REVIEWS: HOW TO GIVE THEM AND HOW TO RECEIVE THEM

I'm kind of disillusioned with how people have been receiving my comments about their stuff. So um you might not agree with this, but this is how I think reviewing should go around here. It's not going to be very formal since I don't believe reviewing is a very srs business - not so srs as some people make it out to be. Yes, I do know how to spell serious. In case you were wondering. In fact, I actually think learning how to take reviews is kind of more important than learning how to give them... kind of.

GIVING
Giving reviews... well, there are no set connotations. There's no real need to structure and paragraph a review like you're submitting an essay. It's an informal critique (for the most part, since few on FP are published writers, right?) so it would be helpful if you separate your points briefly, but personally, I feel that the writer should be happy and grateful that someone took time to read and write down their thoughts about the piece in question, so it's kind of like equal give-and-take. Don't expect people to give you what you yourself would give in a review. Reviews are very personal things and everyone has different standards and styles of reviewing.

First, of course, you read the damn thing. Don't review without reading the entire thing! It's really rude. For super long chaptered stories, reviewing each chapter is fine, but for completed stories of around 3 chapters, one-shots and poems, you should really read the entire thing because it'll give you a more cohesive idea of the effect the writer desired to achieve.

Secondly, you identify the good points and the bad points, or the points you think could be improved on. If you've got suggestions or comments on bigger ideas like for example how the writer uses his/her words to achieve a certain tone or mood, or how the writer develops on his/her theme, you should probably put them last or first. Or where it is relevant. This is because sometimes you can pick out commonalities in the piece that you think affect _____. So if you can see a pattern, you should talk about it first, then go on to explain the smaller, nitty-gritty things. If you can only see good OR bad points, it's fine. Of course, a review made up of good points will please the writer more than a completely negative criticism will, but pleasing the writer is not your first and foremost goal in giving a review.

Lastly, to round off the review, you should evaluate the piece. Was it fantastic? Was it mind-blowingly awesome? Was it mediocre? Or did you think it was completely, utterly unsalvageable?? Also, always remember it is better to be honest about what you think. For example, if you can see how other people might like it, but you didn't, just say so... of course, you should have stated why you didn't like it earlier. See previous paragraph.

RECEIVING
This isn't as easy as giving reviews. Since the growth of users on FP, fewer users have their work read, and subsequently, you get less reviews. These reviews could be either good, bad, or a mix of both. And I did say earlier that I find it more important to know how to take comments rather than give them? But honestly, I could sum up my advice in two words: Take it.

Do not leave it. It is always good to reply reviews, unless you have endless fan mail and you have no time. No matter if the review is good or bad, you should reply the review with your thanks. There are two types of appreciation. First, appreciation for the good comments. Second, appreciation for the review itself - that the reviewer took time to read your stuff and comment on it.

Then, if your reviewer has questions, or if you wish to reply/rebutt anything your reviews has said, you do it in the review reply. For example, A said that he feels XYZ word should be replaced with ABC word. You disagree, and say why you think XYZ word is more fitting or meaningful than using ABC word. If you agree with the correction, say thank you.

Very important: don't hate on the reviewer. No one likes that - unless the reviewer has flamed you. A FLAME IS NOT NEGATIVE CRITICISM. A FLAME IS SOMETHING LIKE "OMG I H8 THIS IT'S SO BAD" - someone hating on you without telling you why. Unless the review is a flame, you should not ban the person. Banning is a last resort, okay? It really pisses the other party off. It really does. This is for srs. Normally people have good intentions when reviewing work, so snubbing these good intentions is just generally a bloody awful idea.

SO...
A lot of times, I look back on what I've said, and I either agree wholeheartedly with myself, or I think, "Damn, that sounded so bitchy." If you ever encounter moments like the latter, you should apologize. If the other person's not a total asshole, they'll probably accept your apology.

And if you think you've received some damn harsh criticism? Go to poetry_slamming at Livejournal. It's a Livejournal community. Tagline: WE JUDGE YOUR POETRY! HARSHLY! And the accepted members of the community really do judge your poetry harshly. You have to apply to get in, and it's a pretty scary experience. But they have valid things to say, and one of the things you have to have to apply there is a really awesome learning attitude. Same for stories, as well... they're harder to comment holistically on, but the principle is about the same.

Often, two people have equally valid points, but it is hard to see another perspective sometimes. Just remember that this is the internet, bbs, and everything goes.

We cool? Yeah, we cool.


NOTES
Disagree? Agree? Want to review my semi-essay about writing a review? Go ahead!