What Doesn't Kill Us...

I will be the first to say that reviews terrify the hell out of me. It's hard enough for me to send my stories out as submissions to agents. But then once the story gets published and it goes out to the review sites, the nerves hit again. I find myself holding my breath with each new email. So far I feel I've been lucky with reviews--they've all been decent and the worst thing said was one reviewer wanted a story to be longer.

Recently I received an email from a reader (this is a first for me). Unfortunately she didn't like the story she'd read. I won't go into details about her review other than to say she REALLY didn't like the story. I was just flabbergasted by her comments--not by the fact she didn't like the story because I know not everyone has the same taste. No, I was flabbergasted by the tone of the email and the insult to my publisher. It was just not nice.

However, the email was an eyeopener for me. Not everyone is going to love what I write. Not everyone is going to agree with my point of view on how my characters should act. I do know that the most important thing is, I have to write what I love. If I don't love the story how can I expect anyone else to love it? I feel blessed to have six stories released with the seventh on the way. I am blessed to have found a publisher who allows me to be me in my stories, who allows my heroines to be wacky. And I am blessed to have my loyal reader base who support me and my writing career.

As long as there is someone out there to reach I will continue writing. I can't let every negative review kill my creative flow but I can take that negative comment and use it for fuel to work harder. Remember, those negative reviews may hurt but they will only make you stronger.

By the way, I have to say thank you to my friends who rallied around me today. I love you girls dearly!