Unexpected Changes

Hi fellow content creators! I want to share with you a personal experience that had a major impact on my journey as a book reviewer. At the beginning of 2024, I sent a request for a book I wanted to review for a certain publication I worked for. In their reply to my request, 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 devastated. I loved working for this publication, and they are a wonderful team to work with. I spent a good amount of time blaming myself and beating myself up over losing such an awesome opportunity. I kept wondering where I went wrong and what I could’ve done differently to avoid their dismissal.

Although they told me that they were letting me go because my writing style was no longer in alignment with the direction they were headed in, I started doubting this. I shifted all the blame to myself. You see, 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. I started thinking that maybe I was a bit bashful (which is against the guidelines of book reviewing) in one of my reviews. I didn't want to retrace my steps (and check if I violated their guidelines) to see if it was all my fault for losing the job.

No matter the reason for my termination, I knew I had to move on. And I did, eventually. Looking back now, I realise that there is no point in beating myself up for something that is already done. 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, at the end of the day.

This platform decided to go in a different direction, one that didn’t include my kind of critical perspective. It might also have been my fault for losing the job (I never mustered up the courage to ask them for specifics, fearing I may not like the answer), but one thing was clear: I needed to accept it and embrace the end of that journey. It was a major let-down, for sure, and it really stung. But now I see it as a chance to learn and grow as a writer.

There is one major lesson I learned from this experience: 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 publication 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 is a part of your identity.