Fic Talk > General Discussion
Question of the day part 10
emilo:
I don't tend to review until I'm committed. Now, that being said, I will sometimes go ahead and review after a first chapter because I can already tell I'm going to really like following the story. If said story starts to go in a direction that's not really my cup of tea, I'll stick with it for a few more chapters anyway. Occasionally, I'll be pleasantly surprised and end up finishing anyway. Now, I've admitted before that I'm really bad about leaving reviews. I'm doing better, because I really think reviews help me to stay motivated as a writer, but if the writer isn't responding to my reviews, I end up making them fewer and farther between-- or maybe stop all together. I think the dialogue with the writer is part of what makes leaving reviews fun.
As far as the question about what to do when you stop reading, I think it depends on how well you know the writer. If it's someone that you're somewhat comfortable with because you've had an ongoing dialogue, I think it's perfectly fine to say, "I'm not reading any more because, ________. " Of course, if the reason is, oh, the writing sucks, I think that may be better left unsaid. This is one of the reasons I tend to be a little inconsistent with leaving reviews on the stories I'm not 100% committed to finishing. I'd hate to be leaving reviews for every chapter then just all of a sudden stop with no explanation at all. As a writer, that kind of thing hurts, even if it's not personal.
usako:
I don't think I ever whined on Twitter. I just feel bad when I tweet that I made an update because I don't want people to read it only because I put a link and they clicked not knowing what it was. I'm weird, I know. LOL
Carter-Orange:
I'm way behind, so you'll probably see a lot of posts from me!
When you decide to use song lyrics, quotes or anything else as a header for a chapter, do you tend to pick that first and then write the chapter around it or after the chapter is written do you go in search of the best lyrics, quotes etc... that would best fit what you just wrote?
I don't think I've ever used lyrics or quotes as a header for a chapter, but I think if I did, I'd write the chapter first and then find something which fits.
Carter-Orange:
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?
I review right away if I like the first chapter. I don't feel obligated to carry on reading and won't carry on if I don't like the story. But if I've read the first few chapters and enjoyed them, then I'll carry on reading until the end. I might not read as it's posted because sometimes I lose track, but I'll go back to it and read a load in one go eventually (I have a few like this currently). I would never tell someone why I stopped reading, but it would have nothing to do with the writing and more my own personal taste.
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?
If someone stops reviewing then I just think that the story isn't their thing, I can't please everyone. I wouldn't like someone to explain why, it would be awful to see a review saying "Hey Steph, I stopped reading because your story is crap and I hated where it was going" lol.
Carter-Orange:
How do you feel about cliff hangers? Do you enjoy reading stories with them or writing them? Or do you generally like things resolved at the end of chapters?
I love a good cliffhanger! I might say things like "noooo you can't leave it like that" but I say that out of love for the story.
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