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Post by Tensleep on Apr 24, 2007 0:15:36 GMT -5
You all knew this one was coming.
Your biggest pet peeves when it comes to reviews.
Mine is when I get reviews that read "Great job, up date soon." Now, I don't know about you all, but this isn't really encouraging and anything but constructive and well thought out. Did this person read the chapter? I know that sometimes it's hard to find words beyond that, but I at least babble on about something in the chapter I liked or hated or whatever just so the author gets some feedback. Back when we were answering reviews in the chapters, it was horrible to go through all of them and not have anything to say beyond "Thanks for the review; here's an update."
Gah, I'll die happily if I never get another one of those. Alas, it probably won't be the end.
Ok, I shared one of mine. I want to read some of yours. What aspect do you all hate?
See ya in the funny papers!!!
Tens
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Shadow
New In Town
The Bunny was only a suspected government spy
Posts: 19
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Post by Shadow on Apr 24, 2007 0:31:59 GMT -5
And you knew I was going to argue with you.  You should consider those reviews support. They may not have liked what you wrote today, but tomorrow is another bucket of worms or listening device to be found in your potted plants. On the note of reviews we hate though, I have to say I hate reviews where your only feedback is in netspeak. I continually wonder what I should respond with and whether the reviewer will understand it since I failed to grasp the meaning of their review completely. There should be a translator for the texting generation for those of us who were forced to use proper grammar by grumpy old women with rulers in their hands. |
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Post by Tensleep on Apr 24, 2007 22:29:43 GMT -5
I'm going to sound terrible, but ... I like my reviews to have good grammar. Otherwise, I'm resisting the urge to edit it and send it back. I like that honesty. Poor grammar gets me too. And as Mr. Shadow pointed out, more schools need crabby old women with rulers so we can avoid this problem. Just as long as none of them are at my school... See ya in the funny papers!!! Tens |
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Post by Keira on Apr 25, 2007 0:43:57 GMT -5
I couldn't agree with any of you more. The famous one-liners are better than nothing, but they still irritate me at times. When I write reviews, I at least try to make an effort to tell the person why I like it - or didn't like it. Even if I feel as though I'm probably repeating what other people may have already said, or am telling them something they clearly already know they did - I know they appreciate hearing that someone noticed it. I know I do. In fact, I tend to think that I must have done something wrong if someone DIDN'T notice it. So yeah, pointing things out, even the obvious is always a good starting point.
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Post by Ryker on Apr 25, 2007 13:28:01 GMT -5
I'm going to sound terrible, but ... I like my reviews to have good grammar. Otherwise, I'm resisting the urge to edit it and send it back. Hahaha, I'm the same way. It's a shame they got rid of the spell check option on the review system. |
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Post by zevie on Apr 25, 2007 23:13:06 GMT -5
omg i totally agree w/u guiys...
Hahaha, who hates me now?
I don't hate any type of review really, although the one-liners get really tiresome if that's ALL you get (but maybe I'm just greedy!). I hate NOT getting reviews, especially since they added the "hits" counting thing on ff.net (that's not netspeak is it?). Finding out that three hundred people have clicked in but only four reviewed is, um, frustrating. It's very nice to be click-picked, but it drives me crazy wondering what they thought of it...if they hated the story, liked the story, read the story even... I don't know if anyone else feels this or if I'm just crazy.
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Post by maxiekat on Apr 26, 2007 0:11:10 GMT -5
There is one girl who leaves the same review for every single chapter of mine. Which is fine, but a little variety would be nice.
I don't really mind the netspeak ones, they're kind of fun to try and figure out, lol (which is incidentally the only netspeak I will ever use).
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Post by Keira on Apr 26, 2007 0:49:08 GMT -5
There is one girl who leaves the same review for every single chapter of mine. Which is fine, but a little variety would be nice. I don't really mind the netspeak ones, they're kind of fun to try and figure out, lol (which is incidentally the only netspeak I will ever use). Don't worry - normal acroynms and abbreviations are okay. Webspeak is in reference to things such as "w/e" and "idk" and "gr8" etc... "FYI" "ff.net" "lol" etc... are okay. When it gets excessive is when we'll have a problem. I agree about the every-chapter-reviewer. Admittantly, there are times when I am reading a lengthy story and want to throw in notes here and there on different chapters, however, I know that it's proper ettiquette to wait until having finished the story (or reading what has been posted) before reviewing. Not only does it not "cheat" the amount of reviews that story has, but it also prevents me from appearing to be an over-zealous fan. EDIT: When I say 'proper ettiquette' that does not mean it's the correct and only way, or the way it SHOULD be. That's like saying if you don't cross your fork and knife over your dinner plate when through, that you've done something terribly wrong. Ettiquette is a loose guideline in fanfiction. LOOSE. Lol. |
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Post by printandpolish on Apr 28, 2007 6:55:37 GMT -5
I have to agree about the poor grammar/net speak. And basic spelling and punctuation.
"OMG! U have mad skillz! *crys* So sad! Darry luvs his brother's."
Poking out my eyes now ...
But I then I feel guilty, because it sounds so ungrateful, and it really does please me that people R&R.
