Hey there fellow word lovers! I want to share with you a personal experience that had a major impact on my journey as a book reviewer.
So, at the beginning of 2024, I received an email from one of the platforms I wrote book reviews for. They thanked me for my hard work, then, they also dropped a bombshell – they were letting me go.
Although they briefly explained why they had to let me go, I couldn’t help but doubt their reasoning. It was so unexpected, and I was in shock. I spent a good amount of time blaming myself and beating myself up over losing such an awesome opportunity. They were such a wonderful team to work with and I enjoyed working for them. I kept wondering where I went wrong and what I could’ve done things differently to avoid their dismissal.
Here’s the thing I noticed about this platform: they weren’t too keen on publishing negative book reviews. There were a couple of negative reviews I submitted that weren’t published, and that got me thinking. Maybe that’s why they let me go. I had a tendency to be brutally honest in my reviews, especially when I didn’t like a book or when I felt the book needed a lot of improvement. Maybe I was a bit too bashful (which is against the guidelines of book reviewing) in one of my negative criticisms.
My reasoning was spiralling. I even started doubting my writing skills altogether. They mentioned in their email that my writing style no longer fit the new direction they were heading. So maybe that was just the case and I was just overthinking this.
No matter the reason for my termination (I never really mustered up the courage to ask them for specifics, fearing I may not like the answer), I knew I had to move on. And I did, after moping around for days, of course. Looking back now, I realize that publications can sometimes change directions and that has nothing to do with your worth or abilities as a writer. Changes are inevitable in life, and we all have to accept them, eventually.
This platform decided to go in a different direction, one that didn’t include my kind of critical perspective. I needed to accept it and embrace the end of that journey. It was a major let-down, for sure, and it really stung at first. But now I see it as a chance to grow as a writer.
If there is a lesson to be taken from this, aligning with a platform’s values and editorial style is key. But don’t lose your own voice and passion for what you do, even if you face setbacks. I’m grateful for the time I spent with that platform and the experience it gave me.
To all my fellow writers and reviewers out there, remember this: every ending is just the start of something new. Stay resilient and keep pursuing your passion because your unique voice truly matters.
Here is to the power of the written word and the sheer joy of sharing it!
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