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 Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:17 pm
I was chatting with Chibi Envy Chan a little while ago, and the topic of commenting/reviewing upon things came up.
I stated that, unless it was a miserable failure, something annoyed me a great deal or something to gush about, I wasn't likely to comment on something. Of course there are certain modifying conditions to that statement, such as whether that person has explicitly asked for comments telling them what they could improve or if it's a person who I know enjoys getting comments which outline exactly which parts were enjoyable and which weren't.
The main thing is, sometimes there isn't anything that I feel is worth commenting on, nor that needs pointing out, nor do I feel it needs some recognition of me reading it. Which is why comment whores grate my nerves. You know, the people who insist you comment on absolutely EVERYTHING they write, regardless of if your comment consists of "I like fish paste" or "I read it and OMG *squee* its so GO0D!".
So, the spoon and egg are:
- how do you comment? Do you comment on everything, or only on a few things? Do you leave long in depth comments or short note-like ones?
- what are your opinions on commenting for the sake of commenting?
- how do you feel towards comment/review whores?
- do comments make the author? (Are you more likely to read someone who has a lot of reviews, regardless of the quality of their writing - or someone who gets very few reviews (comparitively) but has a brilliant writing style and superb quality?)
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:32 pm
I remember that conversation.
Sadly, I can't do in depth comments without really giving it a good read through or know the series well enough. Most of the stuff I read is fan fiction so yeah. I read a lot so I try not to spend a lot of time on one. If I have enough time, I'll leave a longer review.
Comments shouldn't be required for a writer to continue the story. If a writer is holding a fic hostage, then it's probably not worth it.
No comment.
No. I normally go off on the quality of the review than the quantity.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:04 pm
I'm like Chibi. I can't do in-depth comments very well either. I can only tell people if I like the story or not. Since I'm a very critical reader (both my own works and other peoples'), I don't always like to say what I don't like about a story and how I think it could be changed unless it's something extremely obvious. I'm also not a very good online reader, so that's one of the main reasons why I haven't read much that's been posted so far. If someone asks me to read something though, I'll usually print it out and read it that way. Depending on my mood, I'll comment on everything or just a few things.
Mm.. I'm mixed on this. As an author, I would like to know if people read my work or not. At the same time, if I receive comments, I prefer if there is substance. So.. yeah. I know it's not possible to get everyone to do that, and it'll probably be kind of weird, too, so I don't really mind that much. Sometimes I'll comment first and ask people if they want a critical review. If they say yes, then I'll give them one.
o.O;; That was a really weird way of answering the question.
Anywho..
Um. Comment and review whores.. I'm not really in the writing world, never really was, so.. no comment about them. Just that if you push for people to review, it's more likely that they won't want to. Reverse psychology anyone?
I'll read for quality over quantity any day.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:45 am
How do you comment? Do you comment on everything, or only on a few things? Do you leave long in depth comments or short note-like ones?
Something has to strike a nerve for me to leave a long, in-depth comment. And not elementary stuff like poor grammar. It has to be something easily debatable, something I can have evidence to use to back up my point. Otherwise, I leave short, note-like comments. I try to cover everything as concisely as possible.
What are your opinions on commenting for the sake of commenting?
In my opinion, commenting for the sake of commenting is doing something like having a conversation via reviews. I don't include reviews saying "I really like this. Please continue." to be unnecessary, not matter how illiterate it may seem. After all, when one posts a fanfiction it's usually done with the intention of having others read it, enjoy it, and note their opinion. Though those reviews may not necessarily help the writer to advance, it does encourage them. So I'm fine with short reviews like that so long as they relate to the story one way or another.
How do you feel towards comment/review whores?
Often times, review whores don't write the type of stories I like to read, so I rarely have to deal with them. When, however, I do come across one I simply leave a review and hope they continue. In the grand scheme of things, however, I think it's a little immature and completely pointless to demand reviews.
Do comments make the author?
Do I really need to answer that?
