When You Get Your First Bad Review
There’s such a feeling of dread in waiting for your first bad review. You put your work out into the world and wait. Maybe there’s silence, maybe there’s praise. But even through all that, a part of you is just waiting for that first one or two star review to come through.
I remember my first bad review. That sinking feeling as I read this reviewer’s unflattering description of my work. Wondering how many people had seen it? How many people I knew had seen it? Did they all agree and had just been being nice to me?
I’m an adult and I’m willing to accept that not everything I make is for everyone. And yes, of course it stung. But there was also a bit of relief. The bad review had finally happened. My art was publicly trashed in front of who knows how many people.
And I survived. And it made it easier for me to deal with the possibility of criticism out in public again in the future.
If you’re dealing with your first bad review or you’re still anticipating it, here are a few things to remember.
You will survive
A bad review won’t kill you. You will move on with your life afterwards. At the time, it might seem overwhelming and your ego can absolutely take a hit. But it will be okay. You’re still a person, you’re still a creative, and nobody’s words are going to change that.
People have different tastes
I remember seeing an expression once that you might be the sweetest, juiciest peach in the orchard. But there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like peaches. Not everyone is going to like your stuff. But that doesn’t mean that they actively hate you as a person.
Think about a book you disliked simply because it wasn’t your thing. Do you hate the author? Do you wish that that author didn’t write? No, of course not. Or at least, hopefully not. Most likely you just don’t think about that author at all. Or you simply pass on the story and move on any time the opportunity to read it arises again.
Well, to some people, you are that author.
Can you learn anything from the review?
There’s a difference between a constructive critique and a review trashing a creative project. A good reviewer will give reasons for their criticism and many times, there will be some valid points. So if they say, for instance, that your dialogue sounds false, that might be something worth considering. You can take that and set yourself a goal to learn how to create better dialogue.
However, in the end, it is entirely up to you if you want to change anything. You are still in charge and it’s ultimately your decision whether critique changes anything.
Look at the source of the review
This does matter. Is the source somebody that you respect? Is it someone who knows the field and has experience in the thing they’re criticizing? I’m not saying that all critics have to be creators, these are two very different forms of creation. But if you’re receiving harsh criticism from someone who does not understand how your field works, it might be better for you to just roll your eyes and carry on.
Have you received a bad review on your writing yet? Welcome to the club!
