tsunderesasuke:

The Problem

Fic writers wonder why people don’t review. They honestly can’t understand the silence. Writers assume that readers:

• usually have something to add/criticize/say
• know how to articulate their own thoughts/feelings
• withhold feedback because they’re lazy or apathetic
• don’t appreciate how much time/effort/energy goes into writing

On the flip-side, readers assume that:

• the writer already knows how ‘good’ their work is
• someone else will review because this fic is ‘obviously’ awesome
• if a fic is already ‘popular,’ their feedback won’t matter
• if they comment, they ‘must’ leave an awesome, insightful, detailed comment that 100% reflects their love for a fic
• since words aren’t adequate, it’s better to stfu and just click the kudos button/favotite/bookmark

None of these assumptions are accurate.

The reality is that:

• there is no reason for a writer to post their work except to get feedback that validates their vision, helps them improve and/or gives them an outsider perspective/interpretation of their work (which can be absolutely mind-blowing)
• like, you can and should write for yourself, but if that’s 100% the case, every good fic would be wasting away in a private word document
• ‘readers’ are not always ‘writers’
• ‘writers’ can naturally put their ideas and emotions into words
• ‘readers’ usually don’t know what to say, which words to use to express themselves, and belittle the importance of their perspective
• many ‘readers’ don’t write, so they can’t empathize with the struggle of writing a fic for a silent but attentive audience

Basically, readers don’t understand writers and vice-versa. Both parties are wired differently. Readers who also write are more likely to review because they empathize with both sides of the equation.

The Solution

Writers

• Be patient, understanding, and persistent
• Appreciate those who do review
• Don’t get bitter, discontinue a beloved story, or assume the worst of your readers
• Realize that everyone is really trying their best

Readers

• Be patient, supportive, honest, and empathetic
• Realize that there’s no minimum! Even two words (like ‘good work!’) can have a huge impact

Review Templates

Things to say when you’re tongue-tied:

Verbs

• I liked the part where/when…
• I wonder why…
• I smiled/laughed when…
• I was confused when…
• I think that…
• I predict…
• I was sad/happy/angry/[other emotion] when…

Nouns

• [character] did/said/felt/will do [this thing]
• because… (if applicable)
• [insert plot point/event]

Example: I think that [this guy] ran away from [his friend] because he was trying to protect him.

And that’s it. You don’t have to say anything else. One sentence is more than enough, but you’ll notice that once you get started, you’ll have a lot to say- so say it!

Author’s style

Your writing is:

• Detailed/descriptive
• Vivid
• Concise (to the point)
• Funny
• Serious
• Surreal
• Unique
• Compelling
• Provocative
• Leaves me wondering about a lot of things, and I’m curious about what happens next
• Confused me a little at times (talk about what confused you! The author will be more than happy to clear things up!)

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t

• Worry about grammar/typos in your review
• Suggest a direction for the story (most writers know what they’re doing and you just gotta trust them)
• Think that clicking the kudos button is all you can do! Your opinion is important!
• Tell the author to do more of [this] and less of [that]
• Ask them to update without leaving any other feedback

Do

• Leave short comments if you can’t think of anything else to say (“I like this” is more than acceptable, seriously)
• Inform the author of typos (be specific)- many fics are un-beta’d. The writer will appreciate your attention to detail.
• Express your own perspective even if it isn’t ‘correct-’ I think [character] did this because she was jealous, which explains why…
• Understand that your unique interpretation of motives/symbolism/foreshadowing/anything is extremely valuable
• Be honest, but diplomatic 
• Bookmark/rec works if you enjoy them, esp to help lesser-known writers 

You can copy/paste from this post into your reviews. It’s hard to find the right words sometimes, but for writers, anything is better than silence.