Reviews: Thick Skin, Owning Your Wins & A Happy Snoopy Dance Moment – Shellie Horst

Rounding off this series on reviews, Hornsea Writer Shellie Horst shares a different perspective. ‘Readers, and audiences,’ Shellie points out, ‘are the most important part of the creative process if you write for a market. If they don’t pick up your work, agents can’t agent, editors are stuck, publishers can’t publish, marketing departments are out of work, libraries have nothing new to put on the shelves, and all those amazing bookstores we love so much are out of business.’

The Thick Skin and Owning Your Wins.

Shellie writes for different markets, so reviews and thoughts on her work, come in all sorts of different forms.

‘As a journalist,’ she says, ‘I write freelance articles for publications in the Yorkshire area, most often The Hornsea and Holderness Gazette. Readers are happy to tell me how much they enjoyed a piece face to face, how it improved things in some way. Like with writing fiction, it helps to know your market. East Yorkshire is primarily rural, with a large coastline. The issues people face are different to inner city life. For some outlets and groups, I am their writer of choice.’

Feedback can come at unexpected times. ‘A reader once stopped me in the street,’ she says. ‘He told me he no longer believed everything he read on Facebook, saying,

“Thank you so much for the simple explanation, I didn’t understand that there’s only two masts in the area, and why I kept missing my carer. Let me buy you a drink.”

‘Dear reader, I said no, but thanked him for his kindness. Little wins add up, but they can get lost in the process.’

Shellie goes on to say, ‘The warm glow of getting it right doesn’t come with every piece. News is a funny thing, it’s personal in many ways. It impacts business, life, and politics. Everyone has an opinion. Negative feedback does come, but usually via the office. It can be personal, angry, and sometimes rude. It helps to remember news articles cover passions and hard work. ITV’s series, The Hack explores the impact of reporting on personal life well. I’m fortunate the editor at Holderness News insists on ethical reporting, with balanced articles with actual sources. I couldn’t just make any old thing up.’

A Happy Snoopy Dance moment

Shellie’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. Distaff: A Science Fiction Anthology by Female Authors, was nominated for a British Science Fiction award. The anthology received a lot of attention. Book Reviewer and blogger Peat Long said of Shellie’s story My Little Mecha,

“…That story made me miss my train stop.”

Who hasn’t stayed up hours into the night wanting to get to the end of a book, or the next episode of their favourite show? Shellie says, ‘While I feel bad for Peat having to double back on his journey, knowing my work transported him to another world is a huge compliment.’

The same story received an “It was fine” from another review on Good Reads.

The Power of Reviews.

Shellie goes on to talk about the creative writing workshops she delivers, saying, ‘Reviewing work brings lots of laughter, and builds critical thinking, and in turn, writing talent. We explore whether or not it’s wise to read reviews. A negative review is often something that holds a writer back. Just like the critique and developmental feedback we share at the Hornsea Writers weekly group, reviews may help form your writing, and the must-have ‘thick skin’. The fear of one-star reviews shouldn’t hold you back. It can be a source of creative - defiant joy, as Hull author Louise Beech did in her funny found poem, Amazon Should Do Zero Stars.’

‘Readers are quick to put themselves down at Humber SFF events too. I’m always grateful. It’s the reader that keeps publishing and my writing going.’

Shellie Horst is an award-nominated author, freelance journalist and creative writing tutor. You can follow her on the social media you love: https://linktr.ee/shelliehorst or sign up for updates on her website: https://shelliehorst.com. 

Read more about Shellie Horst HERE.