Getting Reviews
Everyone knows we authors need reviews. The more the merrier.
And everyone knows they are hard to get. After all, it means that the reader has to take action beyond enjoying that story.
And it means we have to ask for it. Politely, gently and persistently.
But there is another thing about reviews that can easily block us from even asking for them, and that’s fear. Because reviews express an opinion on our story.
Reviews judge our story, and by extension our ability as writer.
Some of us may not mind. But most of us have put heartblood into the stories, and just the chance of being harshly criticised could stop us cold when we should be asking for them.
Now, I have to admit that I only got one really awful review for any of my stories, and it wasn’t even an attack. It was a weird misunderstanding possibly caused by an error of labelling the book (because it only has moderate violence and no sex, they rated it as a children’s book).
I still found something good that I could quote from it.
But yes, the possibility of getting a review that tears the whole book apart can be daunting. And I do know that feeling.
What can we do about this?
Well, behind this block is a simple fear: The fear of not being liked or of being rejected. Personally, that is.
Looking at it logically, the reader doesn’t even know you. He or she only knows your story. So they don’t mean you personally when they write that review. So even if it hurts to see your story torn apart, it’s not about you.
It should be easy to just shrug off that kind of review as simply an expression of the reader’s taste and opinion.
But logic doesn’t help when fear raises its ugly head.
That’s why I always offer tapping. It works on the emotions that logic cannot reach. And it can help to make it easier to deal with a bad review (which is next week’s post). For now, it is enough to enable you to ask for reviews without fear and without apprehension.
So let’s tap.
Even though I know I need reviews, I’m also very scared of getting any – because they could be nasty! – and I still love and accept myself, and I give myself permission to let go of that fear.
Even though I’m so afraid of getting a nasty review that I never ask for them, I’m still totally okay the way I am, and I now choose to know that even a nasty review won’t kill me.
Even though I find it so hard to ask for reviews, because I’m afraid I’d be brushed off or that someone will write a nasty one, I’m still okay the way I am, and I now choose to know deep inside that reviews are not about me, and sometimes not even about my story.
Your Turn:
How do you feel about reviews?
Have you tried asking for them? What happened?
What happened while you were tapping?
And finally – what are you creating right now?
Please share in a comment.
Image Source: F. Moebius
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