Reviews (or even Critique)

Reviews. Something you can either come to love. Or hate.

It doesn't matter whether or not you want them because once you post your stuff online or become a published author, people will eventually review. All you can do is prepare yourself for the good or bad. Positive reviews are awesome, but don't go all giddy when you get one. A few days later you may go back and find yourself embarrassed at what you wrote. Plus if someone offers critique, you may find yourself glaring at the screen because they "bullied you" or ignoring their suggestions.

Choosing to react that ways is both immature and unnecessary. You just lost some good intel, and you must take advantage of whatever you can. Why? Because if you work to strengthen the area critiqued, you could gain a few more readers. But this isn't guaranteed.

And let me just say this for the record, constructive criticism/critiques are not in any way associated with bullying. If you think they are, then please take a step back from writing for a while. You need a clear mind to understand why/how they aren't bullying. I will do a blog post on why in the future.

(nope, I don't XD)

The subject of this blog post is not, however, just reviews. In fact I think it would be useless to talk about them the specific types since most of us know about reviews with constructive criticism or non at all. Rather, this post will lool at a different area of reviews...one few ever touch on. And that is receiving reviews...critiques even concerning anything.

First, don't ask for a review if you cannot take negative comments. You will definitely receive positive feedback, but if you find someone giving constructive criticism and you don't like it, you can say something to them...but in all honesty you asked for a review so you shouldn't. If someone is insulting you, then you should say something. But only ask for a review if you mean it. And if you really REALLY want to improve, ask someone you know that has some experience...or someone who will be honest and will say something other than, "Impressive! No flaws here!" because it doesn't help you in the least.

Second, don't justify what you wrote when someone you have asked to review your story doesn't like it. 

It's understandable (unless you're me and you write a review and then someone lectures you...and I therefore, without telling anyone, become Sheldon above). But you asked for a review, and a percentage of a review is an opinion. You don't have to see eye to eye with the reviewer but you do need to respect their opinion. And arguing them is NOT respecting them. When someone reviews my story...I don't always agree with them, but instead of arguing, I thank them for taking time out of THEIR schedule to review it. Then I read the review and take note of some what they say and rethink my own strategy

Those are the two main things I wanted to touch base on...but i'm pretty sure that ya'll know there are more reasons.

Over and Out.