by And people who email me. And read my blog. Here’s why I’m thanking you all now. I’ve been very very glad that for most of my life criticism never bothered me too much. I’m not saying I loved it, I just always got over the sting very quickly and used whatever was useful. If it was really hostile and ugly, like the kinds of things you see in comments sections now, it didn’t bother me at all.
It was a great way to be. One, because my feelings rarely got hurt, and two, I was able to get a lot of work done because I could easily ignore what wasn’t helpful.
Weirdly, I’ve become more thin-skinned as I’ve gotten older. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. The older you get the less you care. But if I get even the smallest negative comment in a review on Amazon it will ruin my day and I’ll agonize about it until a positive review appears to “neutralize” it. (I’m putting that in quotes because that’s actually how I think!) It’s an insane way to be, I know. And it leaves me so vulnerable to bad days.
Luckily, with my book about singing, that doesn’t happen much, and people are saying the nicest most wonderful things. I’ll probably never meet most of the people leaving reviews, or who email me, but I just wanted to say thank you. You simply cannot know how much your words are appreciated and how much good they do my heart. And to the people who comment on my blog (or send me email): I also appreciate your always positive feedback and constructive comments. Very rare on the internet these days, it seems! Thank you.
The picture is of musicians preparing for a concert at the Met. I was dying to listen to them, they were going to play (and sing) music by Arvo Part, but it was sold out. It was live-streamed though so I got to hear them anyway!
As well, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I really do appreciate reading them. I’ve read a number of your books as well, and have always enjoyed them.
I think as far as critics and bad comments, you have to keep in mind something that Craig Ferguson said once in an interview: in most cases, they were angry before they ever encountered your stuff. There’s also no obligation to read the negative reviews; you’re not going to change their minds if they took the time to actually type in the stuff, and only very rarely will there be anything in there that’s in any way constructive.
Stacy, It has been months since I checked your blog. For some reason, just now, you were on my mind. And this little post is exactly why I have always loved your writing. You are honest and sincere and notice… life.
And because you take lovely photos 🙂
I second Nadine – that is why I love reading it also. Plus I always get some kind of Christmas idea from it 🙂
I love your blog, your books and your unique way of writing. I was a fan long before I found you online.
As for the Amazon “reviews”…not really reviews, just one person’s opinion. But I also know how a negative review stings; I’ve received some on my novels. One of my novels in particular seems to provoke either very positive or very negative opinions.
I have actually though clicked on the “reviewers” and found that most ALL of their reviews are negative, and even for some books I’ve really liked. Go figure!
Anyway, I am learning to ignore the bad reviews; not easy, but trying. And too, none have seemed to slow sales.
On a sad note, I finally lost two of my older cats last week. One had kidney failure, and the other had advanced cancer. They were 15 & 16 years old, but still…
Haven’t been able to even blog about it yet. Miss them so much, especially in the evenings when they would cuddle as I watched a movie.
Oh Cara, I am so sorry. Loss is hard enough but to lose two close to each other? I take forever to recover from losing pets, I know my friends think I’m insane. So I understand and you have my sympathy.
Karen, you are so sweet to follow my blog and REALLY APPRECIATE the Christmas Presents. I have the Exploring Space book on display but I want to buy a stand for it, to display it better. (I love the cover.)
Nadine and Tagryn: Thank you for your support. As I said in my post, it really means a lot to me. And I mean that in all sincerity. I wish their was a way of automatically making bad reviews invisible, so I don’t see them in the first place.