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Post by kanshu on Sept 6, 2004 1:44:35 GMT -5
Terminology:
Review:
A (preferably useful) comment by the reader about a story/chapter. A good review should contain what you liked about the story/chapter, but also if you noticed any flaws and plot holes. A review can contain a negative opionion about the story/chapter, like "I didn't like this story" or "This story sucks", without making it a flame.
Flame:
Insultive comment by the reader aimed at the author of the story rather than the story. Flames can range from simple "You suck" to actual death threats. Sometimes, authors are harrassed this way into changing plots or taking off stories alltogether.
A few questions:
Do you leave reviews or flames? What in a story/chapter makes you want to leave a comment?
How is your reaction to negative comments, and to positive comments?
What is your experience with flames?
Do you think a "standardized" review system is useful?
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Post by Salmastryon on Sept 6, 2004 6:23:56 GMT -5
The only place I put up reviews is on my fanfiction rec page, and that is more to let people know why they should read the fic besides my say so. I've always been hesitant to send comments or reviews to a writer. Part of this is due to the fact I've felt it is presumptious on my part to give suggestions to an author on their story. Also, I never thought it would be productive to add my voice to a dozen other voices saying your great. "me too"ing has never really been my style. That leaves me with saying something bad about the story. I never have any desire to say something bad about a story. I know from my own writing how fragile an authors ego can be.  OptiMoose is trying to kick me of the habit. She has me pretty much convinced that giving construtive critizism is something most authors crave, and that authors like reviews even if they are simply "you're great." Now, I just need to get over my fear of hurting some authors feelings.  |
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Post by Me-Nuriko on Sept 6, 2004 11:09:48 GMT -5
I only leave reviews of course. Personal insults is not anything a serious reader would be so low to write. As for 'I don't like this story'. I can't remember writing anything like that at all, but if there are things I don't like about the story I try to tell the author what is not good and why. I always also points out something that is good. I don't want anyone be so upset as to stop posting stories. Some young girls, do have pretty good ideas, but they are bad in grammars (don't look at my writings at this site, I do have a beta for my fics ;D ), and they don't know how to put their thoughts in a way that makes the story flow. A story that is not pragraphed properly often ends up with me not reading it. I might miss something good that way.  I review if the story gives me something, talks to me, and I'm grateful the author shared it with me. I also review if I want to encourage someone who might not be so good, but still might have potential. Negative comments about my work, are appreciated in case they tell me what I can improve and how. I want to be a good writer, and such comments help me develope my skills. If all the reviewer says is 'It's bad' and not tells me why, then I get a little upset. Positive comments are always appreciated. A thoughtful comment about what I did that was good can make me jump with joy, but even a short 'I like it' makes me happy because I know then that I have done something that made another person happy, at least a little. Flames: Thankfully I haven't received many of those. In fact the most flame-like review I have gotten was something like 'This story was so sappy it almost made me gag'. That made me sad, but the story was sappy, and there were others that liked it, so after my initial emotional sadness, I shrugged it off. What do you mean by a 'standardized' review system? |
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Post by kitsuneoni on Sept 6, 2004 11:21:30 GMT -5
I've never left a flame. Whenever I think something though, I give a good long explanation of what I think and end up with a km long review... however I know how hurtful it can be when people are rude so I try to be as polite as possible.
Normally I review a story if I've actually read it. I hardly ever do not leave a review... the only case of that happening is (1) if I forget or (2) if the story really turns me off and I can't get to the end of the chapter.
I don't mind negative comments. I have recieved some but they were polite and it's fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If they critique my grammer or something I can correct, I try improve.
Positive comments make me glow inwardly. *beam* But I think the best type of comment is when people have both positive and negative. Or sometimes the comments from people who say that you really moved them/touched them/made them cry... those really make my day.
