Is It Wrong...

[kriadydragon]

Is it wrong to be ever-so-slightly annoyed when you have a ton of people add a story of yours to their favorites list, yet they never leave a comment? I know this has been discussed before... I just can't remember what everyone had to say on the matter :P (score one for my memory... noooot!)

Normally when I see that someone's marked one of my fics as a favorite, I pretty much count that as a positive review. But lately... I don't know. When you get five "the following author has added *this story* to their favorites" but only one person actually leaves a comment (for example), that doesn't seem right.

I totally get that, sometimes, it isn't easy to leave a review. Sometimes, you don't know what to say. Sometimes, you feel that the only good review is a thought-out one so you don't feel right about leaving something more simple. Sometimes you don't have time to leave a review.

But for a writer, reviews are like payment. We want to know what the reader thought, if we did good, what worked for them (maybe even what didn't work) and so on. It's also common courtesy to let a writer know that their hard work had paid off - that a story was, indeed, enjoyed. Yes, adding a story to favorites says as much, but a review says a lot more - literally and figuratively. Between being favorited and receiving a review, I appreciate both, but appreciate hearing what a reader has to say even more.

What do you all think?

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

Oooh yeah, I'm so with you. My LOTR stories still get favved a lot, but I haven't received a comment in years. I do wish people would also comment.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

There was this one person over yonder in Deviant Art who became annoyed by someone favoriting all their art, but never leaving a comment. I thought she was overreacting, but now I totally sympathize. It's rather obnoxious, especially when some of these people leave comments on other people's stories.

[coolbreeze1.livejournal.com]

I get at least an email a day from someone favoriting (is that a word?) one of my stories. If you're not used to writing reviews, I understand it can be hard coming up with something to say. On the other hand, if they spent all that time reading your story, then took the effort to favorite it, is it really that much harder and more time-consuming to also say "Hey, I enjoyed this"? I honestly don't expect in-depth reviews and constructive criticism from everyone who reads my stuff, but it really is nice (and motivating to write more) when someone actually takes the time to write a short note and say they liked one my stories. I've heard this from a number of writers - I think we're probably all in agreement here!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Exactly :) I'm of the opinion that if you liked a story, then you need to let the writer know. Especially if you want them to keep writing ;) Reviews boosts a writer's spirits, and when in a positive mood, we write more and write better.

[ga-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I completely understand. I love to get notified that someone has added a favorite story, or me as a favorite author. So I'll go look to see what they have commented on and find... nothing. Oookay. Extremely flattered that you love my work, but could you give me a hint why? So I can - maybe - repeat the experience for you (and others)? Please? You don't have to be overly elaborate, long winded or even worry about your own grammar and punctuation. Just a little hint?

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Very true. Reviews also have a way of messing with a writer's head, sometimes, I think. When you see someone leave a review on someone else's story, but your story they only favorite, it makes you wonder and what you wonder is all negative.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

NO, you are not wrong.
I feel the writer is due some consideration.
I either leave a review, sometimes more than one if I am struck repeatedly by the storyline, at site, or a submit a private message. The latter is particularly true if I want to share something that I really don't feel I want others to be reading, e.g. in one instance she was out of line in her estimate of what Sheppard would do.....
In this particularly instance it screamed at me.
The military teaches to praise in public and reprimand in private. I rendered her more respect than she did Sheppard
in that instance.
And YES, I am fully aware he is fiction character, but the circumstances of that story were so wrong........

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Even constructive criticism is appreciated... well, when it's constructive and not a flat, pointless "you have spelling errors" or makes absolutely no sense (Ex. did they like the story, hate it? What is this person trying to tell me!) One of the best reviews I received was constructive criticism. It pointed out the good, as well as what I needed to fix, and told me that I needed to tell less and show more. It was the best review ever, because up until that moment I had no idea that I was doing more telling than showing, and my writing started to improve.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Even constructive criticism is appreciated

That is exactly what I do. I would not waste my time
sending a private message, and I think there should be
privacy even with constructive criticism, if I did not think I had something to say other than punctuation, grammar, spelling. I would not waste my time because it proves what?
I read a story once where the person lit into the writer e.g.
'you are so sick and depraved' and I do not think it was
a joke either.
What was the purpose of that? Embarrassment or to humiliate the writer?
My comments were private and they outlined exactly what was wrong with her storyline.
She never responded. I wish now I had kept that story to share it with you..........

[sgatazmy.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is exactly what I was thinking! It's much worse in my new fandom and it is driving me crazy. I wrote a long story I was very proud of and I got all of 33 comments on 10 chapters. I thought, "Wow, that failed." Then I saw 13 people had added it to their favorite lists (out of a tiny fandom) and more to their alerts. So 13 people favorited it but only 3 felt the need to comment???? Really? Depressing. Completely and utterly depressing.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I try to be understanding about why people sometimes don't comment, and I do understand the various reason. But, dang it, we're writers - artist - and we have very fickle and fragile egos, consarnit ;)

I sometimes wonder if people don't fully understand the impact of reviews, especially over time. Like I said above in another reply, it has a way of messing with the mind. For example, when I don't leave a review, it usually means that A) I didn't like the story for one reason or another or B) It wasn't my cup of tea. Which is why it drives me nuts when a normally consistent reviewer suddenly stops reviewing.

