On Reviewing

[dawn_felagund]

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

[shadowbrides]

Hah. This is actually a subject I've wondered about. I used to be a silent reader mostly because I didn't know what to say. Then I decided just not to mind and blunder my way into it anyway, mostly because I wanted to express appreciation, sometimes because I had questions and sometimes because I'd like to talk to the authors. That's basically it. I've not really published a whole lot yet, so I'm not sure how I feel about receiving ( or not receiving) reviews. They're mostly unexpected as of yet, and I certainly wouldn't post on a really large, busy site. I'd rather avoid anonymous flames at this point. When I post something on LJ, it is mostly still in the works, so help is of course very appreciated. I suppose that could be concrit, but I'm not really sure how all this works in the fan community really. Actually, I'm still not entirely sure whether some reviews break some unspoken fanfic reviewing rule, because whether or not an author actually responds to questions in one really, really differs.

[just_ann_now]

I discovered early on that reading and commenting (even briefly) to other peoples' stories got my name out there in the fandom, developing acquaintanceships that led to online friendships that have led to deep, abiding, real-life friendships. Becoming a familiar name, even if it's only accompanied by a comment as brief as, "Great job!" or "I really enjoyed this!" is a great way to get started.

[dawn_felagund]

Yes! The experiences/opinions I didn't want to present alongside the poll for fear of biasing results is that a person who wants to receive reviews should become an active part of the community, and the best way to do that, in my experience, is by supporting and engaging in discussions with other writers by leaving comments on their stories. When I was first starting, I'd frequently get comments on my stories that started with, "You reviewed me a few months ago on ff.net, and I recognized your name here and thought I'd check out your story."

[shadowbrides]

I suppose I'm not that strategic haha. So far, I hadn't considered getting to know people by consciously putting myself out there. If I want to talk, I just PM after some time spent gathering courage. When I review a story I like a lot, I often end up writing these enormous and/or emotional reviews ( or a slightly toned down version of it if I'm really tired) more or less on impulse. As a result, quite a few read like "Ooh I loved this and this and this and this and also this little detail here! And this!" Oh well, I suppose I'll get over the awkward phase once. :)

[just_ann_now]

As a result, quite a few read like "Ooh I loved this and this and this and this and also this little detail here! And this!"

I absolutely ADORE those kinds of reviews! Any author would! And they're so much fun to write, too.

[spiced_wine]

Lol, I call those 'hair-trigger' reviews. If I've read something that I have to review right away! even if I just say that I am so stunned I will have to read it again and come back when I can form the words. (which I do.)

Sometimes I fell like I ought to quote the entirety of a chapter and just say This.

[dawn_felagund]

I think those first reviews are very difficult. :) Not only is there the uncertainty about fandom customs (or the customs of a particular site or community), but online communication is so freaking hard as it is! So much of communication is nonverbal that having only cold, black-and-white words to express feelings about someone's treasured creative work is quite a task. I still spend more time than I probably should crafting comments online because it is difficult to be understood, especially when a person (like an author expecting the worst!) is sensitive to start

[shadowbrides]

Oh, definitely. I'm not used to being active in this sort of thing at all, so at first I thought I should approach it like writing to published authors. Then I actually looked at other people's reviews and though "...maybe not", haha. The whole idea of a fan community is still quite novel to me, but it's starting to sink it. :P

[rhapsody11]

As far as author replies ... I am personally really bad about replies these days. I have two reviews in my inbox right now from within the last few weeks that need replies. >.< I try to reply to everyone, but lately, it is often that I read the review and don't have the time at the moment to write a reply, then forget over the ensuring days/weeks/months ... often, I'll get a comment on a story and see a brilliant comment that I meant to reply to months ago, still unanswered.

Whoops, yes, I so know this feeling *coughs* Where can we petition for more hours in a day.

Seriously though, reviews are read and I have had it happen to me that I did cick on reply and then the day ran away with my free time.. over and over. We're all human and the fact that we might not reply does not mean we don't appreciate it. Nor will I think when I left a review and the writer does not reply that's she's ungrateful (or fill in any other assumption that one might have). RL happens. Blah.

[heartofoshun]

I usually passionately do not want what passes for concrit in Tolkien fandom. It's that "an elf would never use a contraction" kind of BS or "I find it OOC that Fingon would have ever spoken to his father like that." I want to answer those with rude dismissals. I generally do not answer them at all anymore. I do not want people messing with my plot or characterization. I do wish people would point out missing words or other mistakes. I used to make jokes that Tolkien fans offered so-called concrit too liberally and never caught a typo (typos are the bane of my existence).