Guilt Trip

[kriadydragon]

Yep, another question, this one simple.

Do any of you feel bad when you read a story by an author whose stories you always read, always enjoy, always comment on...and don't leave a comment? Not because the story was bad, but because A) you didn't personally agree with the statement being made/the way the situation was handled/felt it needed or didn't need this thing or that B) the story was of a type you usually don't like reading, or you have to be in the right mood to read it or C) You simply didn't know what to say or wasn't sure if you had read and interpreted the story correctly.

Though A and B are reasons I may not fully enjoy a story, C is usually my main reason for leaving no comment. I'm not a very articulate person, and it sometimes takes me hours (depending on what I'm responding to) to formulate a written response that I feel comfortable with (i.e. won't offend anyone or make them feel put down). But I always feel bad if I don't leave a comment on a story after reading every other work - or at least most of the work - by the author. I want to show support, but that sometimes means giving praise to a story that had something in it I didn't feel right about, or was the kind of story I usually don't like reading. If it's a story with something I didn't like, I will sometimes review - pointing out the good while (hopefully) pointing out my issue as mildly as possible... aaaaand end up feeling guilty about that, too.

The thing is, a while back I read a story by a favorite author, in which a situation was resolved in a manner I didn't wholly agree with. I commented anyways - pure praise - since I'd had yet to not comment on a story they'd written. Leaving the review, however, ended up not sitting well with me. Since then, I've been a little more stingy about reviewing. I try to leave a review, even if it sometimes includes the mention of a few personal issues I had with the story, but more often than not I'm never sure what to say (or if I may have interpreted the story wrong, or missed something even after reading it more than once), so won't review at all.

Comments

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Here is an honest answer. I will always try to read a story from one of my favorite authors. I tend to trust certain writers with things because I am very picky. I'll take a chance with my favorite/proven author with subjects I normally will not read.

AU for instance is not my thing but I 'might' read it, only because of the writer. Other times it depends on my mood. For example, death fics I really have to be in the right frame of mind because I'll know it'll be done well, even if its a subject I tend to avoid. However, most of the time, I will not read them.

There are subject matters that I do not like reading period. There are certain things I just can't take for various reasons and I'll skip that fic. If it is a writer I tend to support all the time, I might PM them to let them know.

It is odd if you get FB from the same people and then all of a sudden you don't. I just like to let them know.

Now if I read something from a writer I've enjoyed a lot in the past and I don't enjoy how they've written something or I have an issue with. I'll still leave FB. It doesn't have to be rosy all the time. I'll preface it with..well I enjoyed this, but I feel different about blah blah blah.

Or I didn't really see/understand/like this result because of xyz--- though I did enjoy the fic overall.

This is very subjective. It's a touchy subject. Sometimes your review will open the writer to something they had not thought before. Or maybe you just have different opinions concerning a subject matter.

Sometimes it's a plot point that that you didn't understand and after pointing it out, the writer explains their reasoning and you connect the dots. I've hit myself in the head a few times in the past about things I never understood.

Heck you might point out a hole that the author has never realized before and will fix it or explain the reasoning.


Um, hope this helps/makes sense. It is very late.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

It helps a lot, actually. As I mentioned in the post, I'll leave reviews pointing out the positive as well as inlcuding a few small issues I had with it, and feel bad about it. I always feel like I'm either subtly telling the author how to write or I missed something the other readers didn't, and it leaves me wondering if I'd crossed a line.

I will confess that I am a very biased reader. I like McKay, but don't really enjoy McKay centered stories unless Sheppard is in the story as well, and I like McKay whump even less unless John is whumped as well (see? Very, very biased). Even if written by a favorite author, if the story is McKay centered with McKay whump, though I may skim it, chances are good I won't read it.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I'm an excessively fussy reader, so yeah, I've not left a comment for an author with whom I'm usually faithful with commenting, and yeah, I usually feel twinges of guilt about it. Sometimes I try to assuage my guilt by leaving a vague sorta blip of a comment, but usually only if the author has posted it to one of my communities, so I feel obligated to comment even though I'd rather not say what I want to say about the story.

