You're at a family barbecue, feeling proud because you just hit "publish" on your debut novel last week. Your aunt approaches with genuine curiosity and asks about your book. Your heart swells as you start to explain your story, the characters you've grown to love, the themes you've woven throughout. Then she asks where people can buy it. "Oh," she says, her expression shifting slightly. "So you self-published? You couldn't get a real publisher?"

Picture this:

You've just received your first one-star review.

Your stomach drops as you read the harsh words criticizing everything from your plot holes to your character development.

You screenshot it and immediately send it to your critique partner, your spouse, your writing group.

You spend the next three hours crafting the perfect response in your head—one that explains your artistic choices, defends your characters, and maybe even educates this clearly misguided reader about what good literature actually looks like.