Many wise words from both Lobo and Fordman.
It is true that sometimes authors receive negative feedback. This ranges from the constructive to the hurtful..... But there is not an author out there that does not have critics as well as fans. Naturally when you get negative feedback it is disheartening. However, I have to applaud the vast majority of readers here, in that those with negative comments do make an effort not to hurt authors and often prefer not to comment, than leave something nasty. (Phew !)
But you cannot please all the people all the time, and the fan mail has been very nice.
Some notable authors no longer write due to negative feedback, that is true. But readers do appreciate that it is not in their own interest to lose authors this way, because if everyone left, there would be no new stuff to enjoy.
Lobo and many others gave me very helpful advice when I was starting out - write what pleases you. If others like it too, then that is a great bonus. But if you don't write what you like, how do you expect others to like it ? It has to have your own passion first.
Hope that helps.
Daffy