Obviously not. To me it seems the more reviews something has the less quality it has. The best example of this would be a Harry Potter fanfiction entitled My Immortal. Quite horrid, really. But it has over 5,ooo reviews last I checked.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:44 pm
I was just thinking... do some people practice in the area of critiquing? I mean giving good but honest constructive criticism without straying into the flame area.
As an amateur writer, I try to leave well thought out comments, but sometimes, I can't think of anything, or the author left me speechless, which isn't often. On the other hand, I might be too tired from reading the whole story and can't think of anything coherent to write about the story. In any case, I figure by reviewing other people's story, it will help me when I edit my stories and possibly my friends. Sadly, I can't do everyone's so I have to be picky as to whom I'm going to give an in depth review.
Anyone share similar feelings?
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:10 pm
Yup! I used to review a lot of my friend's stories, but they were short and always had room for improvement. With long stories, I usually can't even read 'em without printing them out.
I've also learned from reading other people's critiques of my friends stories. Just recently I read a review that made me really think about how I write my dialogue and character description.
I think as long as you point out the good and the bad then you aren't in any danger of flaming.
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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:52 am
What happens if you can't find anything good about the story? Would you go searching through the entire story to find something decent?
As much as I'm in favor of saying the good points, I'm not about to go scrounging around a story to find something positive. Then again, I probably wouldn't leave a review for these stories. No offense, but I find them to be usually written by attention whores or drama queens. I'm not saying they're all written by those two groups necessarily. This is based on my experience.
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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:03 pm
Chibi Envy Chan What happens if you can't find anything good about the story? Would you go searching through the entire story to find something decent?
If you tell them exactly what's wrong, they'll just change the bits you pointed out and won't be able to recognise them in another chapter. However, if you just say they need to fix these situations, without pointing them out, they've got to search through to find them and hopefully learn to recognise them later.
Answering some of my own questions..
I try and comment on things I think deserve it. For instance, something that I really enjoyed I'll point out the bits I particularly enjoyed and maybe the bits that I didn't. If I thought the fic was entertaining I'll leave a comment pertaining to the fic, but not as specific or helpful as on one I really enjoyed or think has brilliant promise but not so brilliant execution. I tend to leave longer comments on ones that I enjoyed fully, while ones that simply entertained me get shorter ones.
I also only comment on ones that deserve a comment. (Thus my dislike of people who insist on a comment on every chapter.)
Commenting for the sake of it? I don't really like that, but if you honestly enjoyed it, or any other emotion, but can't pin down why or can't think of any other way to say it but want to let the author know, simple comments like "I loved it." are acceptable.
As I said before, I only comment on those that deserve a comment. If a chapter or story is unremarkable, I won't comment.
Hell no. I'm more likely to pick someone with a less amount of reviews compared to others.
Not that I really take notice of things like that.
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:18 am
Quote: If you tell them exactly what's wrong, they'll just change the bits you pointed out and won't be able to recognise them in another chapter. Quote: What happens if you can't find anything good about the story? Would you go searching through the entire story to find something decent?
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:26 pm
Yeah. I'm pretty much the same way though I think I might be more blunt and honest if I leave reviews. Chibi has no tact. That and I think a lot of these inexperienced authors often mistake anything negative as being a flame. Honestly, some of them have very thin skins that they accept only glowing praises, but that's a different story. In any case, I look at the reviews and how the author has responded to them when deciding on whether or not to leave a review especially a detailed one. Why should I waste my time scrutinizing the story when they're just going to throw it back in my face?
As for my reviews, I try to make it more of a suggestion. I usually say "I suggest this" or "I recommend that" or "This would be better in." Those kinds of things.
For friends, I'd probably be the same. They know that I'm a harsh critic.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:29 pm
How do you comment? Do you comment on everything, or only on a few things? Do you leave long in depth comments or short note-like ones?
I only comment on a story if I deem it worthy of my time. These stories would include original and/or fanfiction that is not superbly good but has a few promising details (such as a very good concept, some nice description, and whatnot). The season why I don't comment on very good stories is because, there isn't any major flaws and I don't need to suck up the author's a** slathering compliments all over him/her. Likewise, inadequate stories don't get any reviews from me because I usually press the back button faster than Lucy moves her projectile hands.
