#IWSG : Why I wanted to hide in a closet and suck my thumb

On the first Wednesday of every month, we post about our insecurities or share encouragement. To join or find out more about the group, click on the image above!

~~~oOo~~~

Well folks, it's official.

I got my first negative review. So bad, that upon reading it I wanted to go hide in a dark closet and suck my thumb. Talk about a heart-sinking moment!

ARCs for Love's Sorrow went out two weeks before release, and the first person to respond - my very first feedback outside beta readers and editors - was slaying to say the least. She said she wouldn't recommend my book to any of her friends.

Why? There's no HEA or even an HFN. 

You see, Love's Sorrow isn't your typical romance novel. It's the first in a series that tells the tale of Anne Tearle and her unexpected finding of love.

Real life love.

Not a gushy, gooey, fairy tale where everyone is joyously happy for the rest of their lives. Anne's story is a journey through many emotions - heartbreaks - all to typical of the 19th century woman. 

Do I give her an HEA eventually? 

Of course I do! It IS a romance series, and everyone who reads romance will tell you the 'rule' of said genre is that everyone must live happily ever after. It's just too bad that reviewer isn't interested in waiting to read about it. Took me a few days (and a few raving reviews!!!) to say to myself...

HER LOSS.

~~~oOo~~~

Stay true to the story your muse dictates. 

You cannot please every reader every time. 

Ever Toot Your Own Horn?

I'm taking a break today from all the blasts, interviews, tours, & giveaways for a little personal tidbit. It's time to:

No, I'm not sneezing. I'm gunna toot my own horn real quick-like.

Make Believe, I’m proud to say, is earning some great reviews. Of course, as a whole this antho rocks.

*Cease tooting cuz it's hurting my own ears*  

On an individual story level? Not always a 5 star. My story, Sacrificial Oath, has received a few 3 star reviews of its own. Reviewers have their reasons—and I’m alright with that.

You can’t WOW! every reader every time.

What might resonate within one reader will annoy another. While one ‘gets’ my character and her reasons for doing what she does, another wrinkles their nose.

No biggie. Grain of salt, right?

Alesuela told me her story. Told me who she was, what drives her. (Yes I’m one of those strange writers who hear their character’s voices in their head.) I put that onto paper & tweak as needed to fit the plot and my characters.

So why does negative feedback hurt? Because the stories we write pour forth from the deepest parts of us. We put all our longing - all our emotion and effort - into the written words. When someone rejects them, in a way we feel as though WE are being rejected.

But hey … if that rejection is from cyber space & cyber peeps who don’t even know us on a personal level? Dust off those shoulders says I.

Write another story. Hopefully they at least liked something about our voice or story telling that they’ll give us another go.

If not?

Their loss.  ;)

How do you deal with negative feedback? Shut down? Try harder the next time?