(no subject)

[aidenfire]

I review a lot. Basically, one can be safe assuming that if I read something and liked it, (something on LJ, or FA, or some other place where reviewing is easy), I reviewed it. And, as most of the things I read are on recs or from great authors (here's looking at you, flist! <3<3), I like most of them. However, I don't write a lot, or spectacularly, so I'm not sure how writers respond to people like me--people I've termed serial reviewers. After a certain point, do reviews from the same person start to lose your interest? If a person has reviewed your work five times? or ten? Do you think that the person is simply reviewing to review, or does each individual review make you happy? Also, if you had a long, chaptered, novel-length, would reviews on each chapter irritate you, or would they make you think the reader really enjoyed the fic? What if you were friends with the reader? Would that make you value their reviews more or less?

[Poll #499474]

Comments

[persephone56.livejournal.com]

Also saw this post in hogwarts_today. It intrigues me quite a bit--I'll be interested to see what you turn up.

Like you, I also review much more than I write. But since I've written a few things, I've learned how important reviews are to me, which in turn inspires me to review more. Particularly on longer fics--I like having feedback on each section, because that makes me feel like continuing the story is worth it. I like to know that people are keeping up with me.

It wasn't an option, but I'd have checked "Only do con/crit for friends." I usually leave a positive review if I enjoyed a story enough to finish it. But if it's a friend, I'll read a bit more critically and offer them advice, usually privately.

But in general, every review (except a flame) is good because they let me know that someone read what I worked so hard on. A detailed review that isolates favorite bits is very appreciated. I know some people who get weirded out by serial reviewing, feeling like they're being stalked, but I don't see it that way. I just want to know that someone appreciated my work.

[aidenfire]

I haven't met you before (hi!) so I'm not familar with your writing--do you have any long, finished novel-lengths? If so, do you prefer a review on every chapter even then, when you are already finished with the fic and not really thinking about revising it? Or would you rather have one longer review at the end?

And on con crit for friends, yes. I should have made that an option, because I'm sure you're not alone. As I said to the person who commented above you, I hadn't thought of that, but yes, I too feel more comfortable leaving crit when I'm not just randomly popping in and telling someone that I have no kind of relationship with at all that I had issues with their fic. The closer I am to someone, the more I feel that A) they understand that I would never try to be cruel or insulting, no matter how terrible the fic; B) they realize that from previous reviews I genuinely like their writing; and C) I can predict how they will react a little, and phrase my advice accordingly, so they don't take offence.

Thank you for sharing your ideas! *g*

[persephone56.livejournal.com]

I don't have any finished novel-length ones yet. I can only say what I do when reviewing them: I usually do a longer review for the last chapter telling my overall opinion. I do reviews for individual chapters only if something particularly strikes a chord with me and I don't want to forget that detail in an overall review. (It's nice to have people point out to you specific details they liked!) I feel this approach strikes a balance between doing detailed reviews, but not overwhelming the author by doing them for each chapter, either.

I'm pretty new to the fandom on LJ, so that's why you haven't seen me yet! 'Hello,' back to you!