Author Lori Culwell talks about "Authors & Negitive Reviews!"+ DOUBLE Giveaway!

Hello everyone & Happy weekend! So as promised I am here today to bring my readers a awesome and quite informative post from Author Lori Culwell. She is the author of such books as The Dirt and Hollywood Car Wash. Both books are published with Simon & Schuster and Booktrope. I have had the pleasure to read The Dirt and loved it! 


As most of you know things have gotten pretty heated up with authors and book bloggers alike in the topic of a "Negative or Bad" review. I myself try hard not to get involved by these occurrences but often wonder what different authors opinions are on this topic. So I have asked the lovely Lori Culwell to write about what she thinks and feels about the drama. 


Here is what she has to say....

What Can You Do About the Bad Review?

by Lori Curwell

I don’t mean to be the “total buzzkill” guest blogger, but I have sad news for you,

aspiring writers: somehow, someday, someone is not going to love your work.

Sometime after you put out your book (even if that book comes out through a major

publisher), someone is going to write a bad review about something that you wrote.

I challenged a bad review once and only once, on the grounds that the review said

IN THE REVIEW that he knew nothing about/ never read the genre in which I

was writing, and that he probably shouldn’t be reviewing it anyway. I can take a

negative opinion, but a negative UNINFORMED opinion just seems silly. It did take

a lot of back and forth, but eventually that person took down their review.

It’s happened again since then, and I have to say, now I don’t even read the bad ones,

because I know they are part of life as a writer. I accept that there are people in the

world who just don’t like my writing. I’m lucky enough to say that I get paid money

to write books, and with that privilege come challenges. Sometimes I can’t find

the right publisher for whatever book I’m working on at the moment. Sometimes

a book sells less than I would want. Sometimes people just don’t like me OR my

writing. That’s part of the job.

If you read the book “Turning Pro,” by Steven Pressfield, getting serious about your

work really makes sense. Really, you are writing for yourself. If you happen to get

paid for this work, you should consider yourself even luckier.

I’m not even one of those “glass half full” people, honestly, but over the years, I have

found that the occasional bad review is well worth the privilege of publishing. Just

my opinion, of course.

My advice: don’t argue with the bad reviews. Consider them a badge of honor.

Wow, this is some awesome stuff! Very honest and thought provoking.

Thank you Lori!!

I hope everyone enjoyed Lori's guest post. I know I did. :) So Lori being the awesome gal she is has offered my readers SIGNED copies of BOTH of her books (paperbacks). 
WOOT! How cool is that? 

One lucky reader will take all. Until I talk with Lori the giveaway will be open to US only but may change, so check back. 

Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter:

Ends August 20th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Friday (#21)

  Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee & alisoncanread

Featured Bloggers:
Jess @ The Romanceaholic
Kylie @ The Talking Teacup


Q: Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?

My Answer:  Yes, all of the time. I try really hard not to base my opinion of a book by bad/negative review I have read. There are a couple reasons why. One, and possibly the most important is that I feel everyone reads and views books differently. When I read a bad review I do understand that reviewer/reader did not like the book but maybe I would. There has been many times I have read a bad reviews on a novel and then read the book and loved it or visa versa. But as far as this question goes I do feel people SHOULD by or loan book after reading a bad review. Not everyone one has the same views as the person who did not like the book. Ex. I have recently read a review for the book Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and the reviewer went far and beyond telling everyone had awful the book was. Most of the comments left on this negative review where people saying: "after reading your review the book it sounds bad and they are glad they did not try to read the book themselves". 

Ending point: ( and I am sorry for ranting here. ^__^ )

Yes, go and buy or loan a book that does have a negative review because YOU never know what you will honestly think of a book until you read it for yourself.

All opinions are 100% my own and may not be of others.