Encouragement and Criticism Tips From Indie Authors

Writing is a largely solitary act, as we all know. Eventually, though, this solitary act is meant to be shared with as many people as possible. Sometimes those experiences are gratifying. Other times, they’re devastating.

Over the years, I’ve asked the indie authors I’ve interviewed about their best compliments as well as how they handle criticism. I feel like the balance of the two is necessary for a healthy writing career. Here’s what some of those authors had to say in this third part of my four-part indie author roundup series.

Also, be sure click on the authors’ names to learn more about them and their books. Links will open in a new tab.

Great reviews

Authors beg and plead for every online review they can get. Even if readers don’t bother to read reviews, the sheer number of them brings exposure to a book and is crucial for success, even if those reviews are mixed. Below are some positive review experiences from indie authors.

“The best review I have gotten was via Netgalley, and it stated that my book was ‘SF/fantasy by someone who seems to be a fan of the genre.’ This struck a real chord with me, because the rest of the review – which gave praise to the pacing of the humor, the breaking of tropes, and the structure of the narrative (really very nice all around) – made it clear that this was someone that 100% was picking up exactly what I had intended to put down while writing the book. It was just really amazing to feel that I had got my vision across to at least one person.” –  G.M. Nair

“The standout compliment was the first professional praise I received about the manuscript after having received several rejections to it. While the members of my writing group had encouraged me with their opinions and expertise, I hadn’t received thorough feedback on The Wilderness Between Us from anyone in publishing until literary fiction author, Greg Fields—who is also a commissioning editor—read it and emailed me to say he believed it was, ‘an intense and significant piece of work’ and ‘both powerful and accessible.’ It took me several readings to accept he was being serious.” – Penny Haw

“I had a young woman cry when she met me (in a good way!). She was so excited to meet a real author of the books she had read; she literally shook and cried. I’ll never forget that, even if I never write another word.” – Sue Rovens

“The best review/compliment I have received was from a reviewer called Rose. Rose wrote to me, ‘Only you know what story you are trying to tell here.’ Rose’s comment really resonated with me; it’s basically my motto for all my writing now.” – Brendon Luke

“The most enjoyable part about writing is having readers feel as if they are in the moment with you. It takes great intention and strategy to detail a particular moment in a way that impacts the readers. I live for reviews and feedback that describes how a particular moment sparked something within them.” – Justin and Alexis Black

“One of my readers sent me an email stating my book was the best one they’ve ever read. That truly moved me.” – Dominika Pindor

Criticism horror stories

I remember getting my first two-star review for one of my self-published books, and it ruined my night. I spent a long time arguing with the reviewer in my head and trying to justify myself to this invisible version of them.

Bad reviews are inevitable, no matter what your success level. And the right bad review, if any, adds credibility to your overall rating. After all, a book with only five-star reviews feels pretty suspicious. Below are some bad review experiences that indie authors have shared.

“My first criticism took place on Twitter by someone who asked for a free copy of the book and five minutes later posted a one star review. I have tried not to let it bother me, but it is hard when you either get unfair criticism, or someone leaves a review with low stars but doesn’t say why. I am constantly trying to be a better writer. But I have to remind myself that despite criticism I have to write like I would write, not someone else.” – Corlet Dawn

“If criticism is constructive, I handle it well even if initially it’s hard to swallow since it might mean going back to the drawing board. To be honest, though, when someone who hasn’t read the whole book or who has quite a narrow view of things criticizes my work, I won’t lie; it’s hard to take.” – Maria Giura

Support systems

Whether it’s one individual or a large group of fans or cheerleaders, a writer’s support system will give them a giant boost of motivation in the same way a cheering crowd will motivate an athlete to do their best. Here are some invaluable support systems that some indie authors have had in their writing careers.

“The writing community really did help me and taught me many things. They also understand the struggle and sometimes our procrastinating ways and needless to say our perfectionist ways. Other writers know that the struggle is real.” – Ann Fox

“I wrote my first poem around the age of 15. Although I haven’t had any formal training, I like to think my poetry got much better over the years with practice and advice from other creative writers.” –  David Ritter

“In my travels and teachings from Japan, I learned about the spirit world and how the spirits influence our lives and bring our dreams and goals to fruition. When I was writing the book, I would sometimes get writer’s block. I would ask the spirits to provide me direction. It only takes the spirits a moment, or a few days to provide their answers. The answers would come from people, TV programs, newspapers, articles, books and sometimes out of nowhere.” – Gordon Callahan

“I’m in a couple of groups on Facebook, where other authors frequently have questions about basic book layout: what size the illustrations should be, how many pages, how to decide where the text goes.

My other side gig is book design, so sometimes, I end up walking new authors through the process and helping them get their books ready for print. I’ve also made a couple good friends in the process.” – Audrey Sauble

“I correspond about our life on the farm and am repeatedly told that it is so cinematic that I should make it available in a blog or memoir.  I have just begun to respond to this challenge.” – Stacia Moffett

“I’ve been on writer retreats with other authors. We rent a house, and everyone works for a set period, then we get together in the evenings and talk shop.” – Michelle Pillow

“Just seeing something I have created with the collaboration of my artist in final form on Amazon is success for me. Although it would be nice to have the recognition of the literary community and be a ‘best-selling author’ with a big publishing house, just knowing that something I created will be out there forever is quite satisfying. Of course, it is important that my family, friends, and loved ones enjoy my books as well.” – R.W. Starr

“I had a writing instructor pass out a few pages of a first draft he’d written. It was the most chaotic document I’d ever seen reproduced. There was prose, digressions, notes, pieces of verse, random thoughts, all in a mad conglomeration down through the pages.

