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Friday, April 8, 2011

Back sliding and Follow Friday


Inspired by the spectacular melt down of Jacqueline Howett on Big Al’s Book Blog, how do you deal with a bad review?
 Lordy, I read the train wreck (or most of it) via the link from John Scalzi's blog right after it happened.  I agree--this is NOT how one should behave.    What happened to my best reckoning was Jacqueline sent her ebook to Big Al for a review, but sent an early version without some edits.   She sent the correct version a little later, but Big Al reviewed her first submission, commenting on the mistakes (first lessons, edit well and send the correct version).  JH got angry that he didn't review the "right" version and F bombs were involved.  Along with many commenters who swore they would never read anything she ever wrote, because of the really awful way she behaved and how poorly written her comments were. 
Everybody join virtual hands here and agree we'll never behave badly in public like that, okay?  In public means on-line, because every post we make, every comment on Facebook, every, well, you get the idea.  Just think of how when we make a rude or snarky comment in person, we have the potential of making someone cry?  It's multiplied when we're on-line, because the reader can't see by our expression (eye roll, smile or laugh) that we were joking. 
A friend wrote a lovely, well thought out letter to the editor about growing up Jewish in Kentucky and how awkward it was growing up, having to go to the mandatory religious classes that were strictly Christian or sit by himself in study hall.  I couldn't have refrained myself from responding to the horribly red neck comments posted on the newspaper's web site, but it's a tribute to Joel's grace. 
So, how would I react?  I would thank the reviewer for their time and thoughts and shut the hell up, log off the computer/put the letter away, then go break out some dark chocolate.  Yes, I'd bitch to my friends and family, but I remember from my years as president of our local writers guild a very prolific writer who wallpapered her downstairs bathroom (floor to ceiling) with her rejection letters.  At least you're getting your work out there and the reviewer did exactly what you asked, he/she looked at your manuscript.  Not everyone will like YOUR WRITING and that's not a comment on you personally, even if it is an autobiography.  

Now, for the back sliding part.  I'm on my fourth type of antibiotic so far this year, because I haven't been taking care of myself again.  Anytime I get a sinus/throat/bronchial infection, I need to get it taken care of since I have a defective heart valve.  On the other hand, the first eighty pages of my manuscript ROCKS and I've got the notes for a whole other book.  *sigh* 
Thanks for listening and stopping by.  Please leave a comment below and I will accept constructive criticism.  Check out the others' blogs on the hop and we'll see you later.   
The rules for Follow Friday:
1) Follow this blog.
2) Follow Elizabeth Sharp, the originator of this hop 
3) Follow the featured author of the week Nichole.
4) Go to Sharp words and copy the image code found there and paste it in your blog. Add your name to the link at the bottom of the post while you are there.
5) Copy and paste the rules in your blog, as well as this week’s question.
6) Answer the question
7) Follow, follow, follow. This is about networking, people, making connections with people in your community. So talk to us. We don't bite!
8) If someone stops by, says hi and follows you, the polite thing to do is follow back.
9) Comment here and introduce yourself and you just might find a new follower or two.

Join in the fun, I swear it's a good time!

10 comments:

  1. Hey, Paige! Have a super weekend! :wave:

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  2. Agreed. We'll never behave badly in public. So sorry you aren't feeling well. I am recovering from bronchitis myself. While we're at it, let's join virtual hands and agree to take better care of ourselves, okay?

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  3. Welcome to the hop, Julee! Happy Friday! I hope you get to feeling better soon.

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  4. Hi Julee,

    Hope you feel better and can't wait to see your published work some day.

    We've all learned an important lesson at Ms.Howett's expense. I hope she recovers somehow and renews her own determination, but the internet is not the place to make a mistake, as you pointed out.

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  5. Thanks to all for visiting and for the good wishes--yes, Pam, I promise to be good.

    I just got a review from a RWA contest I entered and 1. it had two good points about what I of course know that the reader might not and 2. the judge complimented me on my editing. Worth the entry fee just for those two things!

    See you all next Friday!

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  6. Michelle, I clicked on your name to go to your blog, but it said something about you didn't enable your profile? If I can't visit you this week, we'll try again next, okay?

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  7. Hi Julee,

    I hope you’re feeling better. I enjoyed your post! Before deciding to e-publish, I queried many, many, many agents. My post entitled ‘The Rejection Letter’ highlights my experience. It was a painful process, but in many ways it made me stronger. With today’s publishing options, it’s easy to bypass the query process and stave off any possible rejection. But if one self-publishes to avoid criticism or rejection, I think they’re setting themselves up for failure. As you pointed out, it’s impossible to please everybody. The best we can do, as we send our works out into the world, is to remind ourselves that even the greats have been rejected and criticized. We’ll be in good company.

    If you’d like to add a book collage to your blog, visit Goodreads. They have tons of widgets there. I look forward to reading more from you on Friday!

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  8. Thanks E and Victoria--I really enjoyed both of your blogs. This has been fun, hasn't it?

    Kristine Katheryn Rusch (SF writer/editor/publisher who writes romance under Kristine Grayson) expressed concern about all the dreckitude being uploaded to various e-reader outlets that hadn't been "vetted" through the agent->editor->publisher system. I'm thinking if you can get something published by a traditional publisher, that gives you a market and credibility for any choices in the future. Thanks, again and see you again on Friday if not before!

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