Fic Talk > General Discussion

Question of the day part 10

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RokofAges75:
When I start a new story, I usually read what's there or, if I'm discovering it late, at least a few chapters to get a feel for it, and if I like what I've read and could see myself reading more, I'll review.  I do feel somewhat committed to the story once I review, but that doesn't always mean I'll stick with it till the end.  I usually continue reading, but sometimes the story takes a turn that makes me lose interest in it, or sometimes I just get busy and fall behind.  I feel bad when that happens, and sometimes I will let the writer(s) know so they won't think it was their story.  If it was their story, I usually don't say anything unless asked directly.  I don't think I've ever left a review explaining why I won't be leaving any more reviews LOL.

As a writer, I'm used to people reviewing and then disappearing.  Sometimes the opposite happens - I'll get a review on the end of a story from someone I had no idea was even reading it.  I wish everyone who read would review, even if it means some of them might stop somewhere along the way.  I would be curious to know why they did.  I think I have enough confidence in my writing nowadays to not be offended if someone explained why they weren't going to read anymore.  I know sometimes the reason has nothing to do with my writing or that aspect of the story at all.

Sakabelle:

--- Quote from: mare on August 14, 2013, 04:50:23 AM ---When you read something new, do you review right away or wait until you're ready to commit to reading the entire thing before you review? If you do review right away, do you then feel an obligation to see the story through even if you don't enjoy it? Do you ever go into the story and in a review explain why you stopped reading?

--- End quote ---
I usually review right away if it's something I actually read and didn't just skim the first chapter to see if it's something I'd like. I feel a bit of obligation, yeah. I never go into a story and explain why I stopped reviewing, because usually the reason isn't "I didn't like it." It's "I fell really behind and now I'm just waiting until it's over to read it all at once." As I've said before I do this with TV shows too. Currently waiting out Breaking Bad LOL.


--- Quote from: mare on August 14, 2013, 04:50:23 AM ---As a writer, Do you prefer anyone who read your stuff reviewed even if they just suddenly disappear and if they do just suddenly disappear, do you ever find yourself wondering if they just stopped reviewing but are still reading? Would you like it if someone came into your story and explained why they stopped reading or do think that might hinder your writing and make you doubt yourself?

--- End quote ---

If people who are reading my stuff suddenly disappear, it'd be nice to know what they didn't like about the story, but honestly I usually can figure it out for myself. A lost a lot of readers on one of my 1D stories because I waited a few months to update it. One girl let me know she stopped reading because the slash didn't happen soon enough, and one other girl was also a writer, and through her writing I knew the pairing that she liked reading/writing had changed.

I don't mind people telling me that stuff, it doesn't bother me. The only time it has hurt is when people aren't nice about it about the actual writing. Disliking a plot, a character, a chapter, even a banner doesn't hurt as much as being bluntly told the writing isn't good. It's honestly very discouraging.

mare:
Ugh, I can't believe people would even tell you the writing is bad, Steph because you are a great writer.

I know as a writer, I would love to know why someone stopped reading my stuff halfway through but I also know there's no way for us to really tell if that is actually what has happened. Sometimes people still read even if they suddenly stop reviewing. I think for me, I'd like someone to tell me what it was that made them stop reading. Was it a plot point? Or did it take too long for an update or did it end up going in a way you weren't expecting and know you just wouldn't enjoy? I guess that's why I'm torn what to do as a reader, because as a writer I would like those answers but I know not everyone would.

As far as reviewing, I used to wait until I knew for sure I wanted to commit to a story but like I said there's so much on AC that's readable now, I've just been leaving reviews for things that look promising and I know that some of them aren't things I'll stick with because of the directions they are taking. I couldn't' figure that out by the first chapters though.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of stories where I already know I won't read all the way through but do read that first chapter because it's a name I know or want to read something by them but I'm afraid if I do review it'll be a commitment I'm unwilling to make but then I also see those people sometimes complaining about lack of reviews so I'm at a standstill. Do I tell them I read your first chapter even though I know in the end I won't like this? LOL

Sakabelle:
Thanks Mare :)

To your point about people complaining about a lack of reviews on twitter. This actually will turn me off of reading altogether. And if I did start reading the story, I'd feel really obligated to continue because I'd fear if I fell behind/stopped reading I'd get passive aggressive tweets/tumblr blogs written because I stopped.

I'm not going to lie and say I've never tweeted about a lack of reviews, I'm sure that I have. But I try not to because whenever I see that it turns me off of reading so much. I don't think anyone looks at those kinds of tweets, feels bad for the person and then goes and checks out their stuff. And even if that is the case, I wouldn't want people to read anything I wrote because they felt bad for me, I want them to read it because they are enjoying it and are genuinely excited for the update.

Additionally, I see my friends reblogging their own stories on tumblr (I don't know if any of you use tumblr, but doing that is basically the same as retweeting yourself) That drives me insane and it creates an illusion of arrogance.

I'm going to stop now before I turn into a ranty mcranterson LOL

mare:
I can become ranty mcranterson about that too! LOL I don't use tumblr because I don't really understand it, but that would annoy me! I hate when people RT themselves saying they updated a thousand times. LOL We know we get it!

And yes, I'm pretty sure at one point or another we have all whined about lack of reviews but I am the same way. I won't go search out your story just because I feel bad, in this particular case though, I did take the time to read this first chapter and when the whining started I didn't know what to do. It's like well do I go in there and say "Look I read it and it was good, but I know this isn't going to entertain me. I knew it when I clicked on it. I was just curious to see what you came up with."  Or do I just not say anything and act like I am one of those people just ignoring a story?

I'll probably just act like I never read it and keep doing that with most of the things I tend to just click on out of curiosity. LOL

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