Comments on: How not to respond to a bad review http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/ my progress as I write, revise, send to my editor, re-revise, fact-check, galley-read, and promote a multi-volume history of the world. While living on a farm, educating my kids, and teaching. And doing a few other things too. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:35:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Nathan Anderson http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-89716 Nathan Anderson Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:13:32 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-89716 Susan, Wow, you are in the middle of an ambitious project! I can't wait to read your books; I'll check out the books tab above to see how many are completed. I just finished writing the first book of a young adult novel series that will go through the entire Bible. It's a lot of work collecting facts and making sure everything is right. Congratulations on your progress! Nathan Susan,

Wow, you are in the middle of an ambitious project! I can’t wait to read your books; I’ll check out the books tab above to see how many are completed.

I just finished writing the first book of a young adult novel series that will go through the entire Bible. It’s a lot of work collecting facts and making sure everything is right.

Congratulations on your progress!
Nathan

]]> By: Lorna http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87485 Lorna Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:49:40 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-87485 Ah, one of my favourite writers has also commited this blunder in the past week with a classic quote on his reviewer's blog: "I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make. I will be watching with interest and schadenfreude." http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/06/another_author_lets_loose_over.html Coming from a philosopher of quietude and reflection this made me spray coffee at my computer screen. But this has simply increased my respect for De Botton. Its humanity gives his work more authenticity. And, well, someone once said of him that he was incapable of writing a boring sentence. How very true. Ah, one of my favourite writers has also commited this blunder in the past week with a classic quote on his reviewer’s blog:

“I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make. I will be watching with interest and schadenfreude.”
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/06/another_author_lets_loose_over.html

Coming from a philosopher of quietude and reflection this made me spray coffee at my computer screen.

But this has simply increased my respect for De Botton. Its humanity gives his work more authenticity. And, well, someone once said of him that he was incapable of writing a boring sentence. How very true.

]]> By: sem http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87469 sem Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:10:37 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-87469 I'm thinking that there is ample middle ground between not responding at all and issuing forth 27 tweets including battle cries for retribution and contact information. I'm sure one or two tweets expressing her "official" complaint, that the plot was given away, would have sufficed and probably made her look less like a lunatic. There's something a little too Glen Close/light switch about that many messages. I'm just saying... I’m thinking that there is ample middle ground between not responding at all and issuing forth 27 tweets including battle cries for retribution and contact information. I’m sure one or two tweets expressing her “official” complaint, that the plot was given away, would have sufficed and probably made her look less like a lunatic. There’s something a little too Glen Close/light switch about that many messages. I’m just saying…

]]> By: moshome7 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87466 moshome7 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:08:44 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-87466 I'm thinking about 'The Art of the Public Grovel'. What did you think of Hoffman's apology, "I'm sorry if I offended anyone...." . I think a public apology should assume that a person has already offended many people. As for responding to critics-I always think a critic is, by nature, negative and makes a positive review, when it comes, that much sweeter. I'm sure you know how that feels! I’m thinking about ‘The Art of the Public Grovel’. What did you think of Hoffman’s apology, “I’m sorry if I offended anyone….” . I think a public apology should assume that a person has already offended many people.

As for responding to critics-I always think a critic is, by nature, negative and makes a positive review, when it comes, that much sweeter. I’m sure you know how that feels!

]]> By: Sebastian (a lady) http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87465 Sebastian (a lady) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:03:55 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-87465 Isn't it a bit like responding to someone who criticizes the looks of your child? Months to years of effort, discounted with comments of unlikely plot or illogical reasoning. And frequently by someone who hasn't slogged through the experience of publishing a book themselves. It's one thing to respond to charges of a lack of consideration of historical sources or faulty reasoning. But to argue about style seems too close to insisting that baby's ears do not stick out and her nose is just fine. Isn’t it a bit like responding to someone who criticizes the looks of your child? Months to years of effort, discounted with comments of unlikely plot or illogical reasoning. And frequently by someone who hasn’t slogged through the experience of publishing a book themselves.
It’s one thing to respond to charges of a lack of consideration of historical sources or faulty reasoning. But to argue about style seems too close to insisting that baby’s ears do not stick out and her nose is just fine.

]]> By: Sharla http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/how-not-to-respond-to-a-bad-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87461 Sharla Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:42:07 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=835#comment-87461 Oh dear. Amazon reviews? Yikes. I bet some of those get pretty brutal, not to mention unprofessional. Oh dear. Amazon reviews? Yikes. I bet some of those get pretty brutal, not to mention unprofessional.

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