I don't leave praise unless I'm feeling the story worthy of praise. Course, with me, the story content isn't necessarily what I'm praising. For example, when someone posts their first TC story, I'm most likely gonna praise regardless (though I can imagine stories bad enough that I wouldn't, but hopefully no one will ever post one like that) because I'm so tickled to have a new person jump into the fray. Their second story... Well, that one doesn't get the benefit of my tickledness to help it's cause.

I've been stingy with reviews for a long time now, though, having ended up in your situation a few years a go in the LOTR fandom several times with various authors (cause as fussy as I am with SGA, I'm waaaaaaaay fussier with Tolkien), and because I got a bit burned as an author with obligatory reviews when a friend who gets loads of reviews sent out a mass email asking all her reviewers to give me reviews to help boost my confidence. It had the rather opposite effect as, once the conspiracy was discovered, I then found myself questioning the sincerity of every review ever received, which then had me questioning the validity of reviews I'd given out of a sense of obligation rather than desire.

Now, in my grumpy old age I've gotten both lazy and fussy. I've tried not set up a whole slew of authors who are expecting me to comment on everything they post, because I know I'm not going to want to comment on everything someone posts. There are a couple in the SGA and TC fandoms that I comment on pretty regularly, cause I sincerely eagerly eat up most everything they post and want them to post more, NOW! and all the time, please! but I don't think there's anyone for whom I've commented on everything.

And there, 'nuf of my rambling replies I usually end up wishing I'd kept to myself. Happy writing! I hope your muses are cooperating with you.

*hugs*

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

When I first devled into fanfiction, I was tossing praise out like candy in order to encourage writers, even if their writing skills or the story wasn't that great.

I think it was the story I mentioned in my post that made me do a kind of one-eighty, and it kind of left me in limbo - to critique with praise and a mention of a few issues, or not to critique at all? The problem is, I tend not to trust myself when expressing an opinion. As said in my post, I'm not very articulate, and have been known to put my foot in my mouth without ever realizing it (whether in words or actions). Seriously, there are things I've said and done that were considered rude, but never realized I did/said them until someone brought it up years later. I'm kind of, sort of, in my own little world most of the time, so tend to be oblivious.

For that reason, I'm very cautious when it comes to leaving thorough critiques, and most of the time I feel safer not saying anything at all. Although I have been getting braver, as there are some stories where I feel it important to say something.

[bratfarrar]

For me, it depends on a couple things. If I usually really like the author's stuff, and no one else comments, I will comment positively even if I didn't really like the story. If a bunch of other people have already commented, I won't bother.

If the author is one with whom I feel pretty comfortable talking about writing and stuff, I might write a slightly more (but carefully couched) critical comment, telling them what I thought did and didn't work.

But usually, if I don't like a story, I just don't say anything.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

But usually, if I don't like a story, I just don't say anything.

That's how I've become. There was a time when I was free with my praise, even if the story wasn't that great, in order to encourage writers (new ones, especially). But I've gotten pickier, and seem to continue getting pickier.

[drufan.livejournal.com]

I think it all depends on how well you know the author. If you don't agree (and sometimes we read things that we just don't agree on) you go ahead and say so. If it's someone that you read but don't really have an interchange with...I wouldn't leave a review or a thanks for sharing kind of note. All depends. I know there are a couple of authors I don't leave reviews because they write the same story over and over. I think to myself, gee, I've read this already, commented on it, what else is there to say? (Of course I read whatever they write as a guilty pleasure.)

I believe each story presents its own unique opportunity of whether or not I will review.

PS-- I'm glad you reviewed on my last story even if you didn't agree. I will be PMing you of course to discuss. :D

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think to myself, gee, I've read this already, commented on it, what else is there to say? (Of course I read whatever they write as a guilty pleasure.)

Heh, I think I may end up doing that. I still comment to let them know I'm reading, but some days it's hard to say anything because it's the same story, just a different time and place.

confused

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I can relate
I always write to them, either in review format
or via email, but normally receive no response.
The strange thing is they say that they would like to
hear from us..........
So???????????????????
I am not saying that they need to write a thesis in reply;
it would be nice to just know they are even reading my comments.

