|
Reviews
Mar 28, 2009 18:43:01 GMT 10
Post by ubiquitous on Mar 28, 2009 18:43:01 GMT 10
Do you respond to reviews? Where and when?
I usually respond to reviews left on lj or on boards, but most of my fic was posted before they introduced the 'reply to' feature on ff.net. And I don't really respond to those reviews, but I am beginning to feel increasingly guilty about it, like I am discriminating against them just because they read it on ff.net.
Thoughts?
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 28, 2009 20:09:32 GMT 10
Post by iridescentdaisies on Mar 28, 2009 20:09:32 GMT 10
On ff.net, I typically only reply if there's something specific to reply to that's non-offensive (ie I'll reply to guess on an unsaid pairings fic or answer a question, but won't reply to "ewwww! why'd you make him gay? that ruins him for me =((((("). On boards I do similarly but also generally reply with a general thank you that covers even the annoying "PMS!" replies.
|
|
Rojo
Queen's Rider
There once was a girl who was told she could, and so she did.
Posts: 660
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 1:45:02 GMT 10
Post by Rojo on Mar 29, 2009 1:45:02 GMT 10
If someone askes me something specific via a review on ff.net, I will generally reply. Most of the time, however, I do not. On boards and LJ I reply to almost every reply, if I can.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 1:52:18 GMT 10
Post by Lindsay on Mar 29, 2009 1:52:18 GMT 10
I was active long before the review reply thing came out too. It never really crossed my mind to reply. I just updated a few days ago and all of my reviews are something along the lines of "I like it. Update soon." Nothing to respond to, but I'm grateful for them reviewing all the same.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 3:39:21 GMT 10
Post by boosette on Mar 29, 2009 3:39:21 GMT 10
I don't expect much by way of reviews from ff.n, & I don't respond to much by way of feedback there - or at lj either, although I feel guiltier about it on LJ than anywhere else. Forums, though, I'm pretty good at responding to feedback at, largely because there's more interaction between me and my adoring public reviewers .
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 4:09:21 GMT 10
Post by Anaroriel on Mar 29, 2009 4:09:21 GMT 10
I only respond if they actually sound intelligent and leave me a well thought out review. Otherwise there's really nothing to reply to "OMG!!!!111 Update son!!!111"
|
|
rainstormamaya
Soldier
Helps Kat get her Conte fix
~best known as May~
Posts: 752
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 10:16:46 GMT 10
Post by rainstormamaya on Mar 29, 2009 10:16:46 GMT 10
I always try to reply, unless it's something I really can't say anything to. However, there's a rather stinging review from somebody I know and trust to judge my work sitting in my inbox which has been there for weeks, and I really need to get round to swallowing my pride, replying, and rewriting the chapter he reviewed.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 29, 2009 12:29:30 GMT 10
Post by samantha on Mar 29, 2009 12:29:30 GMT 10
If nothing else, I generally reply with a 'thank you for your review' sort comment if they have said some substantial, generally nice or helpful.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 30, 2009 0:33:34 GMT 10
Post by Lisa on Mar 30, 2009 0:33:34 GMT 10
For me it depends on the fandom. That sounds strange - but I was reading and reviewing fics for the Gone With the Wind fandom and *everyone* replied to thank me and occasionally discuss what I'd said. So when I posted my first (and only) GWTW fic, I made a point to do the same for those who left reviews.
In TP fandom, though, I usually try to send a quick thank you - but moreso if they've left actual good feedback.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 30, 2009 5:45:10 GMT 10
Post by Lindsay on Mar 30, 2009 5:45:10 GMT 10
Most recent review I got: I think this type of review is best left ignored.
|
|
|
Reviews
Mar 30, 2009 6:10:20 GMT 10
Post by Anaroriel on Mar 30, 2009 6:10:20 GMT 10
On the other hand, if you do reply to their review, they're more likely to read and review more of your stories since you caught their interest. And since I am a review whore...
|
|
|
Post by Katty on Apr 1, 2009 1:07:07 GMT 10
I don't tend to reply to reviewers on ff.net. I usually try to reply to people on LJ and on forums.
From the point of view of the reviewer though - on the rare occassions I do venture on ff.net and find a gem, and then make a point of leaving a review - it is always lovely to hear back from the author, even if it is just a gracious thank you. It leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside, usually reserved for shoe shopping and Roger of Conte
Tangental but - whats with the ff.net trend to alert/favourite stuff but not review? I've seen a LOT of whinging on ff.net about it, and have noticed there is now some sort of review movement to encourage people to review every story they click on.
|
|
|
Post by Anaroriel on Apr 1, 2009 3:47:31 GMT 10
I don't understand that either. I mean, if you take the time to read it, you want to continue reading it, and then you take one step further to add it to your favorites/alert lists, why not write a simple "I liked it!" like everyone else does? It doesn't make sense to me. *scratch head*
In the case that you click on it and then you don't like it immediately and don't finish it, I think then not reviewing is okay.
