So many readers so few reviews

[Mad Lews]

How is it you can have 5,000 people read a story in a month and get maybe one or two to review it? Is the review process really that hard or is it something else. I mean it really is encouraging when someone takes the time to let you know what they felt about your story.

[ProjectEuropa]

How is it you can have 5,000 people read a story in a month and get maybe one or two to review it? Is the review proscess really that hard or is it something else. I mean it really is incouraging when someone takes the time to let you know what they felt about your story.

You are right to complain but I have to admit I am guilty as hell. I have read several stories where I have thought I must write a review and haven't. I've actually finished a story determined to write a review and haven't. I think I will start making a habit of writing a review even if I am critical of the story. I think constructive criticism is worthwhile even if one struggles to find something positive in a person's work.

You have touched my conscience and I will start writing reviews. A review is so so encouraging. It really does make all the effort worthwhile.

Oh and thanks for the review!

[Alex Bragi]

How is it you can have 5,000 people read a story in a month and get maybe one or two to review it? Is the review proscess really that hard or is it something else. I mean it really is incouraging when someone takes the time to let you know what they felt about your story.

Yes, I agree, however, I didn't have to look further than the past two month's top reviewers to find an answer for you - your name isn't on either list.

It's disappointing for sure, particularly for those authors who have received no rating/feedback at all for their efforts. Your stories, I see, all have a least a couple of reviews - good high ratings too - well done!

Many readers are just that - readers not writers. I feel that quite possibly many just simply don't feel comfortable, or qualified, to comment. I agree it's unwarranted but I'm sure I'm right.

[Mad Lews]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I really am wondering if it's something to do with the process. I've actually gotten e-mails from people who tried to leave a review and for one reason or another couldn't. Is it the drop down menu selection? I really don't know. And yes I'm a guilty party too. I hereby swear to do at least three a week FNO

[Alex Bragi]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I really am wondering if it's something to do with the process. I've actually gotten e-mails from people who tried to leave a review and for one reason or another couldn't. Is it the drop down menu selection? I really don't know. And yes I'm a guilty party too. I hereby swear to do at least three a week FNO

All men whinge and complain, Mad Lews, so why should you be any different.

[Mad Lews]

All men whinge and complain, Mad Lews, so why should you be any different.

I may be few things but diffrent is one of them. Still I've never learned to whinge,If you'll describe it in graphic detail I'll try my best, or not.

[banderson]

I agree that it would be nice for authors to have more reviews of their works. That way, they could improve and be encouraged to write more. I'd review more myself except that it takes a certain amount of time to give a good review and I'm a bit lazy in that regard.

Of course, it also doesn't encourage me when my review is attacked...

banderson

[Tiger]

I had put a link on the review page. It will be too long to fit the full text there. I hope people will read it before reviewing. Sometime readers do not realize how their reviews will affect the authors and the authors may also keep other reviewers away by giving some negative remarks. So I believe this is a great idea to let both reviewers and authors understand the need of others. If you think I can improve it in any way, feel free to let me know.

Jinn

[emmacd]

Hi Jinn I know how you feel. I have out up messages on what I should write about. They are ignored and I would be happy if they wrote negative about what I wished towrite. This is quite different from other groups that I have been in. Just hang in and kep on writing. Emmacd :help:

I had put a link on the review page. It will be too long to fit the full text there. I hope people will read it before reviewing. Sometime readers do not realize how their reviews will affect the authors and the authors may also keep other reviewers away by giving some negative remarks. So I believe this is a great idea to let both reviewers and authors understand the need of others. If you think I can improve it in any way, feel free to let me know.

Jinn

[H Dean]

I had put a link on the review page. It will be too long to fit the full text there. I hope people will read it before reviewing. Sometime readers do not realize how their reviews will affect the authors and the authors may also keep other reviewers away by giving some negative remarks. So I believe this is a great idea to let both reviewers and authors understand the need of others. If you think I can improve it in any way, feel free to let me know.

Jinn

Maybe you should put a disclaimer - Don't give a bad review because the fetish or kink was not to your taste! - I have a seen a lot of bad reviews because it didn't fit the reviewers genre. Pardon - I said bad reviews. I meant stupid.

[General_Dom]

Two other trends I have found in reading other's reviews that should be, IMO, Big Don'ts:

1) Harshly judging a first chapter because it doesn't have enough of the "good stuff" (whatever you're into) - As a writer, I always try to start a story with a bang. I know that's important. But, let's try to cut the newer writers a break in this department. Effectively achieving balance between plot and character development is difficult to master. I don't know if slamming newbies with 1 and 2 star reviews is the way to get the message across. I am surprised many victims of this haven't just given up (and some have, unfortunately... look at all the one chapter stories out there). Lastly, if you feel your preliminary judgement is warrented, at least do the author the courtesy of re-reviewing the story once more content is added.

