Let’s set the scene. You’ve finally shared your work. It’s out there—your art, your book, your soul on canvas, pixels, or paper. The comments start rolling in. People love it. Glowing praise. “Stunning!” “Powerful!” “Made me cry!” You float.
And then… there it is. The One. The Negative Review. It might be brutal. It might be nitpicky. It might say “meh” in a tone that somehow wounds your ancestors. Suddenly, all that glowing praise evaporates. You’re spiralling. The urge to track them down and explain yourself in all caps is overwhelming.
First: Breathe. Step Away From the Comment Section.
This is important: you are not legally allowed to stalk a reviewer. Nor is it artistically advised to create a revenge piece titled “To the One Who Said My Work Lacked Depth.” (Well, not unless it’s spectacularly good.)
But seriously—a single negative review can hit hard, no matter how many positives surround it. That’s not weakness. That’s your brain doing what brains do: zeroing in on the threat.
Why It Hurts So Much (Even When It Shouldn’t)
- Negativity bias: Our brains are wired to notice danger more than delight. That’s evolutionary—not emotional.
- Creative vulnerability: You didn’t just post a photo. You shared a piece of yourself. And someone poked it.
- Perfectionism: If you tie your worth to your work, one critique can feel like it unravels everything.
You’re not being dramatic. You’re being human.
But Here’s the Truth:
Negative reviews come with the territory of being seen. And being seen is what art is for. You can’t have impact without opinion. Even Van Gogh got trashed in his time. Even Beyoncé gets bad press. You? You’re in good company.
So What Can You Do?
- 🧠 Reframe it: That negative review? It means your work stirred something. Apathy is the real enemy.
- 📂 Start a “Nice Words” folder: Screenshot every compliment, every kind DM, every glowing comment. Read it when the gremlins come out.
- 👁️ Look for patterns—not daggers: If multiple reviews mention the same issue, it might be worth exploring. One cranky outlier? Let it go.
- 🫶 Practice saying this out loud: “Not everyone is my audience, and that’s okay.”
- 🧽 Don’t engage in the moment: Rage-replies are rarely worth it. Vent to a friend, punch a pillow, walk the dog. Do anything but hit “reply.”
In Conclusion: Let It Sting, Then Let It Go.
You’re allowed to feel bruised. But don’t let one comment outweigh everything you’ve built. Don’t let one person’s taste derail your momentum. And please—don’t show up at their house with a glue gun and a monologue.
Criticism, when valid, can shape us. But when it’s just noise, let it stay noise. You don’t need to change your voice because someone else preferred silence.
Now go back to creating. Loudly. Boldly. And possibly with a playlist that drowns out the doubters.
