The Dreaded One Star!
No, that’s not the little, skinnier cousin of the Death Star, though it can destroy worlds if you let it. The 1 star is as straight forward as it sounds, it’s a 1 star review and if you stay in the game long enough as a writer (or really, any creative type) you’re bound to take some lumps from a critic or two.
Now, I originally wrote a post called “Criticism is an Anal Probe”, but that seemed disingenuous and ignorant of the fact that we don’t all view anal probes in the same way. I’m nothing if not inclusive, so here we are talking about 1 stars which to stick with the previous metaphor could be called the Dreaded Stinky Star.
Don’t know what that is? Don’t ask, and definitely don’t google it. Please, for the love of god, if ever you were to listen to me, do so now: Do not google it.
*keeping a wary eye on you, dear reader*
Anyways, it finally happened, Time Heist got its first 1 star rating. Not a review mind you. There was no constructive feedback, just a bomb in the shape of a 1 that wrecked my morning.
Or did it?
See, any creative endeavor is a risky proposition because by putting yourself out there you open yourself up to criticism. It’s just the way of the world so there’s really no sense in complaining. And if you’re not allowed to complain, then what can you do?
You take away the useful bits, you leave the rest, and you move the fudgesicle on.
What are the useful bits to take away from a potentially soul crushing rating?
Well, one of the most important things any creative type needs to learn real quick (less they spiral into a depression well (which is a room covered on all sides by shelves full of Furby’s)) is that you can’t please everybody. Not even close.
The take away from that little hemorrhoid shaped factoid is that a bad review, or what have you, is no reflection on the quality of the work itself. Some people will love it, and yes, some (possibly even more people) will hate it. And you know what, both sides have completely legitimate opinions.
You want to be a writer? Cool, cool, cool. I totally support that, but just remember that the quality of your work, and your value as a writer, is not directly linked with some arbitrary rating somebody threw out. If you let it those negative reviews will burrow into your heart like a rabid earthworm and chew you up at the seams until you unravel like a Raggedy Ann doll tossed in the dryer.
Am I bummed about getting a 1 star? Meh, nobody likes getting dick punched, but it’s inevitable.
You can either writhe on the ground bitching about it or you can take one gasping breath after another, struggle back to your knees, claw your way back into your chair, and start writing again.
Because in the end, there’s no better retort you can give to a hater than to write another story while mumbling,
Anthony
It’s always good to have an idea how people handle the dreaded one star rating because, as you mentioned in the post, someone is always going to hit you with it for some reason. I have found that we, as writers, have to accept the fact that we cannot please everyone that is out there. No matter how hard we try, we just can’t do it. I like to see how people bounce back. As a yet unpublished author, I know my day is coming and I am trying to make peace with the guarantee that I will receive one of these ratings.
It’s like knowing you’re gonna die. It’s a bummer, but you can’t let it paralyze you from living. I think you’ll be fine if you just keep reminding yourself that whoever gave you the 1 star is the spawn of satan who wouldn’t know a good book if it bit them on the ass. That may or may not be true, but it’ll probably help you feel better.
I used to take my writing seriously — that was a mistake. I write because I love to write. On the other hand… I have decided to devote more attention to my visual art. It seems to be a better match for me. I’m gaining status as a professional artist (with a few gallery shows). But, I still write… just for fun — and to piss people off.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Like you say, I think all writers have to learn to handle bad reviews. I’ve yet to get one, but probably only because not many people have read my books yet. The more your work gets ‘out there’ (which is what you want), the more likely (and at some point inevitable) some bad reviews will be. The more people buy your stuff (especially if because ‘everyone else is’ or they ‘want to see what all the fuss is about’), the more likely at least a few will realise it isn’t at all to their tastes and not everyone will come to a reasonable conclusion about that (reasonable being maybe a two or three star review saying ‘OK but not really my scene’ – or, better, not reviewing at all). Of course a few may genuinely hate what you’ve written, and say why, but you can’t please everyone. If most of your reviews are positive, that’s the main thing.
Personally, one-star reviews are a pet hate. I can’t see a good reason for giving one. I think the worst thing I’ve ever read I would still give two stars to. Almost everyone has something good about it. If I really though a book was so hopelessly dire to deserve one star, I wouldn’t even finish it – life’s too short. And if I didn’t even finish it, I probably wouldn’t review it.
I agree, Christopher. Maybe it’s because I’m a big softey, but 2 star is as low as I go (barring some truly horrific material promoting puppy kicking). My stance is if the beginning of the book and the blurb were good enough to get me to pick the book up and start reading, well that’s atleast worth two stars. If it’s not, well, then I just won’t review it.
That’s why I’m (for now) not displaying the star rating on my blog.
It’s one thing to leave a comment explaining why you did or did not like the article and it’s another to just dump a one star rating and leave, maybe I’m being oversensitive but I’d rather have constructive criticism (good or bad) that just meaningless stars.