wittering noun
wit·ter·ing ˈwitərə̇n, -riŋ
plural-s
chiefly Scottish
: a piece of information (as a sign, token, or hint)
Etymology
Middle English (Scots) wittering, witering, from gerund of witteren, witeren to clarify, inform, teach, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse vitra to manifest, reveal, vitr wise, vita to know“Wittering.”
— “Wittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wittering.
why reviews matter
Over a decade into my author career, I know better than to read every review. I stay away from Goodreads on principle unless it’s to share my own thoughts on recent reads. But I do tend to read what’s posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and elsewhere. Usually, it’s a fantastic experience, until it’s not…
I’m thicker-skinned than I used to be, for sure. And I’m trying to be careful so this doesn’t turn into a “woe-is-me” rant post. Without going into too many details, I’ve recently been receiving feedback on The Borderlands Saga through an R&R service that made me seriously consider putting the rest of the series on pause. Apparently, I’m not the only author who’s had a bad experience with this particular service. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, the reviewers for this service are notorious for being extremely critical and usually negative. A bigger author actually had a new release tank because of this.
One of my best friends and fellow writers encouraged me to ignore the recent string of negative reviews. She reminded me that at the end of the day, we should write what’s in our hearts. We shouldn’t let negativity keep us from creating the story we’re meant to create. As an artist, I agree with her. And I know for every negative comment I receive, more folks have read and loved this series. But it’s so hard for me to read things like this and justify the investment that goes into every book I publish.
That’s why I’ve decided to put Annwyn Park and the other sequels to Silver Hollow on pause again. This isn’t to say I’ll never return to the Borderlands. Next month, I’m sharing the book trailer Qamber Designs created for the series across Instagram and probably Booktok (stay tuned for more!). If the tour does well enough, I might be convinced to change my mind about continuing the series. But for now, I’ll focus on finishing Wylder Tales first. Maybe by this time next year, I’ll have enough heart to write the story I was compelled to tell.
So how does all of this make me feel? Not fantastic, but not too discouraged either. I still get to play around in worlds I create every day, and that’s the greatest gift to me. You may have noticed the title of this week’s post. While I haven’t harped on it too much, the reason should be self-evident. Reviews matter. They don’t and shouldn’t to a certain point. But also they do.
Authors are real people behind the screen. We feel. We pour hours of our lives into creating and we spend time and money to making those creations the best they can be. But we aren’t perfect. We’re constantly growing, and learning, and improving with every book we write. If you’re a writer, you’ve probably been in my position and if you haven’t published, don’t despair. Keep writing the book you want to write. Don’t be afraid to write shitty first drafts, and let editors eviscerate your darlings. Be brave, friends. And if you read a book and feel compelled to review it, please remember to be kind. Constructive criticism is always welcome and in my experience highly beneficial. But a little more kindness goes a long way.
bookish updates
- Craving Beauty hardcovers are still on sale with The Signed Bookshop at 15% off!
- The Borderlands Saga Book Trailer is going on tour with Book of Matches Media March 21st
- Scarred Beauty is nearly complete and I’m ready to face the music with my editor…
recent reads I’m crazy about…
OH my goodness, Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series is amazing, y’all. For anyone who loves sexy and broody fae, found family, and urban fantasy, this might be the series for you (only full warning – these would be rated R on the big screen). I’ve been breaking the bank because I devour these within a day and a night, and immediately want the next. Thank Faery I finished Mac’s initial journey with Shadowfever. (But heaven help me, there are at least two more series + follow-up novels tying everything together…) Also had to give a nod to Dan Jones’s War of the Roses brilliance. I’ve watched so many of his documentary specials, and I hear his voice in my head when I read. But it’s truly fascinating history, as compelling as anything George R.R. Martin writes…and this literally happened.
Jennifer Silverwood 