comment, it feels validating — even though deep down, you already know your book is good. But when it’s a negative one, suddenly your confidence shakes. Why? Why let a single opinion outweigh your belief in your own work? You wrote it. You trusted it. You lived and loved every part of it. Don’t let someone else’s voice drown out your own.
Or simply use the ‘song quote’ by Camila Cabello “if you don’t like my story, you can write your own” Pass a smile, and continue with the rest of your work.
There’s also a difference between working on bad reviews and acting on bad reviews. So first, you need to understand that:
Constructive Feedback Isn’t Always Negative
Not all comments and reviews are negative. Sometimes, in the rush of writing countless chapters and hitting high word counts, it’s easy to accidentally repeat yourself or create contradictions without realizing it. When a reader points something like that out, take it as a helpful gesture. Acknowledge their input, respond politely, thank them for noticing, and — if needed — make the correction after reviewing it carefully. And if you’re confident there’s no mistake, feel free to kindly clarify. Either way, treat it as a moment to connect, not confront.
Let’s say a reader leaves a harsh review — but their critique is actually logical and points out something valid. Because the book is our passion project, something we’ve poured our heart into, we might feel defensive and ignore what they said, even if it’s true. Instead of taking a moment to reflect, we may rush to justify ourselves or argue back — without even checking for that small mistake they highlighted.
But what we say online stays online. It’s important to handle situations like this thoughtfully and respond in a way that’s respectful and constructive for everyone involved.
When faced with negative reviews, don’t let them spiral into something bigger. Sometimes, choosing not to react is the best response. That said, patience has its limits. It won’t fix everything, and we need to accept that people think differently — we can’t control how they feel, but we can choose how we respond.
Remain Professional
No matter how a review is delivered — whether it’s thoughtful, harsh, or even rude — it’s important to remain professional in your response. As authors, your reputation isn’t built only on your writing, but also on how you handle feedback. Responding with grace, maturity, and respect reflects well on you and your work.
While it may be criticism, remember that these are still your readers — people who took the time to read, engage with, and even participate in your craft. Acknowledging their efforts, even when the feedback is tough, shows character and deepens the connection between you and your audience.
Regardless, let’s not forget that, at the end of the day, we are authors — true authors — and creators. That means we have every right to shape our world the way we want to. And if we constantly write only to please others or keep changing what’s written in our stories to match every expectation, what’s the point.
Don’t underestimate your book. And mostly yourself. What we write is what we feel, live and want to express. And no one should be given the privilege to change that.