As for my experience with flames... I've only recieved one. Horrible. It was one of the first reviews I got and I'd started a story with an MSish character (the pitfall of a newbie!) and yeah... I almost stopped posting. Then I realized how stupid I was to be so sensitive and that was it.
I also don't understand what you mean by a standardized review system. *scratches head*
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Post by kanshu on Sept 6, 2004 12:10:09 GMT -5
Well, 'standardizied' in that you are given several questions to answer. "Overall impression", "What did you like" What you think could be better"...
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Post by Salmastryon on Sept 6, 2004 12:19:41 GMT -5
really? see I though you meant standardized as in ranking. For example, Rank this fic from 1 to 5 or giving in an A, B, C or D.
The above I can only see as useful if it is all from the same person. A standardized questionaire though... that, has potential to be useful if the author is able to set the questions. That way an author can get input on the area they are worried about. Though, I would add a question like, "Anything else that you would care to comment on?" at the end. That way you'll find out about stuff you didn't think about.
From the readers stand point it gives them some to respond to so, they'll be less intimidated. The few authors I have written to was in response to questions in their author's notes.
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Post by Me-Nuriko on Sept 6, 2004 12:28:01 GMT -5
I don't know about those 'standardized' reviews. I probably would review less if that was the only way to post a review. It would make me feel like in school, and I hated those assignments. If I can say what I want in a review and not has to follow some form, then I may well say at least something of value, but I might skip it all together if I had to review in answers to questions.
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Post by KarotsaMused on Sept 6, 2004 13:27:31 GMT -5
I agree with Me-Nuriko - standardized reviews would, albeit providing a simple, easy way to give feedback, make it really hard to give someone any comment of real, unique value. I always leave reviews, and sometimes they get pretty lengthy, filled with what I hope is constructive criticism. I've gotten pretty lucky in the flame department, having not received any yet...I did get a marriage proposal once  |
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Post by kanshu on Sept 6, 2004 23:41:03 GMT -5
Salma mentioned a grading system earlier. "A - E"... what do you people think about such a device?
And would a choice work? - those who want to use the standardized review could use that form, and who doesn't, just fills out the "Comments" box?
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Post by Me-Nuriko on Sept 7, 2004 7:32:02 GMT -5
That sounds like the system used on MediaMiner. Yeah, that could work.
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Post by kanshu on Sept 11, 2004 3:33:52 GMT -5
You all come from various fandoms... have you ever seen that flamers bullied an author into taking off a story, or change the plot?
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Post by Me-Nuriko on Sept 11, 2004 8:52:08 GMT -5
I know of an author writing in Saiyuki fandom, who took the story off from ff.net because of nasty threats to her and her family. She continued to post the story on another site, because so many readers asked her to, but understandably she was very upset over the threats.
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Post by cesmith on Sept 11, 2004 9:38:09 GMT -5
What in the world could someone write that would have someone making nasty threats to the author and their family?
I know someone in Saiyuki changed the disease Gojyo was dying from, from Aids to another. She was accused of having incorrect facts, etc. I think she changed it to TB and continued to be flamed. Don't know if it was pulled or not, but I know the change was influenced by flames.
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Post by kanshu on Sept 11, 2004 12:34:05 GMT -5
Mmm... I remember that one, and the change didn't do the story any good... *shudders*
But what on earth did the other author write about that created such a reaction?
Reminds me of another topic, though... which is hate wars between authors, that even lead to one author getting the other banned from fanfic archives...
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Post by Salmastryon on Sept 11, 2004 13:29:50 GMT -5
For anyone who knows WK or Highlander fandom I just have one name to mention, Tritorella. I don't care which side you fall on and I don't think we should get in a heated discussion about it. That is an example of an author who has switched fandoms to escape flaming, changed pen names several times and switched finally so that now she isn't even writing fanfiction anymore.
A converse is the author who stops writing due to getting hounded and flamed for not writing fast enough. Krista in the Ranma 1/2 fandom is an example of that.
*sighs*
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