I really don’t get this whole thing about not reading reviews of one’s own books. To me, that’s like writing into a vacuum.
Most of us novel authors write because we love to create a story* — few would do it, then never ever let anyone read those stories.
Yes, we sometimes get scathing reviews. You can’t please everyone. But you also might get called “This decade’s best fantasy writer” as one recent Amazon reviewer said about me. I don’t actually believe that, mind you, but boy, does that boost the ego, and inspire me to write!
*Few do it for the money — most of us don’t make sufficient income from books to live on!
The latest survey says that the average writer in Oz earns less than $13,000 p.a. If many are like me, writing will cost them more than they make!
It makes one wonder – how do you become a J.K. Rowling or a Brandon Sanderson? You write wonderful books Glenda (as does Satima) but what is the spark that makes them take fire?
I haven't a clue, Jo, but I bet Satima would like to know too. I would guess that luck has something to do with it, as well as a stack of other things that don't have much to do with the writin: timing, the amount of publicity and money a publisher puts into getting a book into prominent places in bookshops, etc etc. But of course it's also just that certain certain magic in a story that appeals across a broad spectrum of readers. And where to find that is a puzzle.