[OT] Reviews and Comments - From the Writer's Perspective

OT = Off-Topic ;D

This is a discussion that I posted up on another forum about a month ago, but due to the lack of active writers there have received very little in the way of replies. I know there are lots of creative minds here, and I'd bet you guys would be more into this than they were anyways.

This was mainly thought up because of this[=http://finalfantasyforums.net/showpost.php?p=966657&postcount=43]this post in the RP that ElvenAngel, DragonMage, 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 lishakes head in shameli ), 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.

This is the internet my dear friend. I'm not a creative writer and I don't post stories online, just an FYI. I also get that it probably sucks to write your ass off and get a "cool story bro, update dat shit yo" instead of of a full review, but at the end of the day you're writing for a bunch of strangers reading this in their free time, not Roger Ebert.

Don't get me wrong, I do agree that reviews are better than comments, but people aren't going to spend their free time giving you the full run down of your work, they're going to say if they're interested in reading more or not. Personally, id be more grateful that someone actually read my work, than I would be pissed off that they didn't leave me a full review.

...So there's my take on this. Again, I can understand what you're saying, but getting pissed off that someone didn't leave you a full review isn't worth getting pissed off about even if you did write your ass off to make it happen.

I agree. I've posted my music all over the web. And as much as I would love for someone to critique it, at this pint I would settel for someone trolling it.

Re: critiques & comments - I'm reminded a bit of the situation on art sites like dA where the artist will grumble about getting favorites but not comments, and then when they complain about that, they get comments to the effect of "cool art, bro." Of course, they then complain about that and generate a whole bunch of drama for themselves. Quite honestly, the way I figure it, it's good to ask for critique, but don't worry too much about it if the critique you get isn't very useful or abundant. I could probably basically repeat SMT here, most people don't have the time to really do that.

A better approach IMHO, is to find someone you trust and has the capacity to do a proper critique to do a reading before you post and incorporate their feedback before posting publicly. My writing tends to be a lot better when I do that.

Cool reply, bro.

A better approach IMHO, is to find someone you trust and has the capacity to do a proper critique to do a reading before you post and incorporate their feedback before posting publicly. My writing tends to be a lot better when I do that.

Agreed, most people on the internet are just there to look up stories during their free time, they're not your critique slaves. Don't take offense if all they write is a simple comment and not go into detail about what they don't/do like about your work. Find a friend that you trust and apply their feedback to your work.

While I’ll always prefer a more detailed critique to something more cursory, like a Beavis & Butt-Head style “Cool!” or “Sucks!”, I recognize that that’s not easy for some people. And of course not everyone has the time to do a full-on critique. Any positive comment I’ll gladly accept, even if it’s just a “keep up the good work”; though for anything more critical I’ll always prefer something more detailed, as a couple of you have done. I’d dismiss anything that’s no more substantial than “this blows!”

On the other side of the coin, in my critiques of others’ work, I always feel inclined and almost obligated to go into more detail, as you’ve seen. Really in-depth analysis, though, is beyond my reach; a good example is the “Frisby-turned-Brisby” article by Paula T. Connolly in the TV articles library.

While I’ll always prefer a more detailed critique to something more cursory, like a Beavis & Butt-Head style “Cool!” or “Sucks!”, I recognize that that’s not easy for some people. And of course not everyone has the time to do a full-on critique. Any positive comment I’ll gladly accept, even it’s just a “keep up the good work”; though for anything more critical I’ll always prefer something more detailed, as a couple of you have done. I’d dismiss anything that’s no more substantial than “this blows!”

On the other side of the coin, in my critiques of others’ work, I always feel inclined and almost obligated to go into more detail, as you’ve seen. Really in-depth analysis, though, is beyond my reach; a good example is the “Frisby-turned-Brisby” article by Paula T. Connolly in the TV articles library.

This.

Steven