His lesson was in learning to let go in a first draft and letting it all hang out, wringing your brain of all associations and emotions. It’s you telling the story to yourself and no one else need ever see it. That really struck a chord with me.” – Ace Parlier

“My children are constantly pitching me ideas. They are my main source of inspiration, so of course I listen intently and try to find a way to piece together a cohesive storyline from their excitement and innocent perspectives. I’ve also had several friends ask for advice on how to get started on a similar journey. It’s such an honour to have people confess they admire me for following through the publishing process and that I’ve inspired them to pursue their own dream.” – Christine Milkovic Krauss

“I’ve always felt like my trademark feature is the red hair that I was born with. Red hair runs in my family and I embrace the color. Growing up with red hair wasn’t particularly fun, but by the time I finished school I had come to appreciate the color.

Some years ago, my grandson had a project to ask people this same question. When I mentioned my hair color, his response was, ‘No, Mimi, your hair is not your trademark. You handwriting is.’ I do write in a fancy script with lots of curls and in his mind, that was what I would be remembered for.” – Louise Pistole

Encouraging ideologies

At the end of the day, an author’s attitude is their biggest motivator. You have to abide by a motto or ideology that keeps you going inside your own head. Here are some tips for doing so below.

“Have the courage to stay positive!  Just because something bad – some kind of terrible crisis – is looming, it does not mean we need to live our lives in fear.  We can see the pattern of current events spiraling up into an inevitable conflict of some sort and must remember this: these dark worries, while legitimate, quickly dissipate with the bright knowledge that we’ve been through crisis before.  We’ve withstood major calamity and we’ll do it again.  Will it be easy?  Will it be without tragedy?  Of course not, but that doesn’t mean there will be utter loss and total annihilation.” – Christopher Manske

“I love making people laugh, so the most fun I have is writing (and re-writing) jokes. My biggest challenge is sensing whether I’m writing in a way that a stranger can follow.” – Zoey Za

“I love to write and do research. I always wanted to put my ideas and brainstorm work into paper so that my audience could benefit from it. Once others benefit from your knowledge, it gives great pleasure and inner satisfaction. Moreover, the process of putting ideas on paper opens up the brain and lets it exercise to be more productive, which ultimately will benefit in increasing knowledge and gaining more exposure about different aspects of a matter.” – Muhammad Shoaib

“I count success that I did it. Don’t need another book, though I’ve had a few ideas. Don’t need to sell many, but that would be nice just to know I am reaching more people but these shows and podcasts might just be the way I reach people, and the book is the ‘tail wagging the dog…’” – Mick Heyman

“As a child, I had a very traumatic beginning and overcame numerous obstacles to be the College Professor and PhD student that I am today. Writing about these things may help people at some of the worst times of their lives. But that is not to say that I am writing about negative things, only that I avoid toxic positivity in my writing, which makes it more authentic. I think that telling the truth, both stars and scars, in your writing is important.” – D.M. Batten

“This may be advice that is said often, but it rings true. Just write. Put words down on the page or on a blank document on your computer. No one will see those first drafts, and every word you get down is one step more to improve your craft.

Just like an athlete puts thousands of hours into becoming a professional in that sport, as writers, we have to write to grow. Even if it won’t be a story that you can publish, that act of writing is practice.” – Vanessa Lanang

“I think when you open a book, you are already soft. It is so vulnerable to sit down on your couch, hold a novel in your hands, and be open. Even the image of someone reading makes me emotional because of how beautiful that is. And what is means. So because of this pre-condition, I hope readers get another side of my writing—which is less of softness and more philosophy, ideas, and an urgent plead to examine our lives. I’m not into shock factors or overly creative ideas but rather introductions to specific thoughts and the timeline of complications that happen throughout our time here on earth.” – Karl Kristian Flores

The message they want to spread

Whether they write picture books for children or self-help books for adults, writers start out with a message they want to spread. The desire to spread that message is deeply encouraging. Here are some messages that certain authors wanted to convey in their writing.

“I want readers to feel inspired. I want them to awaken to the idea that they are beautiful, that they are special and have value. At times I get concerned that maybe my writing reveals too much about my inner soul. It can be embarrassing to expose what’s going on inside – to expose what I’ve built a wall of silence around for years. What propels me, however, is that I do know I am not unique or alone in my experiences and thinking. Many people are going through the same things I am, but not expressing it. So if my writing helps them to identify something that troubles them and gives them the courage to face it and grow through it, then I am happy. That’s what I want.” – Cathay O. Reta

“If there is one message, I would like readers to take away from this book, it would be that we are more alike than different.  That beneath our different skin colors, religious beliefs, cultures, our values, aspirations, dreams and desires are not that different.” – Rajat Narula

“Most of my writing has gathered dust in a desk. That’s one of the things I tell kids when I read to them. For now, write just for the sheer joy of writing and telling stories. If your stories are pictures, do that too.” – Darrel Gregory

Buy it!

Buy a copy of Writing Tough Writing Tender by Kelly Simmons here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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