C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Insecure Writers’ Group and AtoZChallenge 2015

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IWSG Sign Up 

I’m getting good reviews on my books, so I’m very lucky, but there are times when reviewers write things that make me feel like the kid caught doing something bad and hauled in front of the principal. That principal thing only happened to me once, but when I remember the experience I know what insecurity and shame for not doing the right thing feels like. 

We writers are such a vulnerable lot. We want to do the right thing. We don’t set out to make ourselves insecure or ashamed by writing badly, but we can’t wow everyone, can we? And when we fall short, one thing we can do to keep our keels on the even, is to remember we have a lot of people who support us, who understand exactly what it’s like to be called up in front of the principal.

AtoZ Challenge Sign Up

Now I hope you’re all signed up and ready for the April Challenge. If you haven’t done that yet, get going. It’ll be fantastic. Click on the Sign Up List and look at all the people you can hang out with-Including the Muffin Commando Squad. Yvonne Ventresca, Carrie Butler, Donna McDine, Patricia Lynne, Elizabeth Seckman, Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Tammy Theriault, and me. You’ll get to know more about us in the weeks to come. 

www.matusic.com

Comments

  1. I like the new look, Lee!

    I try to please people, but only if I can see reason behind the complaint. Like people hating my characters because one is shallow and the other is contradictory. Or maybe this character is cold. Or maybe that character is overly complicated. I'll make little adjustments that might turn into bigger ones, so long as I still like it. 🙂

    If people do complain, I try to see what might be the cause, and if it's a personal preference, or something actually wrong.

  3. Hey super duper star and celebrity type author n'stuff,C. Lee,

    "IWSG" aka "I Was Seeking Gary." Thank you, thank you. There was this guy I knew who had a bit of yearly school tradition. The poor fellow ended up in twelve different schools in twelve years. At the beginning of each school year he would glue himself to the head teacher. 'Why do you do that?' I asked. 'Well, my parents told me that I should always stick to my principals.'

    Okay, slightly wrong with that, wasn't I. I'm glad you are getting good reviews. This makes me want to do a happy dance and sing songs of joyous adulation.

    The alphabet challenge? Um NO THANKS!

    Still, after a bit of a hibernation, still your starstuckest fan,

    Gary!

  4. We definitely can't please everyone. Reading is so subjective. As long as we do the best we can and are proud of our work, then that's what really matters.

  5. I try my best to stay away from reviews, unless the reviewer tags me. (So far I haven't encountered any of the bloggers who tag authors in their bad reviews, I've heard of it being done, but luckily avoided it so far.) When I do stumble across a bad review, I try to remember all the books I've been unimpressed with or haven't finished — that other people have liked very much. People have different tastes and like different things, and it's a good thing, too!

  6. Ugh, reviews. Good ones are awesome, but bad ones can be crushing, even if you know (and are proud of the fact) that not everyone will like what you write! Glad to hear you are getting good reviews, though, =)

  8. I think anticipating reviews is the scariest part of publishing. Congrats on the good reviews you've gotten. And if not all of them are great, at least people are reading your books.
    Looking forward to A to Z!

  11. I'm glad your reviews are overall good, but sorry about the ones that have made you feel bad. Thank goodness for fellow writers and the support they can offer!

  14. Writing is very personal for most people, so I can understand not wanting to hear bad things…but you just have to remember those that love you and your work and know that it's not personal!

  15. I think one of the things every writer needs to memorize is that not everyone will like their writing. Accept that and remember the people who love your work.

  17. Love the new look of your blog. Good reviews keep us going, and if someone doesn't like my work I can't change that. We all have different tastes I sure don't enjoy a trip to the principal's office though.
    I'm getting ready for April. My theme is Animals, cause I love the little critters, big ones too.

  19. As Lyn said you just have to power on with your writing. You'll never please everyone, so at least please yourself. Great image on your vid.

  23. Having support is so important. Unfortunately, I don't have that on a personal level, but do find it in the blog-world.

    I love the premise of your book, really sounds like fun.

  24. Congratulations on your good reviews. Never made it in front of the principal…but probably because I was too afraid to do anything to bring me there. Perhaps I missed a moment I could have used later in writing.

