Exactly a month ago, we gave you Best/Worst Part I, which consisted of Promising Authors, though one of the authors has since been promoted to Signature. There were lots of response as everyone seemed to enjoy the post. As promised, here's Part II: Signature Authors!

I asked each author what they felt was both one of their best compliments and their worst/harshest criticism. I hope you enjoy this look into how other authors handle some of their harsher criticisms.

Signature Author: CassieQ and author of Geeks

If choosing a worst criticism was hard, then choosing the best compliment is even tougher. All constructive feedback is valuable to be, so I can't really say that one is better, or best, in my mind. However, I think my favorite feedback probably comes from my beta, just because of his honesty and his willingness to tell me things that I don't like to hear sometimes. Because his criticism is so honest despite hurting my feelings sometimes (okay, most of the time) when he comes across something he likes, I know he is honest about that as well. So I never have to worry about him "just being nice" or "not hurting my feelings" because he doesn't do things that way, and I know that whatever he tells me will help further my writing and you can't get much better than that.

(Although someone telling me that the opening chapter of Reach was "one of the most erotic story chapters" they had ever read was pretty sweet. Especially considering it was the first erotic scene between two males that I had ever written before. That comes in a very close second!)

Signature Author: Cia and author of Needing You

Of course my ending reply on the review sums up my basic regard toward feedback on any of my work but especially for anything published. The most important part of my reply: “Ah well, if I couldn't hack it, I wouldn't have published it. You'd make a great beta, the sarcasm is entertaining, and I certainly can't mistake how you feel.” You can see the entire exchange here.

Knowing what I now editing-wise, I can see a lot of validity in the commentary. The lessons an author can and should learn as they mature in our craft makes all the difference when we look back. In January I had two eBooks come out with two publishing houses. The both began as free serial stories, and both were polished and improved. Since they came out I’ve received some stellar reviews. The best of which came from someone I’m not even sure I know personally, but who is definitely an amazing fan. This effusive review is from Todd Ticen on Amazon about my writing in general and Protecting Bear in particular. When this comes from friends it's nice, but when it comes out of the blue, I really treasure knowing I've touched a reader so much.

“If you have not had the privilege of reading one of Alicia Nordwell's stories then I strongly encourage you to delve into her world and experience stories that will both excite your senses and ensnare your soul. A truly remarkable writer that has a special and very talented way of pulling a reader into her stories with lifelike characters, enthralling plots and always the thrill of escaping into the world she vividly paints with her imagination. A truly gifted writer and a MUST read. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed with any of her stories."

Obviously I was floored by Todd’s lovely review and ecstatic to receive such praise. You can read all of it here. I only hope I can continue to live up to it!

Signature Author: Comicfan and author of Last Christmas

The good ones I keep these, no matter how long ago they came in and read them when I need a pick me up.

I have had two of the best and perhaps sweetest reviews come in on a tale I wrote called “A Cat’s Life.” Here are the reviews as they were emailed to me.

Hi :I was reading some stories on the Gay Authors site and without going into a long explanation, I came across your stories. I have read several and enjoyed them, but " A Cat's Life " just touched something in me. It is so heartwarming and kind, I had to write to you and say thank you. Best wishes, Joel

Then there was this one as well.

Hope this is okay for contacting you as I am not a member of the website. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your stories a lot. Especially "The Strange Life of Jonas Marks" (which I am trying to wait patiently for the next installment), "Accidents Happen" and "A cat's life". I also read Broken and found it very upsetting. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I hated that this was probably true somewhere. I have no doubt that people do that to other people. I think if I ever found a letter like that, I would do anything I could to try to find this person. It was very thought provoking, and made me cry. I wish things like that wouldn't happen, but I know they do.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I think you need to be more well known for your stories. I will definitely be handing them along to friends. Please keep writing, and I can't wait for the next part of Jonas' story. Jenna

Reviews like this encourage me. They remind me that the stories I write have a life beyond me. They can affect people and that is something special that can only come between a reader and a story. Knowing I have had a hand in that just shows me that the things I enjoy are also enjoyed by others.

Of course I have also had those that felt it was completely alright to rip me apart because they wrote to me privately. One such piece came about my work in an Anthology for the “The End of the World.” The reviewer of my story very “politely” told me that my writing sucked, the dialogue was stilted, and the story didn’t work. I was told I should stay to the little tales of happily ever after and leave the real writing to others.

The author tore the work to shreds without giving me any encouragement of what I did well or that anything was worth going on with. Instead of quitting as my reviewer suggested, it pissed me the hell off. The end result of it was I took a huge departure from my usual style of writing and delivered the story, “The Escape of John Doe.” I don’t think I have had so many surprised comments on a piece of work I have done in a long time.

Signature Author: Renee Stevens and author of Thwarted

Sorry to spoil the party, but this was boring beyond belief. Nothing happened. A non night out which had been predicted. A guy who isn't actually safe to be out on his own. There was no tension. No dramatic pre-emption. No twist. No significant plot. No point. Two guys debate going out, go out, have experience predicted, came home. God only knows what sex would have been like if we had actually got there and klutz had not broken his neck tripping over an ant. Probably would have snapped the condom and pinged himself in the eye ... and no, not THAT eye either. That would have been funny.

I had to walk away before I could respond. As I responded to the reviewer, I understand that not everyone is going to like what I write, but I didn't feel that was a constructive criticism. I finally had to sit back and look at my other readers' thoughts and remind myself that it was one reviewers thoughts. The other readers saw the story for what it was, a short look into the lives of my two characters.

Choosing my best compliment, that was much harder. I've received some absolutely wonderful reviews, both on and off site. I think the one that really stands out in my mind, is one that was left on one of my prompt responses, The Only One. The reviewer really put a lot of thought into the review and took the story down to its basic elements, elements that I didn't even really think about while I was writing it. As I read the review, I realized that the reviewer was right. I'm only going to share the first part of the review, cause the rest of the review would contain spoilers.

I enjoyed this story immensely based solely on the technical challenge this kind of story presents to the writer. In a sense, this is a "confession story", similar to "True Confessions", a magazine sold in the UK and mostly written by women for the confession market, except, of-course, this is a gay confession. Technically, it has all the attributes of a confession story. Let's look at them for a moment.

If you want to read the rest of the review, I'd strongly suggest you read the story first! I don't usually think of formulas when I write, but the fact that the reviewer was able to point out the formula to me, was great. I enjoy getting reviews and all of them make me think and look for ways to improve. Some point out things they don't like, not always nicely. Others, like the one on The Only One, show me what I'm doing right, whether or not I realized it when I was writing it.