[LadyRoisin]

Hi everyone,

I've noticed that this site has a way that you can rate a story by giving it a certain amount of stars. Maybe I'm bitter because someone gave a bunch of 3 star ratings to my stories, without leaving a review as to WHY they think it's only worth 3 stars, or whatever.

Now this is just my personal opinion, but I'm not going to give a story a star rating unless I'm also willing to leave a review for the author, especially if I plan on leaving only 3 stars or less. I just think that's common courtesy.

I know as an author I want to know "why" someone gave me a poor rating, because maybe it's something I can use to improve my writing.

So I guess this post is both a suggestion for the site, and also asking for opinions of others.

My sugestion for the site in regards to the star rating is that either they not be anonymous, or someone has to leave a review before they can leave a star rating on a story.

So my question for readers and authors here is, do you like having the star ratings? Does it bother you when someone leaves you a low star rating, but doesn't leave a review to explain why? And my question for readers, do the star ratings heavily influence what you read? Or is it not that important?

I will admitt, I'm slightly irritated because I AM trying to fit in here, and become a liked reader and author here. And it doesn't help me when someone just leaves me a 3 star or less rating, but doesn't explain why they did that. It certainly doesn't help me to write better stories, and just leaves me discouraged.

I know everyone has genres they like, and there's nothing wrong with that. But for example, if someone is a fan of angst, and is reading a rmance, or fluff story, it's not really far to judge that story by angst standards, because it's not meant to be an angst story. Again, jut a hypotheticl example.

I think the star rating system can be a useful, and even beneficial tool. But to go to a new author (or even an established author), and to leave them a bad star rating and not leave a review or explain to them why you rated it the way you did is not really helpful to the author at all, or even readers. Because then the author is left with a bunch of 3 star ratings, and zero reviews, and that might turn away future readers from that story who actually might really enjoy it.

Again, these are my opinions. I'm certainly not trying to put down the site, or the MODs, or anyone. I figured it would be of benefit to speak up rather than to sit in silence and stew, especially if by bringing this up it could be helpful to other authors and readers.

Lady Roisin

[DarkElfChilde]

I find that someone who reviews the story more helpful to myself, as the writer, because stars don't tell me what was good or what I need to work on to improve my writings. I also think the reviews help the other readers who are wanting to know what others are saying before they go ahead and read a story I wrote.

Other than that, I don't pay attention to how many stars I have. I only write because I enjoy writing. I don't write to see how many reviews and stars I get...though, I do value feedback. Who doesn't? Even a little feedback makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[NancyBrooke]

You are not alone, LR:

Check out this forum topic from awhile ago.

[Alassante]

I think everyone at one point or another has complained amongst themselves about the stars. It is frustrating when you get a low rating and you don't know why. Perhaps its not someone just being mean and they just hated your story - but not knowing is frustrating. I know flames aren't allowed on here and maybe people don't know how to tell you they had a problem with your story in a constructive review so they just hit you with a low star. I've tried not to pay attention to my ratings but its hard. If they were removed, I wouldn't shed a tear but otherwise, I would say don't let it get to you too much.

[Viv]

I tend not to star stories that I don't like, which means that if I click the star thingy at all, it's usually to give four or five stars.

However, I can tell you that, having been on the other (reader) side, most authors don't want to know why I didn't like their stories. If I were to PM them and say, "I didn't find your characterization of Legolas as a playah very believable in terms of bookverse or movieverse, though I did sort of enjoy the cat's point of view. That's why I gave your story two stars," most likely they'd PM me back with some very angry defense of their work. In other words, it wouldn't be worth my time. Most authors, once they get around to posting a story, are pretty happy with it, and I can either love it or hate it, as I choose.

But, yes, years ago when I was new to this, the star ratings did upset me. I'm sorry you're having to go through what has colloquially been dubbed "attack of the one-star fairy" on OSA. *sympathetic hugs*

[Viv]

I forgot to add: if you suspect that commas or something are what's keeping folks from enjoying your work as much as they could, and you want something short betaed, PM me. I do beta every now and then.

[LadyRoisin]

Thank you so much for your responses everyone.

For me, I LIKE to know why someone didn't like my story. Now, sometimes people won't like a story because of personal preference and opinion. In that kind of case, there's nothing you as an author did wrong persay, it's just a difference in preferences, c'est la vie. Of course as an author you can't make everyone happy, and I know for me, it's certainly not my goal to make everyone happy.