  26. Keep writing! If Van Gogh listened to critics we would not have his beautiful art work. he only sold one painting in his lifetime. Critica are the people who don't know how to write so they decide to pick on the ones who do. At least the critics who give no constructive criticism. It's hard to not take it to heart but when one has such creativity one can't let it stay under wraps

  27. Really can't please everyone. I'm a picky reader when it comes to POV and editing issues, and I'm sure some of my reviews have upset a few authors. But, I do try to be sensitive to the work an author has put into the publication. Most readers are not authors, and just want to put up their opinion without anything constructive to say to the author, or other readers. An author needs to know the difference between a vindictive critic and the honest reviewer. And then carry on, because sometimes what doesn't appeal to one reader will be just what another reader is looking for.

  28. Love the new look you have here! So you. As far as writer vulnerability …. yeah, I'm too vulnerable at the moment to discuss it. BTW - thanks for tagging me in the huggy photo on FB. How did you know I needed a hug today?

  31. Your trailer is great fun! I would be the reviews thing differs for Middle Grade stuff and can totally see how it would feel like that. I feel more like someone at a party is trying to shame me or something… And SOMETIMES I can think "they just are part of a different crowd" but others it feels like a personal insult. Hard to keep a thick skin…

  32. Love the new look, Lee. I tell myself that not every reader will get my work and that usually helps. Looking forward to meeting the Muffin Commando Squad.

  33. Hi, Lee,

    Congrats on the excellent reviews. LOVE the muffin badge. To cute! A-Z will be just too much for me to handle this year. Four years in a row is enough. LOL.

    I will be lurking around though, so you'll see me!

  35. At a certain age, one does not care what others think. I'm working towards that, but, okay, it's hard to read a bad review. I just figure the reviewer was having a bad day and wanted me to have one too.!!

  37. I'm not sure I can handle the challenge this year - to me it is a commitment to visit as many blogs as possible and if I don't do that, I feel bad. And I'm just not sure I can do it. Sigh!

  38. Good luck to the Muffin Squad. We have our team badge now. Some of my team members have their personal avatar for A to Z. Think I'll get one too.

  40. I keep forgetting to post about the A to Z on my blog posts! Darn! Glad you reminded me. Balancing too many things I think, but still, gotta get it together. So glad you're having good feedback on your novel. I have it on my to read list on Goodreads… Love your muffin badge!

  41. The exposure when we finally get published sounds scary. We all try so hard to be perfect, but one criticism-W-h-a-m-it would send me spinning (maybe it's best to avoid those reviews, huh). But you're doing great, so big applause 🙂 🙂 But, letting my imagination go wild here (since I haven't reached that stage), the going to the principle's office feeling you mentioned sounds about right.
    Did that once….

  43. Oh no, I forgot my muffin commando links! Must go remedy that!

    And, I know how the review comments are hard to read. Even when I get a four star review, sometimes the written comment is hard to read . . . so like Julie, sometimes I don't read them.

    I think your books are great! 🙂

  44. Love the look of your blog! Is it new or have I just been really unobservant??? It wouldn't surprise me at all if it's been like this for months and I'm too dim to have noticed.
    I don't even read reviews anymore because even the good ones made me nervous. I am a hopeless case LOL.

  45. It's great most of the reviews are good. And if the reviewers who have problems with your books still take the time to review them, that's still saying something about the quality of your books. From what I've seen of your writing, I'm not sure what others could be saying that would make you feel guilty.

  46. As a former college prof., I remember getting both wonderful and scathing comments from students on my evaluations. I imagine getting book reviews feels similar.

  47. Getting reviews of any kind is better than NOT getting reviews, and it's a fact of life that not all stories appeal to everybody, so. I celebrate whenever I get a review, no matter what they say. Of course I'm way happier when they say good things, still… 🙂

  50. So glad the reviews are coming in and they are so good. I totally understand the principal analogy! I agree that it is tough to be hauled in front of the principal or two have things pointed out about our writing, but I love your attitude. Focus on the positive and remember the people who support you. 🙂
    ~Jess

  51. Wow! I hadn't seen your blog in a while. I LOVE it!!! 🙂

    Glad you're getting good reviews. As long as the positive ones comprise the majority, ignore the negative ones. 😉

    IWSG #142 until Alex culls the list again.