Reviews and Comments - From the Writer's Perspective

[Hera Ledro]

This was mainly thought up because of this post in the RP that Phoebe, DM, and I are running, and in my opinion it is a serious matter for all writers. The basic question for this thread is how people feel reviews and comments affect their writing; more generally, I'd also like to discuss how reviews and comments affect the writer. It is a complicated and highly-subjective topic. To do this, however, we need to set up a series of terms and concepts.

First let's differentiate between comments and reviews. Comments are simple and shallow little sentences or other methods of communication that ultimately only amount to a decision on the quality of the work without discussing why the work is good or what is successful about/within it; they are a form of criticism about the work and its quality, not its contents. Reviews are criticisms of the content of the work, and how it affects the overall piece. For example

wow your characters are awesome can't wait to read more

The above is effectively a comment. While it does say that the characters make the piece effective, it does not say anything about what it is about the characters that make the piece effective. Is it the characterization? The illustration? The following is an example of a 'short' review.

The level of characterization in this fiction is very strong. I think most effective is the evolution of Jimbob; when we first saw him he had a good heart, but was lazy and shallow and took things far too lightly. Look at him now, though: twenty chapters later and he has a job, twins, and has learned that the world doesn't revolve around him. One thing to remember, though, is to be more specific about your character illustrations; you get the personalities and stuff down pat, but I have a hard time picturing them in my head, even after twenty-six chapters. Excellent job though, and I can't wait for the next update!

Which would you rather see as a writer? This last review is in fact short - despite the fact that it took me about five minutes to write (given that I made it up on the fly), it really only discusses a single part of the work that makes the work effective. The opposite also works: giving reasons why the work is ineffective and going into detail is still a review.

So on to the discussion: how do you feel, as a writer, when you get comments and reviews? Please differentiate between the two.

Honestly...comments are why I stopped posting my stuff online, and why I refuse to post any more work until the full thing is finished. I get so tired of seeing "wow good update plz" and other such tripe that I just want to give up. Is that really all my work is doing? Simply sating an update need? Perhaps I'm being high-horsed with my writing, but I want it to do more than that, and I really do not want somebody wasting review space on my work with an insubstantial and unconstructive "update plz". Call me a nazi, but I've blocked people because that's all they've left.

Now ignoring the very questionable quality of my work (especially my early stuff *shakes head in shame* ), I think that after working my butt off getting something out for an update, I deserve something a little nicer than "Update plz". I want reviews, not comments, because comments don't tell me anything. Okay my work was liked...but why? What attracted you? What did you dislike? How can I improve, in your opinion, on the weaknesses in my writing? Comments don't tell me anything like that, and after posting a long chapter, those comments feel like a let-down.

My rule for this now, solely because of idiot content-lacking commenters, is to write out everything first, do some editting, re-read, do more editting, leave it a while, do some triple-editting, then post it up after one final look-through. It also helps boost my own confidence, which is something a lot of people have trouble doing. This way I don't need "Good job" to make me feel good about my work; I can feel good because I'm spotting my own mistakes and my own plot-holes; I have absolute total responsibility over all that I do, and my confidence gets a nice little boost when I'm not feeling such a let-down every chapter that gets posted.

But I admit, it feels nice when I get a review. Even if it's a negative review - my work is utter tripe and should be stricken from the world - at least I am getting feedback on what my work does right and wrong. As an example, I'm a proponent of the Precision F-Bomb. I like to use curse words in my work, but only where their placement has the most impact and effect; stories where every few words are "Fuck this" and "Shit that" and blah blah blah are just a bore to me. I've had e-mails saying that my work could do with more profanity (I disagree entirely), but that goes to show that the person reading it isn't the audience for me.

In effect, I'm saying that I like reviews because I learn from them; I'm also saying I hate comments because they lack content and opportunity for improvement.

 

[Lifeboats]

I completely agree with you. (Jimbob sounds utterly fascinating by the way.

If I bring a long and torturous journey of writing to a close I would like it to be respected with more than just a thumbs up.(Something involving stars or an evaluated score would suffice.. perhaps.)

I tend to let my select readers read through my first draft. I like to leave my mistakes fresh for them to lay out their criticism. It allows them to tell you your weaknesses and shape the way you write. Grammar is my weak-point. I know it, they know it. I will say that often one word is all it takes to make you revaluate your skills and plot. I have been given great criticism summarized into a single word or phrase.

"Brevity." This is the word one of my closest friends gave me after she read something of mine, and I'll never forget it. It told me to slim things down and not Tolkienize my work.

I feel there is value in both commenting and reviewing. It's just a matter of whither or not the post or word or saying fit into those categories.

 

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

I'd prefer reviews to idle comments for my work.

There are things that I will never notice about my own work just because it all makes sense in my head, and it's extremely helpful when people point it out in a constructive way. And then there are things I don't necessarily like that may be great parts of whatever it is, and it's helpful when people point that out as well.

Comments of both flavors (the extremely negative or positive) are just a like to me. They offer no content, and are basically useless. I mean sure it gives you a somewhat warm feeling in your stomach when someone absolutely adores your work but less so when they can't give you a single reason why or point out a single mistake, because you just know that there is one.