Now, mind you, I don't expect people to read everything I write, let alone enjoy it. But it's fodder for those pesky thoughts of self doubt when you see one of your usual readers leaving comments on other stories, but not your own. It makes you start to wonder "where am I going wrong?" (I do get, though, that it's probably a matter of time and timing - they have little time to read, so read the first story they come across.)

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

I think i would take the lack of comments as a positive reaction as opposed to a negative one. It has been my experience in life that a person is ten time more motivated to tell you when you are wrong then tell you you are right.. so the fact that the world at large is not crawling all over you to tell you that you are wrong can probably be taken as a positive sign...

Some readers also feel a bit self concious about leaving comments.. I personally spent about 3 months reading solid various stories before plucking up he guts to leave a comment.. it can be quite nerve racking I mean if I miss type something or put it the wrong way then it could cause no end of confidence trouble with the writer, I mean you guys work long and hard writing, for me to just come along as say "oh by the way" just feels wrong..

I would take the fact that various people have you on Alert and friends as a massive positive, it means they are liking you and seriously wanting to pay attention to your work. :D

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Very true to all of it, and I get that. I don't really expect everyone to comment, and I do take being favorited as a positive. It's still feedback and still lets me know that a story was enjoyed.

A review, however, is more personal, even if it's just, "I really liked this." I'm personally not picky on how people review and what people say. My only pet peeve is unhelpful criticism like "You have spelling errors" or telling me the difference between they're, their and there, or reviews that make no sense. Other than that, verbal feedback is basically like payment for a writer and helps to increase their motivation to write more.

Reviews also act as a means to attract more readers. If I'm presented with several stories by new authors, I will usually try the story that has the most reviews as it says - at least to me - that the story was well received and therefore worth reading. To favorite a story isn't the same, since only the author knows it was favorited, not other readers.

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Do you know how many people have put my ST2009 story on their favorites list? 45. And how many left reviews? 17. Reviews are the crack!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Reviews are love. Reviews motivate. Reviews are Birthday presents. To favorite a story is like buying your best friend a really cheap Birthday card from the gas station last minute :P

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

ST2009

What does this mean?
I guess I am not one of those
who read it, otherwise I would recognize it.
HOWEVER, if there were that many who added you to their
favorite list, then they should have either left a review
at your site or a private message.
I sometimes leave a private message even if my review
is congrats................

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

ST2009 is Star Trek the 2009 movie.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Thank you.
**is embarrassed**

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Eh, took me a while to figure it out myself the first time I saw it ;)

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

I am sorry if my not leaving a comment is upsetting you.

I am at present though reading through effectively your back catalogue of stories, and everything that I would want to say has pretty much been said by others. I do however like to get a feel for the author's style before starting to make comments about individual pieces. I think it only fair and polite to do so first.

Needless to say once I am up to date and comfortable with the situation I shall start participating:D.

I shall say though that I personally do not favourite an author on FF unless thoroughly enjoy their work. I find your stories engaging and thoroughly readable.. so much so that I keep running over for my lunch hour while reading them:D. But I will attempt to leave comment in the future:D

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Like I said, I don't expect everyone to leave a review on every story I write;) And I don't mind when people just add a story to favorites. I understand the various reasons why people might not review and I'm okay with that, personally. It's when you get, for example, fifty people favoriting your story but only five reviews that things get frustrating. We writers are a finicky bunch. Yes, to favorite a story says that story was well-received, but we also like to know what people thought about that story, even if it's just - "I really liked this :D."

But neither do I want people to feel guilty about not reviewing. As said, people have their reasons. But I would encourage people to review as much as they can, when they can. It really does help an author's motivation when people take time to say something about their story. It doesn't even have to be every single story that author has written. Even the occasional review on the occasional story does wonders ;)

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more with what you're saying. It is so frustrating to see someone favorite a story, especially a long one that took months to write to just skip out on the review. It is hard for me to believe they had time to read a story but not the time to leave a piece of feedback.

It really does wonders for my muse to receive feedback on an older story when I've been salving away for months on a current project. It's just nice to hear a person's thoughts on why it was a favorite. It's all about motivation.

I know wished I didn't post on ff.net that way if people ghost read my stuff, I don't know about it like on LJ :-P

Okay rant over. lol

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I feel kind of bad ranting about it, as favoriting something is still a means of letting a writer know a story was enjoyed. But it's a small guilt, as reviews have way more merit. They motivate - as you said - they lift a writer's spirits, can even turn a mediocre day into an awesome day. When I get a review from a fellow writer whose work I think is beyond awesome, it makes me feel like I accomplished something, like my skills are getting better to attract someone who is more fickle about what they read.

Plus it's good to make reviewing a habit, because not all sites have nifty features like favoriting. I'm always coming across people in LJ who say they read my fic and love them, and up until that point I had no idea that so many were into my stories, because none of them were leaving a review.

And, as I've said, I don't expect people to review every story I write. But would like to at least know, now and then, that people are reading and who they are. I like to hear from people, because it let's me know they are there and that what I write is being written.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

*Slaps forehead* I meant read, not written. Brain no work now.

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I think if you are going to favourite a story then common courtesy dictates leaving some sort of thank you.