Bad reviews and Ben Hutchinson

It’s inevitable when you create something and invest countless hours of blood, sweat and tears into it that you’re proud of it. Some may say precious or protective. It’s your baby. You've given it all the love in the world and you want the world to love it as much as you do. The thing is that it’s never truly the case. Just because you love it, it doesn't mean somebody (or everybody for that matter) will feel the same.

Whether it’s from a stranger, a respected peer or industry professional it’s inevitable your work is going to piss somebody off. And the sooner you can accept that the better your work will be. Everybody gets bad reviews. Even the people you respect and admire as creators. I love John Carpenter with all of my blackened heart but he’s made some shit let’s be honest (Ghosts of Mars anybody?!).

The worst part of this process is that you can’t try and defend yourself from a bad review. You may write a chapter or draw an image and instinctively know that it’s not going to sit right with some. It doesn't matter. Don’t change what you’re doing. Your energy and passion for what you’re doing colours the work you do. Don’t water it down or homogenise it.

Bad reviews will creep up on you like a thief in the night and there’s nothing you can do. And if you let it scare you your work will never be the same. Despite your best endeavours you cannot head it off at the pass.

The fact you’re thinking and worrying while creating means you care for the project you’re doing. And what’s better is that if you’re worrying about them there’s a good chance you've already taken the preventative measures to avoid the many criticisms headed your way.

The bad news is that it won’t matter.

Some people will just not like what you do. No matter how hard you try. And that’s okay. It’s subjectivity.

The reason I write this is today I received my first bad review.

A chap named Ben Hutchinson kindly took the time to read my book but didn't like it and dutifully posted his opinion on Amazon. His two star review states “Started off quite well but became confusing. A great idea but too much was left unexplained in the end. On the whole quite poor.”

To Ben I say I'm sorry you didn't like it – truly I am. But I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read it and post your feedback.