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Post by Nittanylizard on Apr 28, 2007 10:09:47 GMT -5
^ Christine, what are you doing up so early? ;D There is really one main thing that irks me when it comes to reviews. Although I'm describing me here, I cringe when I see these reviews tacked on to anyone's story: it is written by somebody who has, first, taken my story as a personal affront in some way; second, is angry with me for clearly thinking that my writing is perfect; third, assumes that I will become defensive if somebody criticises the story; and fourth, who ends their lengthy review with something along the lines of, "Although ameturish, your writing has potential. I sincerely hope you take my honest advise and improve yourself rather than listening to the gushing opinions of your friends". And after all that effort, they have given no specific advise, offered no suggestions, and made only vague references to the flaws that they want me to fix. If this is what a beta sent me after reading one of my original story chapters, I'd cross them off the list. It gives me no information whatsoever other than that somebody didn't like the story, yet they try to pass it off as constructive criticism and tell me I'm a bad writer if I don't take their advice. (  ) The reason this kind of review gets under my skin has nothing to do with my ability to accept criticism. I have ripped some of my stories apart based on comments from readers (including, and especially, from my friends). I just do not like having somebody bash the opinions of every reviewer before them who may not have seen the story the same way that they did (good OR bad). It's almost as bad as the reviewers who tell a writer to ignore the constructive criticism that was left because "it's fan FICTION, you can do whatever you want!". |
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Post by Keira on Apr 28, 2007 11:56:44 GMT -5
I get bugged by those Defensive reviews as well. I'm sorry to say that often times I don't have criticism, even good criticism at that, to dish out, because I truly believe that the majority of the stories I read don't need it - and what points I might find that DO need it, seem so insignificant that I would feel nit-picky pointing them out, you know? Not to say that I don't leave criticism when I see it, that's for sure. I can only imagine those people who want everything to believe they are correct in their view of the fic are authors who have had their stories picked apart and honestly believe that what they write is far superior over everything else they read.
I *can* see where they are coming from though, when they think that the authors friends are gushing all over their stories - it's because a lot of times friends have a difficult time critiquing each others worth, out of fear of hurting someone's feelings, etc... I don't find that I have that problem, because when I beta read someone's worth, it's because I know they're expecting an honest answer and they really truly want to know what to improve upon and that they won't be offended by my saying to fix a part, or two, or ten. If I know they'd be offended, I'd refrain myself from saying certain things, or I'd say them in a non-offensive way.
The mark of a good author is being able to take what's dished their way. Imagine if a good chunk of published authors let "flames" and bad reviews damage their self-esteem -- they'd never write again. Excuse the glaring cliche, but if those reviewers think that we can't take our lemons and turn them into lemonade, then they are sorely wrong. And in turn, if we couldn't do so ourselves, then perhaps we aren't cut out to be authors, lol.
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Post by Nittanylizard on Apr 28, 2007 12:47:57 GMT -5
Very well put, Keira  I think sometimes people's review's come off as defensive because they are assuming the author will lash out at being criticized (and there are those authors who do lash out). I actually had a great back-and-forth email exchange with a reviewer who was not at all happy with Ten Years Later. She left an email address, so I wrote her to let her know that I tended to agree with most of the points she had brought up, and to explain that I actually see the story as a first draft - it kind of went off in all directions, has tons of subplots, and there are huge portions of the story that I would either rewrite or completely eliminate. In the end, there were several things that we agreed on, and I found her input quite valuable (especially if I ever sit down to actually do a second draft of TYL). |
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Post by Keira on Apr 28, 2007 13:09:01 GMT -5
When I get flamed or a defensive review aimed my way, I usually laugh and shrug it off. Not because I think the person is wrong (though I'd be lying if I didn't always view things that way) but because that person took a few moments out of their day to bash me, and I have to wonder how they felt about it afterwards. Once or twice I have left a not-so-pleasant review, back in the day, and I still think about on those sometimes. I still remember what "name" I used and what I said to the person, and though I don't necessarily feel *guilty* over it, I certainly am somewhat haunted by it. Maybe my laughing at the flamer is sadistic of me, but what can I say?
Rewriting a story based on one person's opinion is one thing, though I wouldn't recommend it to others unless they felt the majority agreed, including themselves - but that's another excellent point about authors. No author is ever completely satisfied with their work, or anyone elses for that matter. I find myself critiquing books that are a hundred years old, best sellers, and even Susie's books. I do believe that's where fanfiction comes in as well - you want to change an aspect, or shed light on something else, and KABOOM you have a new story. I constantly rewrite/rework my stories, and have several drafts of stories already post on ffn, that will be replaced once I put up new chapters *coughcough*.
Now, finding the time to do all that... Haha, good luck to us all.
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Post by Tensleep on Apr 28, 2007 14:56:45 GMT -5
I really hate reviews where the reviewer thinks they could have written it better. I say "If you can write it better, go for it." Seriously, quit complaining. They should prove they're more than just talk by actually doing it. I suggested this once and got the haughty reply of "I have and will never consider writing something like this..."
*rolls eyes*
And she was one of the ones with better grammar...
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Post by printandpolish on Apr 28, 2007 20:37:18 GMT -5
Our mothers were right when they told us if we had nothing nice to say, not to say it at all. I mean, really -- what is the point of a flame? I don't get it. Don't tell me I suck. Really, how would know that? If you think my *story* sucks, that's cool -- but tell me why.
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