What are your opinions on commenting for the sake of commenting?
I remain completely apathetic to these regards. Generally, I ask people to not comment unless they REALLY have something they want to say but if someone leaves a review for the sake of commenting, I'm not going to waste my breath trying to pound their skull in.
How do you feel towards comment/review whores?
Generally, I don't care, but if I constantly see: "Review... review... REVIEW!!! PRETTY-PRETTY-PLEASE-WITH-A-CHERRY-ON-TOP?????" at every end of the chapter, I feel disinclined to comment at all. That aside, if the author's note doesn't have any important details pertaining to the story or bits of information, they generally go ignored.
Do comments make the author? (Are you more likely to read someone who has a lot of reviews, regardless of the quality of their writing - or someone who gets very few reviews (comparitively) but has a brilliant writing style and superb quality?):
Oh HELL no. There's this one author on FF.net whose writing is absolutely fabulous, but the number of reviews she earned as opposed to another author (whose quality greatly pales in comparison) who had like a thousand reviews. Not to say that the latter was completely horrible, of course. Because she wasn't either. But still, my point is that large quantities of reviews don't mean everything.
I don't read stories based off how many reviews they received. I judge a story by two things: its summary and its actual contents. If someone were to have five thousand reviews but I find that it's complete and utter crap, I won't read it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:14 am
- how do you comment? Do you comment on everything, or only on a few things? Do you leave long in depth comments or short note-like ones?
Since I'm am an amateur writer and editor, I try to leave long comments with suggestions and ways to improve while being as nice as possible. That doesn't mean I'll sugar coat it. At times, there isn't much I can comment about since the piece is long. That or I don't have the time to give a long one. Some people honestly believe they are being flamed even though many experienced writers know it is a constructive criticism.
- what are your opinions on commenting for the sake of commenting?
I believe comments should be earned. If an author takes his or her time to improve, then he or she deserves a comment, regardless if it is their first or their hundredth fic.
- how do you feel towards comment/review whores?
They need a life outside of writing.
- do comments make the author? (Are you more likely to read someone who has a lot of reviews, regardless of the quality of their writing - or someone who gets very few reviews (comparitively) but has a brilliant writing style and superb quality?)
Absolutely not. I agree with the other people above me. Quality, not quantity. I've seen some stories that have a lot of reviews, but they were full of cliches and Sues. I've also seen stories that have very little reviews, but they were good.
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:00 pm
It looks like most people here would disagree with me, but it's nice to receive comments, even if they have nothing terribly important to say. And I don't mean the 'great, keep writing' comments, cause those don't help at all. What I mean is just a little reassurance that, yes, you're on the right track; yes, this makes sense; yes, you're doing alright.
A simple 'I liked this, I found this worked, a little unsure about this part, etc' can be a big help.
Posting a piece of writing up for others to critique isn't easy. It's nerve wracking, putting up something you've been pouring your heart and soul into for the judging eyes of strangers. It's kinda like standing naked in front of a crowd. It's great getting a decent critique saying what worked, what didn't and how you can improve, but getting no comment at all? That's a slap straight to your pride, that your story wasn't even interesting enough to be read.
This is especially irksome when you genuinely want a second opinion. If only to confirm that that last chapter you wrote works.
I can understand people wanting comments. I don't think any less of them for it. Well, that's if they want comments, not senseless praise.
And even if the story is adequate but not exciting in any way, then that itself is a useful comment to have. Surely there are things that could be done to improve it.
So yeah, I'm all for it. Besides, if you're going to take the time to read through the entirety of a story then you might as well say something.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:56 pm
Amazon, you know I never thought about it that way about not reviewing. It's frustrating to see my hit count go up, but I receive one review out of every hundred viewing or even three hundred. I suppose it takes time to be noticed out there.
Comments especially concrit is lovely, but mindless praise is a different story.
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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:13 am
It's a give and take situation, but if they can't handle it, then why the hell are they posting their work on a public site? I don't mean flames, more on constructive criticism that's given nicely.
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