tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post3338877496728544976..comments2023-04-10T03:20:23.344-05:00Comments on HanLeiaFanFicWriters: From the Archives: Reviews... the Crack Cocaine of Fan Fiction.Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-30023597969460560012017-03-19T12:31:58.254-05:002017-03-19T12:31:58.254-05:00Me before I had accounts that let writers reply to...Me before I had accounts that let writers reply to my reviews: Why would I expect or want that?<br /><br />Me after: Oooooh maybe they'll say something back ^^<br /><br />Me when I leave a very detailed comment: DID THEY READ IT YET I HOPED THEY LIKED IT !!!!!! <br /><br />Me with fic writers who I regularly correspond with, who produce a lot of fics, and who always acknowledge my reviews: You good, I know you read it, you can just hit me up if you have a comment on what I said :) (but if they stopped acknowledging reviews completely I'd probably feel bad) <br /><br />Me with writers I ALWAYS or VERY FREQUENTLY review who have never said *a word* to me about my reviews even though I see them begging for reviews and sometimes complaining that they don't get enough: O_O :/ O_o <br /><br />I like exchanges too, but I don't "expect" that from authors (I always assume I'm bugging them as a reader, as a writer I'm like YES TALK TO ME MORE lol ^^).imnothere24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10723557178533838325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-51490933438946941312017-03-19T07:59:14.954-05:002017-03-19T07:59:14.954-05:00No, we hadn't brought that up yet but I totall...No, we hadn't brought that up yet but I totally agree. If I'm leaving reviews and the person doesn't say anything back to me, not even just a very short "Thanks!" then I'm probably not going to be leaving a lot of reviews.<br /><br />I can sort of understand not wanting to start a long exchange, but if someone replies back to me and just says, "Thank you!" I'm perfectly happy to be acknowledged, and it doesn't really open things up for an exchange, which is fine. <br /><br />I'm with you though that I enjoy it when it becomes a little back and forth exchange and I find that enjoyable as well. Zyrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-25735075442506421802017-03-19T01:35:18.301-05:002017-03-19T01:35:18.301-05:00Ditto, Kathy.
Reviews (and the acknowledgement ...Ditto, Kathy. <br /><br />Reviews (and the acknowledgement of them) often lead to regular correspondence between me and writers whose work I enjoy, and readers who enjoy my stories, and that interaction is actually more enjoyable for me than the writing itself. <br /><br />I don't understand why some writers will plead for reviews or feedback of any kind, and then not acknowledge any of it, once received. It's puzzling and I'm curious to know the thought processes behind it (perhaps they just don't want to start a lengthy exchange with people they don't know?) But it's not something I could ever ask the culprit to explain, as I suspect it would just sound... whiny.Erin Darrochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17022044977128626948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-49984293015146404192017-03-19T00:04:40.903-05:002017-03-19T00:04:40.903-05:00(if I missed a comment chain about this, sorry!)
...(if I missed a comment chain about this, sorry!) <br />the other side of the crack coin is: I am more likely to post a note to an author that acknowledges reviews than I am to authors who never do.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12462818539759617636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-54766570817449987532017-03-14T12:05:05.579-05:002017-03-14T12:05:05.579-05:00YES. That scene in the Falcon with Han bending and...YES. That scene in the Falcon with Han bending and twisting around pipes is so gratuitous! But hot damn. Harrison Ford was so hot back then!LoveThis!https://www.blogger.com/profile/11844051101715280471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-76328555389422129322017-03-06T22:54:19.955-06:002017-03-06T22:54:19.955-06:00This app helps me leave specific reviews because (...This app helps me leave specific reviews because (at least for now), unlike on the computer, you can actually copy from the fic to quote the parts you like. The sucky thing is it has no PM feature. :( imnothere24https://www.blogger.com/profile/05121147778871992599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-23678181987772118952017-03-06T22:52:46.339-06:002017-03-06T22:52:46.339-06:00LoveTh1s, is it weird to say that as a READER, I l...LoveTh1s, is it weird to say that as a READER, I love reading your reviews? You always have something intelligent to say about the fics that I enjoy, and I like reading it, lol. imnothere24https://www.blogger.com/profile/05121147778871992599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-31820562159877616902017-03-05T14:36:41.664-06:002017-03-05T14:36:41.664-06:00They started showing it so much I tend to check. I...They started showing it so much I tend to check. I do miss the Spike commercials though.<br /><br />Anyone else want to watch Han's butt in slo-mo for a while? Oh man I love the asteroid scene.amara zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03344117896874708549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-10156334289359164352017-03-05T13:47:56.813-06:002017-03-05T13:47:56.813-06:00Ooh! I'm on it! Why does the tv guide have to ...Ooh! I'm on it! Why does the tv guide have to be so long!!JainaDurronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306143301521939650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-92152298092437439042017-03-05T13:44:52.425-06:002017-03-05T13:44:52.425-06:00Jedi's after!
