Jarzaberwoky

“Should Authors and Agents Weigh In on Citizen Reviews?” - Publishers Weekly

Okay, well first of all, the answer to the question posed in the title of the article is: NO. DUH.

Second of all, here is my advice for any authors who are unsure about how to handle social media and public criticism: Be smart. Don’t react online.

It’s very simple. I’m not saying I’m perfect, and I know for a fact I’ve said one or two backhandedly snide things on Tumblr about a review I didn’t like in the guise of self-deprecating humor, and made a couple of boneheaded moves in the past before I was published (although nothing at all serious or that anyone remembers but me), but for the most part this is one aspect of Being an Author I don’t screw up. Maybe that’s because I work in the same field I publish in, so I’m constantly vigilant, but actually it’s not all that hard to just keep your mouth shut and your fingers off the keyboard. Responding to bad reviews is, like, the LEAST productive use of your time.

Third of all, really guys, don’t read your reviews. I know it’s hard, but you don’t want to.

ETA: Although I do sort of disagree with Wendy Darling when she says that an author taking a swing at a reviewer who wrote negatively online about their book is a “public figure…on the attack with private citizens.” Especially in this age of digital publishing and other whackadoodle what-have-yous, I don’t seen any difference between a normal author (maybe this is different if it’s, like, Stephenie Meyer or J.K. Rowling, who are bonafide writer-celebs—but notice that they don’t do this sort of thing!) and someone who chooses to publish their opinions online. You’re both being public at that point. Nothing private about an Internet catfight!