[sholio]

Personally? I doubt if I'd notice or care if someone who normally reviews my stories doesn't review something I've written. For one thing, my writing is all over the map with regards to characters, rating and fandom. I expect that most of my readers won't read everything I write for that very reason.

Similarly, there are very few authors for whom I enjoy *every* story they write. Even some of my favorite authors have done a story or two that wasn't to my personal taste. If I run into something I don't like by someone whose work I normally like, I don't feel any obligation to review; the thought honestly never occurred to me that someone MIGHT notice. I find that a little bit uncomfortable, to tell you the truth. Of course, I'm also made slightly uncomfortable when I friend someone on LJ and they friend me back within hours or minutes -- the idea that someone is paying THAT much attention to who friends them is just ... very alien to my way of thinking, I suppose.

Having said that ... for people with whom I have an offline relationship, I usually feel compelled to say *something*, even if it's just a mention in the next time I drop them an email -- "hey, by the way, read your latest story, I'm not really on board with transformation fic but I LOL'd when you turned them all into stuffed animals" ... etc.

It used to be that I rarely reviewed unless I could sit down and write an unabashed paragraph or two about how much I liked the story. Since I've been making more of an effort to leave reviews over the last couple of years, I've also been getting a little more ... er, honest in my reviews, since I've been reviewing more stories that I have mixed feelings about, and more willing to point out flaws even in the stories I liked. :D Even now, though, I'd say I only leave comments on about a third of the stories I read, even the ones I liked. It just takes so long to sit down and compose a comment that, often, I'd like to move on instead. I will try to leave comments on stories that have very few of them, or ones that I would like to encourage the author to write more of (for example, there's not much Ronon-POV fic out there, so if I run into a good one I'll try to make a special effort to comment and rec it so that they'll be encouraged to keep writing). But really, I'm a haphazard reviewer at best.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Heh, I tend to notice too much. Not because I'm hyper-aware, but because I'm very routine/pattern oriented, so when the routine/pattern is altered (someone who had been reviewing every story I wrote suddenly no longer reviewing) I do notice (after a while.) But I'm not offended by it or anything (thought I do sometimes wonder if I could have written the story better, or had something happen that squicked the reader.) Not every story is going to be liked and even the most avid fan is going to have a story or two they're uncomfortable with.

Since I've been making more of an effort to leave reviews over the last couple of years, I've also been getting a little more ... er, honest in my reviews, since I've been reviewing more stories that I have mixed feelings about, and more willing to point out flaws even in the stories I liked.

That does seem to be inevitable. I used to leave reviews on every story I read for the sake of providing the author with support, even if there were things in the story I didn't like or agree with all that much. I think, after a while, you have to be at least occasionally honest. For one, it helps an author a lot more than praise alone (I've found that even if the issue a reviewer had was more a personal opinion than a flaw in my story, it still got me thinking about future stories more carefully). For another, you'd go insane otherwise ;).

[sholio]

Oh -- 'nother thing! I really *want* people to leave me comments if there's something in the story they disagree with, or something that angers or offends them. I would much rather have someone be honest with me than for half my readers to post praise and the other half to go away being hurt or angry or frustrated with something I wrote and saying nothing to spare my feelings. I'll never learn better that way.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I once had someone tell me that Rodney felt a little OOC in one story. After looking back over that story, I realized they had a point , and it got me thinking more carefully about Rodney's character.

[mtee.livejournal.com]

See, now I feel bad that I don't leave big reviews or even constructive reviews. I'm one of those "great chapter, loved it" kind of reviewer. And this is for various reasons. I am not a writer, so sometimes I feel, I don't have a "right" to be too critical, because, gosh, I couldn't do it myself. Who am I to say?

Other times, I liked the story just fine. Period. Nothing to add or comment upon. It was an enjoyable story... a good read.

Sometimes I don't comment because I am reading so many fics, I just don't have the time to read and work (yes, I'm a bad person, I read at work!)

