I’m a Debut Author, and I Think Bad Reviews Are Amazing

I recently had lunch with my agent and my editor to discuss all things Debut Month. It was such an exciting afternoon, and it was just what I needed to combat the waves of imposter syndrome that have been hitting as of late. I’ll probably write an article of its own about that, but for now, I’d like to highlight something we touched on that truly surprised me.

As our meals arrived, my editor, one of the loveliest and most radiantly confident people I know, asked me if I’ve had a peek at my novel’s reviews on Goodreads. For clarity, she wasn’t asking me to peek at them, just wondering how I go about handling the kind of feedback that tends to amass on that site. My agent, equally as lovely and endlessly supportive, was interested in my standpoint as well. Both of them seemed to tiptoe around the subject, sure to be as gentle and mindful as possible.

“Oh! I’ve read and responded to most of the comments,” I said. “I want to make sure I thank everyone who’s taken the time to review the ARC. I’m working down the list, starting with the one stars–”

“Starting with the one stars?”