[Viv]

I read a lot on this archive. And I try to review as much as possible. But I also refuse to lie. Ergo, the poll question.

And an addendum: What if you read a story that is exceptionally well-written but contains content that just irritates the hoohah out of you? Do you leave a "great pacing, sentence structure, commas... ick on the [insert squick]" review??

See, as a writer, I would love to receive such honest reviews. Such feedback would help me become a better writer and produce stuff that is appealing to my audience. But I suspect that most writers only want to hear the good stuff.

Thoughts?

[Maram68]

To be honest, my vote was: If I cant say anything nice, then I don't say nothing at all.

I have learned that only when people request directly my opinion on a fic or a beta, my comments will be welcome.

To avoid both, the author and myself possible unpleasant moments, I just keep to myself. But I keep on reading, and I do go by the stars rating system on OSA. except when I stumble upon a fic that catches my interest with its summary.

Reviews, when good, are very encouraging. I expect and demand honest reviews from my friends but I do not have any problem with constructive criticism, I also know that some others do not appreaciate critical feedback.

[Dragon]

I normally leave a "Hey, I enjoyed this" type review on most everything I read, but for the ones I really enjoyed I would normally say something that I especially liked about it, and sometimes ramble on a bit. I don't read a story if I am actively not enjoying it, so if I've finished it the chances are I enjoyed it, even if it was not the best written story ever. And it's nice to give reviews.

I tend to go in phases about criticism. Sometimes I have periods where I do mention things that I didn't like, sometimes I just ignore things I thought were not as good. At present I probably wouldn't bother giving criticism unless it was a good story that I thought had a little thing that was jarring (e.g. spelling errors, people saying 'Okay' a lot and that). I can't really see the point of criticising something that is a central part of the story or something where changing it would mean a rewrite, because in general people will just be offended by it, I think.

Although in email I tend to be more honest. And if someone asks I can be very honest. I always feel guilty when I give 'not good' reviews though, and I wish I hadn't written some of the ones I have given.

Personally when I get reviews I like constructive criticism and suggestions of improvements, especially when people give an email address so I can get back to them (even if only to tell them I did read their review, but am not following their advice because...). I have had a lot of very helpful ones. I find it less helpful though when the thing I should change would involve rewriting the entire story... just because I don't have the time or inclination to do that. I'd rather label it AU and move on. Like removing a character. It is really difficult to remove a character in the middle of the story. I don't mean that people shouldn't criticise things like it, but I always feel bad for not acting on suggestions, but some things I just can't change.

This is turning into a long ramble. I'll be quick and honest. In general I like getting good reviews. I like being told that it's a great story or whatever. When I first read criticism I often feel a bit huffy-grumble-grumble but then, when I come back to it I can see that it usually is a valid point. And I hope my stories are better if I listen to them. At least I'm a little better at commas now. And ""es.

[JennnLee]

I'll leave reviews if I enjoy a story, and I'll usually try to say more than just "good job." And if something bugged me, I'll certainly put it down. Not like "such and such sucked, never put pen to paper again" but I'll point out if something didn't make sense or was riddled with errors of some kind. And I leave my email address, in case the writer wants to get in touch, but that rarely happens. Doesn't bother me...

[Gaslight]

I usually don't finish reading fics that haven't had sparks within the first couple chapters. So I chose that option on the poll.

Writing reviews...it all depends on my mood. I try to get back to everyone I read to send a message, but for some the less said the better, and so I don't give FB. But other times (and this is in the past) if I really disliked something, I'd say so in no uncertain terms. Other times I'm feeling "what the hell, kindess never hurt anyone" and just pick out something nice about it.

Get the impression that I'm a VERY erratic reviewer? Yep, it's gotten me in trouble if I've been in a particularly snarky mood, and so I've pretty much put on the muzzle if something really irks me. I'll just stew in silence.

Something that some writers don't like is if negative FB doesn't have something of substance within it. It could just be a personal feeling the reader had about it, something intangible that irked them. I think that those feelings are valid and if the reader wants to get them off their chest, then let them. The writer can then dismiss them as worthless if they like. If the writer thinks their stuff was good and the reader was wrong, what's the harm done? None, as far as I can see. I understand the need for reader catharsis because I've felt it many a time.

I personally prefer honest FB, whether I choose to adopt it or not. Some I pay attention to. My multiple POV tendency, once it was pointed out to me, I now take a good hard look at as I write and revise and I have noticed it. Yay for me! And yay for the one who pointed it out. That's an easy thing to tweak. Others -- and I'm like Dragon on this -- I think, "I just don't have the time or inclination to alter so much!" One of the HASA reviewers said that A Destined Reckoning needs substantial rewrites. Well, I don't agree so that's FB I'll pass on. Still, I'm glad that someone said that because it will make me look harder at it and perhaps use that information on later fics. I revise enough as I write. I don't want to get mired in it post-posting.

Even though I'm pretty open to all manners of reviews, I've now realized that others aren't and so it's changed my attitude towards giving FB to people because you don't know where the line is for any given writer.

[/babble]

[Maram68]

[NancyBrooke]

I answered with the negative but constructive option, but thought hard about the private e-mail one.

I try to review all I read, and I try to be both positive and specific, no matter whether it's a rave or a caution. The fic I really can't stand, I just don't finish, therefore I don't review.

When the most memorable aspect of a fic, for me, is its errors, then I definately put into use the private e-mail function. No need to publicize that stuff. But if I finished it, it must have done something right so I try to tell the author that, too.