For my favorite authors, maybe I should start being a little more "critical". I do tend to gush, a little, when my favs step up to the plate and nail another great storyline.

What do you say to an author that gives you a decent whump, but is lacking in a true storyline? "Hey thanks for whumping our guy, but could you include an actual story next time?"

Lastly, I read things as WIP's, so multi-chapter stories can get tiresome to respond to. Maybe I should respond only at the end, but then maybe the author needs some incentive during the process.

See, it's very confusing. I guess I will continue on, but with more of an eye for really asking why they wrote something that way. Or maybe I will tell my favs when something falls short of the expected.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Ah, don't fret over it too much. I don't give in-depth reviews myself. I know some people want them, but some days my brain isn't up to writing out long, thinky posts. So it's either a "that was awseome!" or nothing at all. Personally, I'm just happy to get "good" reviews (in that they are not "you need to fix your spelling mistakes" and with nothing positive to add, but that was addressed in another post.)

The only time I get into major critiquing - or pointing out personal issues - is when there is something in the story I can't ignore - major personal squicks, something that didn't sit right with me, and so on. It's ground I tread on carefully because I never know if my issue is a personal problem or something that really does need to be fixed.

As you said... What do you say to an author that gives you a decent whump, but is lacking in a true storyline? "Hey thanks for whumping our guy, but could you include an actual story next time?" There are some critiques you can't fit into those tiny little review boxes, and some that require a discussion with the author.

I want to say more, but I'm feeling a little cruddy (allergies) so my brain is refusing to cooperate. Apologies.

[(Anonymous)]

I used to give authors lots of reviews on stories that I read (to support them) but my attention to a story is very short and there are times when I end up getting bored with stories esp if they're WIPs and want to stop reading them, but then ended up feeling guilty and so ended up skimming through the chapters and commenting in order not to 'hurt' the authors feelings (ie: reviewing every chap and suddenly stopping). In the end I got tired of it, so now have stopped reviewing unless the story is something I really enjoyed & I think the author would appreciate a review. There have been too many times where I've spend time writing a review only to get silence in return. Personally, I like a response, even if it's just "thanks for commenting..."

JNK

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I'm like that - I'll be reading a WIP, commenting, then lose interest and stop. In fact *winces* I did that to a story a while back. It wasn't that the story was bad, or even really boring, I just gradually lost interest, stopped reading and commenting, and felt guilty about it. But I should have known better to get invested as the author was a McKay fan and not much of a Sheppard fan, and I was in a major Shep-whump mood for a while.

*Cringes* I confess, I'm terrible about responding to reviewers. I do try to, usually with the final reviews for the last chapter of the fic. If the story is on FF.net, I'm less likely to respond as it can take forever if my dial-up and/or the site is acting up. If the story is on LJ, then there will be a response as responding is so much easier on Live Journal.

Personally, if I review another person's story, I don't care whether that author responds to my review or not. Some poeple are busy, some don't know what to say, some (like me) have dial up and a slow connection, thus making even the most simple task a pain in the butt, and I don't review just to get a response back. It is nice when the author responds, but it's not something I expect of them.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I so know what you mean. I sometimes read a story and then loose interest for no apparent reason, not because the story isn't good or anything... but feel guilty esp if I've been commenting halfway through and then suddenly stop.

I don't have issues with you not replying cos you've mentioned before about your internet connection, which is very understandable.

[b7-kerravon.livejournal.com]

I'm scrolling through your LJ after reading 'Eternity', looking for other fic that might not be posted at ffnet, and saw this question about feedback. Actually, I've never noticed 'patterns' of feedback on my stories, although I read every comment. I do admit to being thrilled whenever an author whose work I admire drops a line about the story, but otherwise, I don't note who has (or has not) reviewed a piece. Unfortunately, I fall into the category of "OMG - that was great" commentary, after which I read EVERYTHING by that author in one fell swoop, often forgetting to leave feedback as I go. Rude, perhaps, but I'm in the middle of a 'feeding frenzy' at the time, and not thinking straight.

Add to that the fact that I never learned how to type...