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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2005 20:38:19 GMT -5
Oh, it's such a terrible feeling! I think it very rude to read something and not review! Even if it's just to say "nice story" (which we all hate, I know, but it's better than nothing.) And then, no one is reviewing, you take it so personally and wonder if it's a reflection on you as a writer. I've seen EXCELLENT pieces that no one reads, and then utter crap receiving 100+ reviews per chapter.  That's actually how I'm starting to feel too. When I started, I got so many reviews, I had to empty my inbox or it would reach the limit. (exagerated, but you get the idea) Now I'm wondering if my writing is getting worse for I get less and less reviews. Even a "nice story" or a "your story sucks" would at least let me know someone is reading it. It's a crappy feeling, and I'm wondering if I'm starting to lose ideas because of it. When I review someone else's work, I review every single one. Even if it sucked, I'll tell them that it could use some work and I give suggestions on how to make it better. It's just "sick and wrong". |
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Post by Handicraft Nazi on May 29, 2005 21:34:31 GMT -5
oh yes, the reviews. Why can't people just write anything if they're going to read it. I'm quite happy with my current KP fic, though. I have about 50 reviews to 5 chapters. I've written stories that get tons of reviews and others that get maybe 2 or 3!
And about short stories.. well half my fanfics are short little one-shots. I can't always write long chaptered stories and my one-shots are some of the best stuff I've written. It dosn't matter how long the stories are, it's what's in them. But I can't stand incredibly short chapters. People write chapters with maybe 200 words in it and they could easily shove 5 chapters together.
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Post by zoza on May 29, 2005 22:31:25 GMT -5
I can tell you that ff.net is having problems, like right now I am trying to review a story and it says the servers overloaded and I can't comment. Maybe this has something to do with why you lot are getting less reviews?  |
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Post by Aers (That Writer Chick) on May 30, 2005 8:35:14 GMT -5
And then, no one is reviewing, you take it so personally and wonder if it's a reflection on you as a writer. I've seen EXCELLENT pieces that no one reads, and then utter crap receiving 100+ reviews per chapter. it sucks, that's for sure - you sit there wondering what everyone saw in THAT piece of... stuff and meanwhile you're getting nothing on a piece of work that you sweated blood and tears over. the only thing that works for me, and it's just my way of dealing with it, is to remember that you write the story for YOU first - yes, it's all nice to say it's for the fans and that you want to be a nice author and all that, but in this case it is really all about YOU. There's plenty of rather bad fanfics out there where the author literally changes from chapter to chapter, giving the reviewers exactly what they want and the story turns into a pile of syntho-goo because you can't please everyone. Write what works for you and if the reviews don't come in, then just move on and know that at least you put out an honest day's work for a good story. you really can't depend on reviews to get you to write more; it's got to come from inside. however, reviews do SO rock. Met my husband that way about a decade ago. Got a sweet note on one of my fanfics, yatta yatta yatta and now we've been married five years. thus I encourage feedback greatly. who knows who you can meet?  |
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Post by Scoutcraft Piratess on May 30, 2005 10:14:38 GMT -5
Aers, that has to be the cutest, most romantic thing I've ever heard!  Good comment. The story is to please yourself. I don't like it when people actually hold votes and stuff for what should happen next! |
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Post by mrpotty on May 30, 2005 11:24:18 GMT -5
Yes, the stories I write are for myself (I just want to get these voices out of my head, which tell me what I have to write! ;D), but if I wouldn't wanna know what other people thnink about it, why should I put them on ff.net?
