You read a one-star review. It is now four days later. You have not opened the next manuscript.
The misdiagnosisThe misdiagnosis is that you should be tougher.
The real diagnosisToughness is not the fix. Policy is. Three policies: ask correctly, survive the read, ignore the rest.
The Three Policies
| Policy | Looks Like | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ask | One ask per book, at the back, after climax | Place is the whole game |
| Survive | Read reviews only on a designated day | Bound the harm |
| Ignore | Never reply to a bad review | No exceptions |
Three Review Rules I Live By
- Read once a month, not daily.
- Never read mid-draft of the next book.
- Print the five best. Keep them in a folder.
A one-star review is not data about the book. It is data about a reader. You do not need to attend their meeting.
The folder of best reviews is the one to revisit. The others can live in the wild.
The dare (not assignment)Pick a monthly review day. Until then, no reading. Print the best five from your last book. They are the reference.
Image promptA row of small star icons cut from paper, scattered on a desk. One star upside-down. Painterly. Pink and cream. No people.
— The Book Maven