2) Laying down arbitrary rules like "a story should be 'x' pages long." Says who? Hey, the size is posted on every story link here. If it's beyond your attention span or interest level, then don't read it. Sorry for flaring, I was just thinking of a certain reviewer (who shall remain nameless).

[Mad Lews]

Two other trends I have found in reading other's reviews that should be, IMO, Big Don'ts:

1) Harshly judging a first chapter because it doesn't have enough of the "good stuff" (whatever you're into) - As a writer, I always try to start a story with a bang. I know that's important. But, let's try to cut the newer writers a break in this department. Effectively achieving balance between plot and character development is difficult to master. I don't know if slamming newbies with 1 and 2 star reviews is the way to get the message across. I am surprised many victims of this haven't just given up (and some have, unfortunately... look at all the one chapter stories out there). Lastly, if you feel your preliminary judgement is warrented, at least do the author the courtesy of re-reviewing the story once more content is added.

2) Laying down arbitrary rules like "a story should be 'x' pages long." Says who? Hey, the size is posted on every story link here. If it's beyond your attention span or interest level, then don't read it. Sorry for flaring, I was just thinking of a certain reviewer (who shall remain nameless).

Write on General_Dom!
Don't mind me I'm still smarting from my first review under 7, a 2 no less. Now don't get me wrong the story might suck but the reason given was she didn't find anything erotic about it. So I check out the other reviews she's done. They vary between 2 and 5 for every story except 1 author who gets straight tens. Comments are all pretty much the same " It didn't turn me on". I mean you can tell people the rating scale isn't an arouse-o-meter but you can't make them listen. The same reviewer mentioned that the story should grip her from page one and be no more than 25-30 pages. I thought of asking for a word count because I don't know the font size she uses and I'd hate to leave her dangeling with a 35 page story, but I figured I'd said enough.
Vent closed! Hatches secured, I'll plunge on now.
Mad Lews

[Alex Bragi]

Do you review?

[buttins]

There is a place i know of that does reviews.... They seem to be sticking with pretty much one source for their stories, but I did see one or two from here... Maybe if they heard from you, they would start doing more stories from here. Anyway, the link is: http://indianpilot.tripod.com

Hope it is of some help.

buttins

[DungeonMaster6]

As someone who has submitted stories, I can say that it is encouraging to know someone thought enough of my story to write a review. If it's a positive review of course I'm delighted, but even if it's negative (and I've received a few), it spurs me on to do better.

[Aussiegirl1]

Sandcastler, I can understand how not getting a reply back from authors when you email them would be disappointing, but do try reviewing a story. It is a much more public way to praise the author of the story you like or offer some hints on how to improve a story. I for one really look forward to seeing what my reviewers say. It is ok to try to email the author too but as you have discovered they may not always respond. I hope you decide to review one of my stories and let me know what you like (or dislike) about it.

I have to agree with DungeonMaster, it does spur you on to write more when someone takes the time to review. I don't write just for reviews, I write first and formost for my own enjoyment, but I do get a buzz each time a new story starts to get reviewed.

[Widget]

I think one of the reasons so few people offer the feedback is because they just don't know what to say. Maybe the content is not thier cup of tea so they don't want to say anything at all because they don't know how to seperate the content from the style and quality of the writing.

[Aussiegirl1]

I wonder too if many readers just don't think about reviewing. For a few years I just read the stories and it was not until I submitted by first story that I began to understand the whole review process. It wasn't that it wasn't clearly explained but that I just didn't take any notice of it.

I agree that watching the number of readers rise is fun, though you don't know if they read all the story or not. It is a curious thing, but so long as I get at least a few reviews, to let me know what they liked or didn't like about the story, that is good. That to me is the most important part about reviews, if I can get a feel for what worked or didn't work, I can use it to improve my next story.

[Rabbit1]

Well there is an excellent guide to reviewing a story ---and I kind of feel like we need to show members how to review a story ---I get so many emails asking if a particular author is going to add to a story ---and I answer them by telling them I have no idea---but they might want to review the story to let the author know they would like to see more ----Now I never wrote a story just to get reviews---I write because I like to ---but I will tell you that getting a review does a lot to make you want to continue ---

I am a paid author ---I write book ---not erotic book --novels ---I have 5 published novels---and better than reviews I get a check each month ---that tells me people have enjoyed my stories and makes me want to write more ----I started writing erotic stories---that is where I started ---and reviews made a lot of difference to me ----I started on a story board and continued there until they turned it into a pay site----

yes I still get paid from that site as it pays me by the number of times my stories are downloaded ---I get paid from the new member fees that people pay when they join and the monthly fees they pay to stay members

but I would rather my short erotic stories were free and I post them on boards for free ----I like to help and encourage new authors ----

we have started basic writers classes for new authors in the Writer's Block

now I feel like we ought to train reviewers---I hope each of you will take the time to review a story ---and maybe comment on it in this forum ---