Are Negative Reviews Worth Our Attention?

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5 star book review, Amazon.com, Author Lada Ray, bad book reviews, book reviews, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), indie authors, Indie Publishing, KDP Select, mystery/thrillers

As the author of 5 books, including 1 epic novel (THE EARTH SHIFTER), 2 full-size novels (GOLD TRAIN & STEPFORD USA) and 2 novelettes (Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians & Green Desert), I’ve received lots of fabulous reviews, as well as my fair share of negative ones. I suppose it’s natural, as it’s impossible for everyone to like our writing. That said, it is so much easier to write pop lit, which goes down easily and is consumed as the mental equivalent of coke or white flower cake. Chances of receiving a low starred review are also much lower if the subject you write about is a “consensus” one, in other words, the society at large agrees that the way you present your story (or topic for non-fiction)  is how it should play out. Another way of saying this is that you are “politically correct” and your point of view is accepted by society as a dominant one.

It is a very different thing to be at the forefront of change, stimulating people’s thought and imagination. Those of us brave enough to write about controversial and important topics that we want to help people understand, unwittingly subject themselves to attacks and criticism of the lowest nature from those who fail to understand or are unwilling to accept.