I mean, seriously, it's just plain showing manners.
|
|
opalgirl
Sergeant
I also answer to Val.
Posts: 1,574
|
Post by opalgirl on Apr 1, 2009 4:09:05 GMT 10
From my perspective, being a shy(er) type, if I see a fic that has a bunch of 'oh, this is awesome' reviews on an archive like ff.net, I'll hesitate to review. If I can't come up with something constructive to say that isn't just squeeing, I probably won't review. Bad of me, I know, but I feel dumb saying the same thing that 244656573705 other people have said.
It's easier to reply to reviews in forum or LJ formats - ff.net's 'reply to' function isn't as intuitive. And it's so much easier to start a discussion that way. If I get comments there, I will reply.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 1, 2009 10:59:07 GMT 10
Post by ubiquitous on Apr 1, 2009 10:59:07 GMT 10
I don't understand that either. I mean, if you take the time to read it, you want to continue reading it, and then you take one step further to add it to your favorites/alert lists, why not write a simple "I liked it!" like everyone else does? It doesn't make sense to me. *scratch head* In the case that you click on it and then you don't like it immediately and don't finish it, I think then not reviewing is okay. I mean, seriously, it's just plain showing manners. That one is bugging me too. I just don't get it.
|
|
Maia
Rider Trainee
Posts: 51
|
Reviews
Apr 1, 2009 12:40:59 GMT 10
Post by Maia on Apr 1, 2009 12:40:59 GMT 10
I definitely try to respond to comments on LJ, but I hardly ever at ff.net, unless there's a specific question the reviewer wanted to know the answer to or something like that. I've never really thought about that distinction much; maybe because it seems more personal on LJ? I don't know.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 1, 2009 13:31:34 GMT 10
Post by Lisa on Apr 1, 2009 13:31:34 GMT 10
I admit, sometimes I'll do it. Especially if it's an unfinished work (well, it's rare that I'll read something unfinished, but if I do I'll add the alert and won't review every portion).
There are some fics that fall between needing criticism and needing a heap of praise, and I don't like leaving reviews that just say, "wow, that was kind of cool."
I don't go to ff.net often enough to follow the fics and authors without some kind of reminder, so the alert is perfect.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 1, 2009 13:48:03 GMT 10
Post by boosette on Apr 1, 2009 13:48:03 GMT 10
well, it's rare that I'll read something unfinished Amen, sister - I've been burned so many times by WIPs that I won't even look at a fic until it's done, beta'd and posted - and I've stopped posting WIPs in any other format than the locked LJ entry where I can control who does and doesn't see it.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 1, 2009 14:16:36 GMT 10
Post by Lindsay on Apr 1, 2009 14:16:36 GMT 10
Ugh, I've had the same WIP in going for 4.5 years now... I wish I had had that mentality as a fourteen-year-old, because then either I would have hurried up and finished it or at least wouldn't feel so obligated to finish it like I do now. I am NEVER posting something unfinished again, especially an "epic."
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 2, 2009 11:57:59 GMT 10
Post by Lisa on Apr 2, 2009 11:57:59 GMT 10
My longest (so far) is a eight and a half year WIP for a different fandom. In the TP world I just went past five years with a Wyldon-WIP. *sigh*
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 2, 2009 22:29:59 GMT 10
Post by boosette on Apr 2, 2009 22:29:59 GMT 10
Yes, but the difference with the Wyldon WIP is that each story within its borders stands alone. (How pragmatically Wyldonesque.)
Me, I've been meaning to do something about my "Why don't the Contes act like actual royalty of their pseudotimeline" AU since 2004.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 3, 2009 17:00:11 GMT 10
Post by Rosie on Apr 3, 2009 17:00:11 GMT 10
Tangental but - whats with the ff.net trend to alert/favourite stuff but not review? I've seen a LOT of whinging on ff.net about it, and have noticed there is now some sort of review movement to encourage people to review every story they click on. The first trend does irritate me a bit, but I always assumed it was because I wrote my stories a while ago. Some of my fics, I have more author alerts/favourites than reviews now. Review movements like that have been around for a while, and they're never that successful, but I do think they are a nice idea.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 3, 2009 19:42:00 GMT 10
Post by ubiquitous on Apr 3, 2009 19:42:00 GMT 10
I think if it's one thing if it's an old fic, but I've noticed it more with newer stuff that I've posted.
|
|
rainstormamaya
Soldier
Helps Kat get her Conte fix
~best known as May~
Posts: 752
|
Post by rainstormamaya on Apr 4, 2009 9:33:06 GMT 10
I've noticed that a lot, ever since I joined FF.net -it used to seriously annoy me, still does sometimes- and I was once really, really irritated to find that someone had gone and put my fic in a C2 without reviewing, almost immediately after I'd uploaded it. It was a Lianokami fic, and the C2 was one for next-generation fanfiction, so it wasn't as if it was apparently random or anything- but seriously, they obviously read it and liked it enough to recommend it, would it have killed them to leave some feedback? On one level, it was a huge compliment that they liked my fic that much, on another... annoying.
