Subject: This.
Author:
Posted on: 2013-03-20 12:48:00 UTC
Don't blindly listen to your reviewers. Personally, I know that "this is the best thing eva" is most likely an overstatement, just like "stop writing you dumbbutt." And if you're not sure about a point someone made, ask someone whose judgement you trust.
You know when you're looking up reviews on your writing, and all of sudden you realize one of them spelled a bunch of words wrong? It's like, "Dude, glad you loved my fic...don't really think it's a great source here, though. Just saying. SPELL-CHECK!"
I'm pretty sure the site I mostly use does have spell-check for reviews, so this is just annoying...
the fanbrats that my fic IAHF is specifically targeted at review the fic squealing about how much they love the story in the most immature way possible.
I suspect this is the same for all other OFUs out there.
What about receiving reviews praising your fic... from people whose fics are so awful you actually considered sporking them?
It happened to me, and it left me with a really weird feeling.
I also received twice a review saying just "cool story". And the review's author has, according to the profile, 1300+ favorite stories and 1500+ favourite authors.
... Which makes me think, is it actually possible to real all those fics, or are they just trying to bait people to their profile and fics?
Quite! I mean, when you spend a week writing something, then get something back similar to "omg luv this" it's not exactly encouraging. Lol. Just stay in there.
That's a pretty common sentiment. Sometimes you just get reviewers who don't bother to spellcheck, or they're on a phone and can't spell right, etc.
I do a lot of my Board stuff from my Kindle Touch, where the Internet is flaky and the keyboard needs to be used like a phone. Yes, you do make more typos on something like that, but all you have to do is read back through and check anything you don't know. So I don't really accept "I'm on my phone!" as an excuse for bad spelling.
Then again, I'm one of those rare people who is a naturally good speller, so I'm more able to not rely on spellcheck.
I don't know about you, but my phone's keyboard is 4.5x2 centimetres. It can take upwards of ten minutes to type out a 3-paragraph message, even without correcting spelling. Which, if I'm on my phone, is usually more time than I have anyways.
The keyboard is bigger. But I still don't think a phone is an excuse for being sloppy. Reviews don't even need to be given right after you read something - you can always wait until you have access to a regular computer.
However, if the SPaG is off but the review is still insightful, that's okay.
Do you think the reviewer's intent counts? As in, someone who just wants to let the author know they like the story, as opposed to someone who's trying to leave concrit? I could excuse bad SPaG from the former, personally, because they're not trying to offer advice.
It sort of undermines any advice they're trying to give. And of course I will accept a review with bad SPaG. However, I prefer when the person takes the time to tell me what they liked about it, even if they aren't giving concrit. It serves a similar function to concrit, because it helps me to do better if I know what I'm doing right.
There's just something in overly badly spelled reviews that screams "not really caring." Aka I feel like these are most likely blind fan reviews, that praise you for vague things and overlook all the things you failed at. Aka ~90% of the reviews on FFN.
And people are usually happy at whatever free things they get. Unless it is diseased. Thus the lackadaisal(?) attitude in reviewing.
I'd still rather have one review that said "Pretty good in all, but you've got issues here and in this other bit," than ten or even a hundred that are just "OMG u rok draycoo is so hott!!!11!". But to each their own. *shrugs*
It wasn't fun. She was asking me to put yaoi in the fic where I, specifically told them that there would be none of those things. I didn't know how to respond to that review.
Then again, "all feedback is good feedback". But when spell-check is available, not doing it is just lazy.
Ask a published author about that sentiment sometime - if you're getting flaming reviews from nasty, mean spirited jerks who just have a problem with you, I don't recommend taking it to heart. Likewise, blind praise is less than helpful. Everything in between? Honestly, take it with a grain of salt. Listen, yes, and evaluate their criticism. But you don't have to let reviews like that bother you.
Don't blindly listen to your reviewers. Personally, I know that "this is the best thing eva" is most likely an overstatement, just like "stop writing you dumbbutt." And if you're not sure about a point someone made, ask someone whose judgement you trust.
I mean, I can't say the reviewers are bad, because they took the time to read it and all...I need to think before I type...
Are probably more suited for a private blog, or some such, I think.
But yes, I totally agree.