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Post by Aers (That Writer Chick) on May 30, 2005 11:30:56 GMT -5
Yes, the stories I write are for myself (I just want to get these voices out of my head, which tell me what I have to write! ;D), but if I wouldn't wanna know what other people thnink about it, why should I put them on ff.net? but don't let other people dictate what YOU should write... if ya wanna do a Ron/Rufus romance, go fer it! enjoy the comments when you get them; thrill if you find a friend through them but don't build your writing around them. of course, I could be wrong. and yes, I am SO the hopeless romantic... can ya blame me? |
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Post by Quin Separable on May 30, 2005 18:49:21 GMT -5
enjoy the comments when you get them; thrill if you find a friend through them but don't build your writing around them. of course, I could be wrong. [glow=red,2,300]I agree. Write for yourself and your love of the show..not what you think everyone will like. That usually tends to make your writing bad anyway (I know this for a fact!) Writing for yourself is the best thing to do and if people really like it and you get tons of reviews on it then great! If not then don't be discouraged as long as you feel good about what you wrote it's all that matters. One of the things I hate is people saying "oh I won't update until I get 5 reviews per chapter". While I'll admit I used to do that, it's just annoying and makes you as the reader feel this pressure that you shouldn't have to feel. Although on the reverse side I hate it to when you have a bunch of people reading and no one reviewing. It is discouraging I know. Wow, I'm a walking contradiction today aren't I? [/glow] |
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Post by Scoutcraft Piratess on May 31, 2005 11:00:46 GMT -5
All kinds of truth.
I think we all write for ourself. But I actually want to publish something someday. I sort of want feedback... which is why reviews are nice...
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Post by Aers (That Writer Chick) on May 31, 2005 11:34:10 GMT -5
All kinds of truth. I think we all write for ourself. But I actually want to publish something someday. I sort of want feedback... which is why reviews are nice... well, I can tell you from experience - fanfiction is a GREAT way to prepare for selling your original work. Using the characters and the world to work on your writing is a good way to improve your spelling, grammar skills and just plain old writing overall. the only caveat is that most fanfiction reviews are from friends and peeps who really like you and your writing and KNOW you - so they tend to not be too nasty. Look at the amount of raves on ff.net for fanfics that are, to be generous, lacking slightly in the basics of how to form a sentence. enjoy the reviews, but don't consider them to be the have-all and be-all of learning how to be a better writer. That, unfortunately, will have to come when you start collecting rejection notices with the rest of us. which, hopefully, will be pretty soon, eh? now get back to writing!!! |
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Post by Scoutcraft Piratess on May 31, 2005 11:41:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Aers!
Well, I'm not so naive as to trust completely in reviews. And yet... most of the people that review my fics that I know... I know because they were reading my stuff. And I have gotten some very critical stuff before. I've noticed that if you ask for criticism, you'll get it!
Dude, that sounds defensive. It shouldn't.
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Post by Aers (That Writer Chick) on May 31, 2005 12:37:27 GMT -5
Thanks, Aers! Well, I'm not so naive as to trust completely in reviews. And yet... most of the people that review my fics that I know... I know because they were reading my stuff. And I have gotten some very critical stuff before. I've noticed that if you ask for criticism, you'll get it! Dude, that sounds defensive. It shouldn't. no, no, no - I hear you loud and clear. Remember, I've been doing fanfiction for a decade and selling my original stuff for about five years now... just KEEP WRITING. whether you get reviews or not. whether you ever sell a story or not. whether you become a writer or not. JUST KEEP WRITING BECAUSE YOU WANT/NEED TO WRITE! ramblings over... ;D |
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Post by allaine on May 31, 2005 15:11:55 GMT -5
keeping them in character is, to me, the most important thing. if you want to write Kigo slash or whatever, SHOW me how this happens to develop from what I see on the show. If you want to make Drakken a good guy, SHOW me how he changes his personality. If you want to make Ron a drug-addicted rapist, SHOW me how he changes from the sweet fella we all know and love. I could not agree more. Please, for the love of God, SHOW. Usually the evolution is even more fascinating than the end result! Personally, my worst crime is author's notes. If you want to preface your story with one, or use a postscript, that's just fine. But when I see an author's note, in parentheses, jammed into the middle of a SENTENCE, it just makes me want to scream. This is a story, not a chat session. Sincerely, Allaine |