I think it's hysterical tha...Jedi's after!<br /><br />I think it's hysterical that I saw people online dissing TNT et al buying the rights to the SW saga as it stands now (and it will eventually add the ST) because it had been on so many times. Yet when they first aired the both trilogies back in the fall, every night's installment was the #1 or #2 cable show of the night and #1 was college football. I think that Sunday when it was Jedi vs Walking Dead, Jedi was right behind Walking Dead.cv73https://www.blogger.com/profile/00172856161533760809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-70234034703952384052017-03-05T13:41:34.536-06:002017-03-05T13:41:34.536-06:00Oh man. ESB is on TNT right now. Woo-hoo!!Oh man. ESB is on TNT right now. Woo-hoo!!amara zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03344117896874708549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-45666683930285590602017-03-05T11:34:20.838-06:002017-03-05T11:34:20.838-06:00I don't mind constructive criticism...but it&#...I don't mind constructive criticism...but it's less bruising to the ego when it's a DM. So that's maybe the best way to ask for it (and to deliver it).Kelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03289869686941780934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-82389942430942729372017-03-05T11:05:38.663-06:002017-03-05T11:05:38.663-06:00Of course, as we are discussing, not that the numb...Of course, as we are discussing, not that the number of reviews means anything about the story, but . . .JainaDurronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306143301521939650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-69872474041864446202017-03-05T11:05:03.977-06:002017-03-05T11:05:03.977-06:00Now, that makes me sad. I posted a one-shot that I...Now, that makes me sad. I posted a one-shot that I didn't think was anything amazing, but I got about ten reviews the same day and I found it a cause worth celebrating!JainaDurronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306143301521939650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-70522160801219626912017-03-05T11:02:45.535-06:002017-03-05T11:02:45.535-06:00Aw, thank you!Aw, thank you!Zyrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-39181165365169863512017-03-05T11:02:27.934-06:002017-03-05T11:02:27.934-06:00I agree that there really isn't much reason to...I agree that there really isn't much reason to review something and tell someone, hey, I didn't like your story. Because it helps nobody, and really there are people out there who are interested in reading about all sorts of different things. So even if a story isn't something I'm interested in, often there are a lot of reviews telling me there are plenty of people who ARE interested in that, and that's cool. So no reason to just be like, no thanks. Zyrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-54848121438630005752017-03-05T10:58:43.143-06:002017-03-05T10:58:43.143-06:00KR, you're right that quality reviews are awes...KR, you're right that quality reviews are awesome. And for sure it is really hard to accept, but also true, that lots of reviews do not always equate to a great story, and very few reviews definitely don't also mean that a story isn't amazing. Even though both of those things are hard to accept. A while back, when there were a lot fewer stories up on ff.net and it was much easier to go back and find old stories to read, I found an author whose stories I really enjoyed who had posted stories a few years before and a lot of them had VERY few reviews. Like, shockingly few. And in my reviews I was sure to point out that I couldn't believe I was only like the 5th person to review it or whatever, because it was just so good. So, those stories, sadly, do exist. <br /><br />I will say though that one problem with very few reviews, especially for a multi-chapter story, is that you start to wonder if people are reading at all, or are interested in what might happen next, or if you've lost people for some reason because they aren't interested anymore or whatever. <br /><br />I don't think I've ever been surprised the reverse way, that a quick, silly story I wrote got way more reviews than I thought it would. Zyrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-75489942956779236022017-03-05T10:45:24.886-06:002017-03-05T10:45:24.886-06:00I don't see why not. And if someone said somet...I don't see why not. And if someone said something like, "Hey, if you see something you think needs to be fixed, please feel free to tell me!" I don't think other people might be turned away from saying anything. I get that too, here and there I'll go back to an old story and find some really stupid mistake I can't believe I didn't catch myself, and then I'm annoyed nobody mentioned it. Zyrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860113813294303312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-14211123499168168162017-03-05T10:12:27.459-06:002017-03-05T10:12:27.459-06:00Could we ask for constructive criticism? Or does t...Could we ask for constructive criticism? Or does that turn reviewers away from saying anything? A fear of mine is posting a story, then coming back to reread it sometime later and see a glaring, dumb mistake sitting there for the world to see. It's like the spinach in my teeth that everyone was too polite to point out. Jediofgracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18166993224369558018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-23123138828672295402017-03-05T00:07:18.508-06:002017-03-05T00:07:18.508-06:00Real life has hit me pretty hard lately. Since Nov...Real life has hit me pretty hard lately. Since November 2016, I've been in house-selling and house-buying hell. Then I actually moved five days ago (egads! only five days!??) and now I'm in IKEA hell....and sooooo tired. And yet, still, my boss expects me to keep turning up for work!? So unfair! <br /><br />All that is to