For myself I want to know what people think. I hope I don't write for that, but once the fic is done then I wan't the feedback so I try to dish out what I want to get back in return. And, yes, I rewrite my reviews over several times before sending them. There's critiquing and then there's critical and I can lean toward the latter unintentionally.

[Ellbee]

I’m kind of torn on this subject. Not in terms of how I review badfic. In times past, I would have left an honest and sometimes less-than-tactful review. I’ve mellowed a lot recently, because for one thing there's usually a kid who's really proud of herself on the other end of that badfic, and why slap down that sort of effort? Yeah, the story may suck, but at least she’s trying. And for another thing, it’s just fanfic, and most people are in it for fun. There are some, it’s true, who take it way more seriously than is good for their blood pressure, but I personally can’t work myself into a frothing rage just because Aragorn is out of character or ‘Galadriel’ is spelled wrong. I don’t like it, and I might mention it, but mostly I just hit the back button.

But I also don’t like to hear whining from people who claim that every negative review is a spirit-crushing flame. In real life, book and movie reviews aren’t written with the aim of helping anyone improve, they are written for the movie-going or book-reading public. Nobody sugar coats his opinions or feels compelled to make his criticism constructive. And posting to somewhere like ff.net opens you up to criticism, constructive or snarky. But once again, it’s become my own policy to only review if I’ve got something positive to say. I don’t feel obligated to save anyone from bad fanfic; it’s not like I’m saving anyone eight dollars by warning them away. While I may point out errors or question something I don’t understand, if I review at all it’s because I liked the story or liked some element so well that I had to comment. Luckily, this frame of mind fits in well here at Open Scrolls.

That said, I love to get reviews, any reviews. The latest review I got (on ff.net, not here) started off with, “Yuckyuckyuckyuckyuck…” Am I going to delete it? Hell no. I love my reviews, even the flames, because they mean that something I wrote moved someone enough to go to the trouble of leaving a review, even if it’s just to say, “Ardeth fic sucks! Rick/Evy 4ever!” Of course, I adore it when people leave detailed and insightful reviews telling me that they love what I’ve done, but I would seriously pay for constructive criticism, because I am trying to improve. So in spite of my own personal policy on giving reviews, I welcome any criticism I can get.

And how’s that for rambling?

-Ell

[Gaslight]

[JennnLee]

[SilverMoonLady]

Warning! This is a sad rant, which makes no sense to my non-fanficcy friends, so I vent to you, my fellows. And no, I'm not as pathetic as this sounds. I do have a life.


Ahh... I'm reviving a dead thread, out of madness and frustration, and not a little self-interest (of course). There are days I see the bean counter on the stories rise like a little plant in the sun, and that's awfully nice, but why are there no reviews? One has to wonder if the fic was not worth a word, even a negative one... But what about chaptered fics, where more than one person obviously read on through? Blehhh!
I have to admit to not reviewing every single fic I read, though I say at least something, even just a little 'neat idea', to most if I've bothered to read to the end. Fanfic is free! Our only coin *is* feedback!
If I use my own standard (as stated above) there are at least 60 people (by my calculations) who have read a 4 Chapter fic (by someone else) and only 5 reviews... Why could no one else (who enjoyed the story enough to read all 4 chapters) leave a note?
I will continue to be puzzled... And watch the bean counter rise, without explanation.
Rant over

[queenoftheshire]

Hehehe, my problem is I usually some how give away the story! So to avoid ruining for everybody else I just leave a simple 'Good Job' 'I really enjoyed this' Etc
I don't usually rate fics unless I think they're good. I know that I am dissuaded from reading fic if it's 3 stars or below. Just because I think it's not the best, doesn't mean somebody else won't, so I tend to only rate things that I think are 4 stars+.

[SilverMoonLady]

Ah, as lovely as a long and detailed review might be, you wouldn't believe the pleasure one gets out of even just a "lovely!" It just says, "Hey, I read this through and am glad I took a peek." Nothing just means nothing.
I totally see what you mean about the star system though, I definately only give stars when I can give a lot:) When I see one or two, i run.

[Viv]

I review a lot, but rarely when I think a story is sub-par or even mediocre.

Lately, however, I have started to read stories that turned me off in a matter of paragraphs, and I've just stopped reading. No review. If the intro was especially vile, I've rated the story low (one or two stars). But my experience is that when people don't take the time to polish the opening paragraph or chapter of their fic, they probably won't take concrit well.

In general, I have Issues with the star-rating system. Some of my favorite fics (yes, I'm plugging my recs page here) have only a handful of ratings/reviews. I don't know what to tell you. But I will encourage folks not to go by those star ratings alone: very often I read stories that are darn good, rate them where I think they ought to go (3 or 4), and someone will come by and dump a 1 or 2 on the story, bringing the average down. Why? Who knows. I can only imagine that those raters have some issues with stories getting positive feedback.

On the flip side, Khazarkum's Cursed Queen story has over 100 reviews now and a ton of positive star ratings. So in rare instances, the numbers do reflect quality.

[miriel361]

I'll second that Viv. Especially with the star system. Tell me what does it mean if you have 13 raters and a five star average (4.6) and the next time you look, you have 14 raters and a four star average (4.0)

I wonder why people do that? I really wish they would leave a review to explain why they have given you such a low rating. And it's not just my fics I've seen this happen to (I use two nomdeplumes) but also to other authors whose work I admire.

I accept criticism well. I just wish they would explain.