|
|
|
Post by boosette on Apr 4, 2009 9:49:05 GMT 10
Link please! ;D
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 4, 2009 10:24:36 GMT 10
Post by cha hoppy on Apr 4, 2009 10:24:36 GMT 10
Back when I actually wrote fics (don't know why but lately my creative writing has been limited to RPs -- just can't bring myself to write fanfiction stories anymore for some reason, want to but it just doesn't happen), I didn't reply to my reviews. Well, if I posted another chapter I would say my thanks or answer any questions in the A/N. I haven't posted anything on LJ, but if I did I would be more apt to reply to a reviewer there. It just seems less complicated and impersonal to me.
And I'm probably the type of reader you're all frowning at. I rarely, if ever, leave a review. If I like it (or want to continue watching it) I'll favorite it but I don't review. I don't like leaving reviews that say "I like it" or "This was great!." I don't know. It just doesn't seem like enough and if all I'm going to write is something like that, I don't see the point of reviewing. Reviewing for me is something for readers to give the writer feedback. And if I'm not saying something constructive, like asking a question, giving advice, or perhaps saying something I disagreed with or something along those lines, I don't really see the point of reviewing. As obviously, if I'm favorite-ing the story then I like it, so why do I need to leave a review to re-iterate this point?
And I definitely am annoyed by the writers who are "when I receive # reviews, I'll post some more," it makes me feel like the author is merely shopping for reviews instead of writing something for their own enjoyment. I mean, I did it too way back in the beginning, but I still posted my chapter regardless of how many reviews I received. And now, I just find it annoying and shake my head at my own folly.
But even if people do review, you get some idiot reviews, like the person who posted they received a "lol" above. And this is a way from the TP fandom (but it'll suits to make my point as it's recent), my sister wrote a Pokemon story a long, long time ago called "The Death of Ash Ketchum" and she is still getting some reviews of Where it seems pretty obvious that the reviewer did not even read the story (or the other reviews which are all positive) but going only by what the title says. So really, there is always going to be something left wanting with the subject of reviews, I guess ...
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 4, 2009 11:11:39 GMT 10
Post by Lindsay on Apr 4, 2009 11:11:39 GMT 10
Ugh, I cannot stand that. The first fic I ever wrote was about what would happen if Roger had become king. One of the first reviews I received?
That did wonders for my fragile thirteen-year-old self esteem.
On a different note, I wish there was another option on fanfiction.net instead of just "review," "favorite," or "story alert." I wish there was like a ticky box at the end of every fic or every chapter that you could click when you finished. If it was by chapter, it could serve as a placemarker so you know where to come back to (your account could save all the times you ever finish a chapter so you know where you are), and it let the author know that you read that chapter as well. That way the author knows how many people read their fic, at least, and you have a convenient way of bookmarking what you've read without having to favorite or add it to a C2 to bookmark it properly online.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 4, 2009 11:30:08 GMT 10
Post by boosette on Apr 4, 2009 11:30:08 GMT 10
Kind of like a web props thing, "click to say I♥chapter" or at least, it would be coded the same way. Since it requires a conscious action on the part of the reader it would be more accurate a gauge of readership than pageviews.
I really, really like this idea.
|
|
|
Reviews
Apr 4, 2009 15:33:31 GMT 10
Post by Lindsay on Apr 4, 2009 15:33:31 GMT 10
Yes, exactly. I have absolutely no idea how many people are reading my stories, but I'd like to know about the "silent readers," at least, if only for personal satisfaction. Reviews offer no way to gauge how many people are reading. I'll get a hundred or so hits/visitors to a chapter, but about six reviews. Was I boring them and they stopped reading? Or did they simply have nothing to say, like I know I do more often than not?
|
|
|
Post by Rosie on Apr 5, 2009 5:24:17 GMT 10
I've noticed that a lot, ever since I joined FF.net -it used to seriously annoy me, still does sometimes- and I was once really, really irritated to find that someone had gone and put my fic in a C2 without reviewing, almost immediately after I'd uploaded it. It was a Lianokami fic, and the C2 was one for next-generation fanfiction, so it wasn't as if it was apparently random or anything- but seriously, they obviously read it and liked it enough to recommend it, would it have killed them to leave some feedback? On one level, it was a huge compliment that they liked my fic that much, on another... annoying. I guess I should put my hand up here, and say that I've been sticking members' fics straight into our C2 community without even reading them I have been strapped for time lately, but there have been a whole bunch of them that I am looking forward to reading and reviewing when my course slows down a bit (which will probably be when it finishes ).
|
|