Now sometimes, I'll get a review that's concrit, but REALLY helpful. Like one time I had accidently inserted the wrong character name into a setence, and both my proofreaer and I had missed it. So that was helpful. Another time someone alerted me that one of my sentences was a bit too modern. I'm usually pretty careful about not using modern language in my LOTR stories, but sometimes it slips, and that review was helpful, because it's true that modern language can break the mood of the story.

Stuf like that is really helpful, and shows that that person does care about the story too. If someone leaves me a review that says something like "This was good, but this you might want to fix" I'm certainly not going to go after the reviewer in anger. 9 times out of 10, I'll thank them, especially if they took the time to be tactful about it and took the time to alsoleave something positive.

The only times that I'll get angry at a reviewer is if they insult me, are tactless, or full on flame me, curse at me, ect. But in those cases, it's usually just a better policy to ignore. Why waste the energy going after them in anger? That's usually what people like that are going after anyways is negative attention. Why give them what they want?

Thank you Viv for offering to beta a short story for me. I have yet to find a permanent beta. I have someone who betas for me when she has the time, and is very helpful, it's just our schedules clash a lot. I think trying out different betas is a good way for a new person to learn different things on how to imporve their writing. One beta might be really good at one aspect, while another can help you with a different aspect. I know betas are super busy people too, and I aim to learn as much as I can anytime someone betas something for me.

I realize the star rating could mean a lot of different things. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who feels about on those same lines. I'm certainly not trying to call anyone out, or put anyone down. It's more a thing of "Hey, when this happens do you wish you had more feedback too?"

I think it could be a super helpful tool, along with feedback.

The only two low star ratings that miffed me a bit was the 3 stars for "The Fortune Teller" which was one of my compettion pieces, was heavily beta'd, was entered in Teitho and didn't place, but I've had multiple people tell me "Oh, if only I had the time to read the stories this month, I would have voted for this". So I know it's not a bad story at all. So I know it's probably just a random hater. Same deal with "Sleep Well Sweet Prince" which was about dealing with death, and certainly was one of my more darker pieces, but had a lot of deep stuff in it. I know that's a tough kind of story for some readers, whereas others love those kinds.

I guess I'm of the opinion that if someone hates a story, that's their perogative, and like I said, I'm not out to please everyone. But if its someone who is new to the site, or even if it's just a new story that doesn't have any reviews yet, and no rating, it's probably more respecful to the author to just skip it, especially if someone is afraid to speak their piece in a review. I can understand some readers might be afraid to say what they think because an author might come after them. Fair enough, but don't even bother with the star rating then either. Just makes sense to me.

Again, thank you everyone for your encouragment. I am finding I really do like this site a lot, and the people here are really friendly too, which is always a bonus.

Lady Roisin

[Sulriel]

I like being able to star a story if for whatever reason I'm not in the mood to review. But I agree I feel that they lower ratings are easily misused.

And I also agree with Viv. I consider that stories posted in the archive here are finished works since this archive doesn't have a workshop or beta forum. I will very seldom if ever concrit in a review. I'll give 4 or 5 stars if I really love something and/or review if I have something nice to say. Otherwise, I just click off and move along.

[dolarabee]

LadyRoisin, just so you know, I checked the stars and it's not someone or a group of someone ganging up on you or anything.

do.

[LadyRoisin]

I didn't think it was, I don't think I was trying to imply that is (apologies if it came off that way)I was just gripping because I couldn't understand the reason behind why stories had low stars, and no reviews, I just wanted throw it out there that I would prefer someone tell me why they gave me a low rating, because the stars aren't really teaching me how to be better without some sort of feedback. I guess I feel that if someone dislikes a story that much, they should just leave it alone and move on.

I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine. Ohwell

Roisin

[LadyRoisin]

Also, just want to toss it out there that I don't have a Beta Reader. Been looking for one, haven't found the right one yet, or one that isn't bogged down with Beta-ing for others. I do take a lot of care to edit my stuff before posting, but stupid mistakes do sometimes get by.

So if the low ratings are based off of silly errors (which I don't think I make that many of, but who knows). Just be aware I don't have a regular Beta yet, wrking on it, but it takes time. So if that's what's irking people about my stories, I'm working on it, just have some patience with me, and please please don't rate me down because of that, because I really am trying.

Roisin

[Sulriel]

[Alassante]

[DarkElfChilde]

[NancyBrooke]