My thoughts while reading this essay were:
-I want more reviews.
-Oh no, I think I have given several 'meh' reviews.
-When I read from now on I am going to give reviews.
-Maybe I should change my one lonely story into a review return story, maybe.
-I'm not sure whether or not this review would count as 'meh' or not.
I had no flames and no criticism. I found the tips helpful and am likely to put them to use.
Thanks for writing this and posting it.
-Finna

Hahaha, I appreciate this guide. I just got onto Fiction Press, I spent more time over on FanFiction, but this is a helpful place to start! You do a good job of combining humor into actually useful tips and tricks. Thanks for posting this! I have a question more about Fiction Press, it is more of a post your own work, yes? I am still trying to figure it out. Thanks!

Somehow you manage to turn something I was just reading because I thought it would help me, into something I actually smiled at.

I found this helpful

Good tips on reviewing. OPening the comment box right away saves time in gathering your thoughts and having to remember what you were thinking of when you were still reading.

Hey what do you mean the stories return review?

Oh thank you so much for writing this! Im aboutntonatartca story for fiction press and was looking for advice. This was really helpful.
Thanks!:)

Opening a review box - thanks for the excellent idea.

I like the points highlighted here.

For one I'm now thinking of changing my user name. Not sure what I want it to be now though. I'll have to think about that.

I also need to start returning more reviews. I don't do that a lot to be honest.
Normally I send PMs to say thanks for reviews given, so I guess I'm on the right track for that.

Good article overall.

hey i am new and your tips are actually helping me, can u review my work i only have one story anyways the blood chronicles: war bound

This was very helpful. I find it hard to find things to say in a review or what I should do when I get cleared things up.

Thank you for writing this, this is helpful for a newbie that is still trying to figure out this website. I don't know how good my reviews will be, but lol, hopefully they will be helpful. Silly question, what is Feng Shui anyways? I hear it occasionally but I guess I should stop being lazy and just look it up!

I enjoyed reading your essay, and I think more people would benefit from reading it.
I know myself, sometimes my own reviews are the annoying "great story, keep it up!" types, I know these are not very productive, but it's always nice to hear something positive right? Lately though, I've been trying to make a better effort when I review someone to leave a review that they can actually take something from, because I really do appreciate when the favor is returned. I also plan on trying to reply to reviews more often, provided their messaging system is not disabled.
I've also starting joining forums and playing the review games, review for a review. This has been interesting and I've found two stories that I intend on continuing to read that are really good, and outside of my usual genre preference.

Anyway, if you do decide to review one of my stories, please check out "Come Back To Me"
Thank you! :)

Haha, your last sentence made me laugh... XD
I'm reviewing this essay now not because I'd like you to return a review (hell, I'm not even a writer, just a passionate reader) but because I really believe you deserved it and I find your tips very useful.
I haven't been on FictionPress for long time now, I'm an author on FanFiction but I do enjoy reading original work of other people and just like you've said I have an opportunity to express my opinion through it. I'm always trying to do so because I know how much a few simple words can brighten someone's day! So... I think you did an awesome job with this essay and I will surely read the rest of your tips for new writers!
Have a nice day! ;)

Wow! This was really helpful for me. I haven't really thought that reviewing someone else's work can lead anyone to read your own work. Being a beginner writer, works like this really help me find ways to attract readers. Thank you. I do have one question, though. In your first paragraph, in the first line, shouldn't it be "would rather talk [than] listen." You used then. I'm not too sure if you did that on purpose.