Anonymous Reviews
here is a review I got this morning for Friend At Night chapter seven:
From: Spaceout474 ()
-------------------
DUDE! COME ON! Finish the STORY! It's my FAVE!I tried to vote on the poll but
i can't figure out how to login!
I get reviews like this all the time, and it is BEYOND frustrating. I'm sure someone can relate with me.. reviews that are not only anonymous but have nothing to do with critiquing your story and beg you to update are..discouraging.
Here is the reply I would have written to Spaceout474 if they had used their ACTUAL account name or provided an email address: (Yes, that's right, they didn't even leave their real account name but clearly have an account.)
Spaceout474,
I have a life. It's summer, and I just finished exams. Sorry, I want to live a little. I'm sorry if that clearly offends you in any way, but I cannot constantly be at your service (or the service of every single other reviewer). Once again, sorry.
And you know what, I was just about to finish writing chapter eight, but since you sent this review (which makes me feel like hurting something dear to me) I don't feel like finishing it anymore. So if anyone else asks, I'll just tell them that you kept me from writing it.
Seriously, I know that the person isn't intentionally being rude to me. And it is a compliment that they enjoy my story enough to care so much about when I update. Thanks a million about caring that much, really. I would just like people to phrase things a little more carefully, because I put a lot of time and effort into fanfiction and I'm just a slow writer. I really want everybody to enjoy my chapters, and make sure they're well-written to boot. Yes, I could update every couple days with short chapters, but I'm trying to be consistent and write what makes me happy, as well as what should please you.
I'm not even trying to single Spaceout474 out, because he/she is just one example of the anon reviews I get that are demanding and frustrating. I don't mean to be rude to Spaceout at all, I'm just using an example. Really, if I went through previous reviews I could find many more that were MUCH worse than that one.
There you go, anonymous reviewers.
I just want you to be kind to me, because I'm trying very, very hard to do my job being a kid. Some of you might not be aware, but I'm only turning sixteen in October, which is still a few months away. I am hanging onto that tiny bit of childhood that I have left.
And by the way, if I had been catering to some of these demanding people, I might not have gotten 93% on my Biology public in June.
This message does not apply to the other seventy something people who send me kind, encouraging reviews that make me really happy.
Try to keep in mind that I'm a person.
My rant is over :)
(And "spaceout" please contact me with REAL account info. I mean that.)