Reviews: do you reply to them?

inglor · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:01 am Post subject: Reviews: do you reply to them?

What is proper etiquette for responding to reviews?
Are you supposed to?
Or do you just let them alone?

Question to the readers of this thread:
Do you or don't you? Why?

Inglor

Viv · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

I should. I don't. I'm just lazy and forgetful. I also have no idea what to say, usually. I mean, other than "Thank you."

Actually... I need to edit here. I don't often send e-mails to thank people who review, but I'm more likely to seek out their stories and read them and leave reviews for *them*. It's not a tit-for-tat kind of thing, per se, but ficdom is huge, and if I see a pen name in a review and attach warm fuzzy thoughts to it, I might be more interested in reading that person's stuff.

SilverMoonLady · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:32 am Post subject:

I do, definitely. If they took the time to say something, I take the time to reply. Maybe they'll multiply Very Happy

SpaceWeavil · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:53 am Post subject:

I don’t really get an awful lot of reviews, which is one reason I do like to acknowledge the people that have taken the time to comment. I’d love it if more people reviewed, so I think the least I can do is be polite and show my appreciation for those that do. I actually do feel more awkward though replying to nice reviews than I did when I used to get criticism. It’s harder to find something to say, besides thanking the person, when the review is all nice. Not that I have anything against nice reviews… Smile

BittenBuggy · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:56 am Post subject:

I said no - part of it is psychological for me. I tend to read stories based on the amount/content of reviews. Its generally what I looked at even before reading the fic. So when I see '10 reviews' I think 'WOW what a great story!' and then I click on them to see that half of them are from the author. Also, I tend to see it as a bit redundant. They liked your fic, in return, you give them MORE fic. Wink

Not that I have anything against people responding to reviews, of course Very Happy

Just my reasons for not.

NancyBrooke · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:59 am Post subject:

I didn't use to reply, but now I do and check for new ones periodically.

If the review is bad (but of course I've never had a bad review) usually the reviewer says why; then I respond to that - Gee I never saw it that way, or I was trying to do something else guess it didn't work etc. I love it when reviewers point out typos or disagreement with Tolkien errors; once they're fixed I definately reply.

If the reviewer is luke warm and maybe was confused or had a question I definately reply- good conversations can be started that way.

daw · Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 46

I always try to reply and feel bad if I miss someone. I'm grateful for people who take the time to tell me they liked my story, or even that they didn't like it. Writing can be a lonely business and knowing what readers think is important to me.

Additionally, one of the things I value in the fanfic world is the possibility of community and good discussions. Replying to reviewers is one way that has sometimes come to pass for me.

Hathor · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:37 pm Post subject:

Always reply because it's just good manners, I think. Just a little PM on this site, or an e-mail if it's external, or an LJ comment back.

I suppose it's just a habit I've gotten into, really...

BittenBuggy · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

Well, now I feel rude Razz

I do appriciate them - all of them, just never thought of it like that. *truges off to go send out lots of PMs*

Ellbee · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 172

SpaceWeavil · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:27 pm Post subject:

Thuriniel · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:31 pm Post subject:

I just recently started to reply to reviewers here in OSA. In ffn I usually post responses when I post a new chapter, or email the reviewer if there are any questions/concerns addressed. I also make it a point to check out the reviewer's fics ... I've made some great friends that way ... Panneth and Maram68 fall into that category Wink

.

As I see it, if the reader takes the time to make a comment, the least I can do is say thanks. Reviews make my day, and sometimes getting a good review is the reason for me to hit the keyboard again and keep on writing.

And thanks for this post ... I just realized that I didn't thank the reviewers that dropped me a line while I was gone ... I'm still catching up on mail Shocked

!

Thuriniel · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:33 pm Post subject:

I will also add, that I don't think it's rude at all not replying ... just because I leave a review doesn't mean I expect a reply (although I do like getting them Wink

) ... it's just a question of personal preference, I guess.

SilverMoonLady · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject:

Then again, if I were suddenly deluged by reviews I might not thank them all, but it hasn't happened yet Very Happy

Can't afford to be picky:) But I do use the PM function rather than a review, unless adressing something several people have brought up (like the change/questions in Revels), so as not to drive up the review count.
And I also do go read reviewers' stuff, as a courtesy, and often a very pleasant surprise.

Maram68 · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:44 pm Post subject:

I try to reply to all of them. I use PM, not the review feature itself because THAT would be cheating on the review-count, right?

And yes, I also try to check stories of people who review my stuff as a kind of etiquette of my own.

Smile

BTW, I am BACK, just in case anybody noticed I was gone ... Very Happy

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Reviews: do you reply to them?