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Post by Quin Separable on Jun 3, 2005 15:21:21 GMT -5
Personally, my worst crime is author's notes. If you want to preface your story with one, or use a postscript, that's just fine. But when I see an author's note, in parentheses, jammed into the middle of a SENTENCE, it just makes me want to scream. This is a story, not a chat session. [shadow=red,left,300]Oh my gosh yes. I hate that. All my author notes come either before a chapter has started or after a chapter has finished.[/shadow] |
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Post by Aers (That Writer Chick) on Jun 3, 2005 15:43:47 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Oh my gosh yes. I hate that. All my author notes come either before a chapter has started or after a chapter has finished.[/shadow] *scratches head* I have NO idea when this suddenly became acceptable. In all the other genres I've written in you usually can get away with a short paragraph at the start or the end detailing some notes that may pertain to the story itself - but I've seen long notes thanking every reviewer and explaining the author's thought patterns that dwarf the story itself! WHEN did this become okay? *confused look* me feeling old... *insert creaking noise here* |
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Post by Allaine on Jun 3, 2005 15:52:23 GMT -5
Well, when it comes to Fanfiction.net, I think some authors do it because it's the most practical method of responding to reviews. Other than trying to track down everyone's email and thanking them directly, FFN doesn't really provide authors with another means of recognizing feedback. And believe me, there have been times when I wanted to answer a question or respond to something particularly insightful, but the site isn't really equipped for that.
Of course, when I'm still halfway through the narrative and I see the dreaded (A/N: I want to smack the author. Hard.
Sincerely, Allaine
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Post by captainkodak1 on Jun 3, 2005 15:58:47 GMT -5
FF.net is not the only place to go. But to start with it is one of the best places to start a following and get people to read you. I have my fics posted at FF.net and at DeviantArt. There are people at FF that are not at DA and the other way around. If you really want to grow in the writing art you need to be somewhere people can see your stories. If all you want to do is write for yourself then post to one of the yahoo groups or another fiction site.
Reviews help you grow as a writer. There are those reviews "this is great" and the like. Then you will get one or two that will tell you something. I am lucky to have about three or four friends that will quite literally rip my stories to shreds and dump them in my lap if I write what they consider is below my ability. I appreciate reviews like this because they help me. I make notes of these reviews and stick them beside me when I write again. Some folks will give you great ideas, others not so great. You might even get someone who likes your stuff enough to ask you to work with them. Whether you write for yourself, for the show, or for others just use your best abilities.
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Post by Scoutcraft Piratess on Jun 3, 2005 22:06:06 GMT -5
As a writer, I love dishing out notes as much as the next person. Yet I like to think that I'm fairly to-the-point. The thing I'm big on is responding to reviews--sorry if people find that annoying, but I like connecting with readers!
Author's notes... I'm fine with them. As long as they are not in the middle of the writing! That's completely unclassy!
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Post by Quin Separable on Jun 5, 2005 19:00:56 GMT -5
As a writer, I love dishing out notes as much as the next person. Yet I like to think that I'm fairly to-the-point. The thing I'm big on is responding to reviews--sorry if people find that annoying, but I like connecting with readers! Author's notes... I'm fine with them. As long as they are not in the middle of the writing! That's completely unclassy! [shadow=red,left,300]I agree on everything you just posted. I want my reviewers to know that I appreciate them enough to put their pennames in the beginning of the chapters. But I still hate it when author notes come smack dab in the middle of the story...especially a suspensful or angsty one. It just ruins the atmosphere you are trying to create![/shadow] |
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Post by Felix on Jun 6, 2005 16:47:30 GMT -5
I, like most of you, am also an author over at ff.net. So I can understand the frustration at getting next to no reviews (I've had just over 20 in 7 chapters). But still, it's a great feeling to see that someone has read and responded to your work and even better when they keep you updated on how they think you are doing. Sure I may not have a hundred people saying "cool story. you rock!", but I've got six or seven who continually give their time to read and write to me. And that's all I need to keep writing.
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