say I am sorry to those of you who post here who have stories on the go that I haven't read yet or updates I haven't reviewed. I agree that reviews are hugely important. Even a one- or two-word comment is better than silence; at least, it is for me. The reader who goes by the name of Banzi always seems to leave reviews for me and, although they tend to be very short ("This is good" or "I like it"), I still greatly appreciate the contact. <br /><br />I try to review everything I read to completion. If I read something that I really don't like or that loses me halfway through, I might not review at all. I just tiptoe away and leave it at that. I'm assuming that the low number of reviews on some of my stories comes down to that; I've lost readers through blunders of characterisation (I'm probably guilty of giving both Han and Leia rather too much exposition-of-thoughts-and-feelings time in my stories) or through rejection of canon or for any number of other reasons. <br /><br />While I don't think I would want anyone to shred my stories and tell me how awful they are, I do sometimes wish I could get a little constructive criticism, especially if there are problematic elements of my writing that I repeat across multiple stories.... I know it's a little awkward to do that in a public forum or on a public reviews page, but there's always the option for a private message (on FFNet)? Of course, then it's not anonymous and THAT is probably awkward, too. Goodness knows, I'm highly unlikely ever to offer criticism of anyone else's story unless they specifically invite me to do so, so I can't really expect anyone else to do it. Erin Darrochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17022044977128626948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-69500361181150538682017-03-04T22:57:16.627-06:002017-03-04T22:57:16.627-06:00Oh, gosh, LoveThis, thank you for the lovely shout...Oh, gosh, LoveThis, thank you for the lovely shout-out! I try really hard to assume that when reviewers don't review anymore, it's because of real-life things. :) I know that sounds like such an easy thing to do - not be a selfish jerk and remember that other people's lives don't revolve around your fanfiction - but it's definitely a struggle sometimes. For the record, I really did honestly assume life had gotten in the way for you! No worries, my friend! :D<br /><br />For the record, I've noticed as I've gotten older and been in this fandom longer that it HAS gotten easier to understand that the quality of reviews you receive VASTLY outweighs the quantity. Not to discourage anyone from leaving short reviews (please do!), but I think it's gotten easier to accept that your one-shot is not going to get 400 reviews. And conversely, I've also learned that one-shots sometimes get more attention than longer stories and you're left going ... what? I spent MONTHS on this). And sometimes a story has everything you think the audience could want and it gets nuthin'. And your quickie ficlet you wrote at 4am that one time has the most reviews on your profile. Reviews don't make sense, and I think it gets easier to just accept the wonderful feedback you get and let the rest just roll off your back. It's so tough. The key is to remember that the number of reviews a story gets IN NO WAY defines the quality of the fic. And then we writers need to build up other authors, because we know what the struggle is like. :) KnightedRoguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01938396408641107066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-9671290268613308482017-03-04T19:03:05.206-06:002017-03-04T19:03:05.206-06:00Oh yeah, I know you can only comment once per chap...Oh yeah, I know you can only comment once per chapter, but when I used to comment as a guest, sometimes I would jot down a few impressions or just an enthusiastic one or two lines about enjoying the chapter and then return for lengthier reviews. Since I can only comment once on chapters now that I have an account I don't do that anymore. <br /><br />The thing is I can't just leave positive reviews and politely leave out the negative if there was something that really bothered me. So rather than do that I just won't comment at all. LoveThis!https://www.blogger.com/profile/11844051101715280471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-64429475760212972002017-03-04T17:39:36.162-06:002017-03-04T17:39:36.162-06:00Also love your story on ff right now ZyraAlso love your story on ff right now ZyraMckaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-53322582480188627322017-03-04T17:00:03.312-06:002017-03-04T17:00:03.312-06:00I confess to loving feedback and being horrible ab...I confess to loving feedback and being horrible about leaving it. I'm pretty much only on AO3 (the only FF.net stuff I have is Law & Order - oh and the big Dancing with the Stars story collab) but I will hit the kudos button so fast...and it makes my day to see kudos arrive...<br /><br />I am less good about writing reviews (and I should bookmark more! there's no way to go back and see what you "kudo'd")cv73https://www.blogger.com/profile/00172856161533760809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591963962547240042.post-12988474273093131722017-03-04T16:08:58.948-06:002017-03-04T16:08:58.948-06:00For the longest time, I didn't comment either....For the longest time, I didn't comment either. I mean, I left the occasional comment. I didn't really understand the importance of it; I had a satisfying enough following and reviews on one of my first stories last year. I fell off the radar for a couple months and when I returned to the sequel, I lost a lot of regular reviewers and it kind of hit me. Since we had that discussion a while ago about how hard it is to get people to review, I've put myself on a frenzy and I will yell at myself if I don't review what I read.JainaDurronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306143301521939650noreply@blogger.com