On Reviewing
Reviewing (meaning leaving comments on stories) is one of the more anxiety-provoking and frustrating aspects of fandom participation, in my experience. I frequently see newbies lament that their stories aren't receiving comments; authors sometimes stop posting to or leave entirely from sites where they feel that their work isn't receiving adequate comments. I know few authors who haven't marveled (or lamented) over the discrepancy between their read count and review count and wonder what made those precious few readers decide to comment.
As an author, of course, I am interested in reviews because I like getting feedback on my work. As a site owner/moderator, I am also interested in reviews because I want the sites I'm involved in to feel like active, welcoming communities to those who choose to share their work there, and I know that a site where stories are answered with only silence will not thrive.
I have umpteen theories about what motivates reviewing and even more opinions on the issue. I'm going to resist stating them now because 1) I am more interested in seeing how others' experiences/opinions align or don't align with mine and 2) I don't have the time right now to give adequate attention to the discussion I know will ensue. I'd very much appreciate fannish types--whether you're an author, reader, or both--answering the poll below about reviewing. FYI, I have set the poll so that individual responses are not visible to all and sundry. (Dreamwidth won't let me set it so that even I can't see individual replies, else I'd do that; instead, I can only ask participants to trust that I'm not interested and won't be viewing individual responses.) Please do feel free to elaborate in the comments as much as you'd like! For the record, I'll likely be using this poll data and comments (with permission, if I mention individuals, of course) for a Heretic Loremaster post sometime in the near future.
This is cross-posted to Dreamwidth, as always. I'd appreciate if you'd reply to the poll in one place only! :) Also, because I built this is Dreamwidth and then replicated it here, some of the questions had to be divided into two parts, since LJ doesn't allow as many items as DW does.
Poll Reviewing Poll
As an author, of course, I am interested in reviews because I like getting feedback on my work. As a site owner/moderator, I am also interested in reviews because I want the sites I'm involved in to feel like active, welcoming communities to those who choose to share their work there, and I know that a site where stories are answered with only silence will not thrive.
I have umpteen theories about what motivates reviewing and even more opinions on the issue. I'm going to resist stating them now because 1) I am more interested in seeing how others' experiences/opinions align or don't align with mine and 2) I don't have the time right now to give adequate attention to the discussion I know will ensue. I'd very much appreciate fannish types--whether you're an author, reader, or both--answering the poll below about reviewing. FYI, I have set the poll so that individual responses are not visible to all and sundry. (Dreamwidth won't let me set it so that even I can't see individual replies, else I'd do that; instead, I can only ask participants to trust that I'm not interested and won't be viewing individual responses.) Please do feel free to elaborate in the comments as much as you'd like! For the record, I'll likely be using this poll data and comments (with permission, if I mention individuals, of course) for a Heretic Loremaster post sometime in the near future.
This is cross-posted to Dreamwidth, as always. I'd appreciate if you'd reply to the poll in one place only! :) Also, because I built this is Dreamwidth and then replicated it here, some of the questions had to be divided into two parts, since LJ doesn't allow as many items as DW does.
Poll Reviewing Poll