We can be overwhelmed with our own and other people's expectations when creating a writing project. Questions race through our minds, taunting us - Am I good enough? Have I really got the skill? or Will anyone think my work worthy? Don't feel these insecurities are...
As I had time to enjoy on my birthday, I decided to walk with my dog in the warmth of a Sunday morning sun. A gentle breeze refreshed as I brushed the grass heads gently with my hands, some were heavy cylindrical shapes while others had delicate soft fronds. There was...
My dear friend, Linda treated me to a wonderfully funny evening at the Varscona Theatre last night (a birthday treat). The performers of The School of Night group were quick witted and sharp as tacks when given direction from the audience and the Word Serpent. With a...
I finally did it – bought a new writing desk and organised myself. Gone is the dining room table I have used for the last three years.
Creativity here I come in leaps and bounds.
http://thirstythursdayblog.blogspot.ca/2012/06/that-certain-spark-guest-post-by-mandy.html
I have had very mixed feelings about this review. Initially I was obviously disappointed that someone else didn’t love my little monster as much as I, but then I got to thinking. It is totally unrealistic to think that everyone will be as adoring of Rumble. I suspect there is an expectation that every single child’s book should ‘fit’ the usual perceived format. This, I feel, drastically restricts not only the author, but the young reader, whose imagination has not yet become a distant memory and all writers/authors play in their imagination all the time anyway. How else would we have entire worlds populated with imaginary friends? I purposely chose a black and white world for Rumble to highlight how he perceived the ‘upper’ world with its brightness and colour.
So after pondering this review for some weeks I have decided not to take it to heart but see it as a single person’s perception and no more.
I will view it as part of my ‘growing’ process along my writing journey…do I need to garner a thick skin?
How do you response to negative reviews?