How to Write a Review

Here's a thread to discuss how to write a good review.

What do you want to see in a review? What do you think makes a quality review? Con-crit ? Their own interpretation of their story?

Ultimately how and what do you write in reviews ?

---

I usually write about how I understood the story and try to link it to other stories/poems. I almost always ask questions, I think that's the biggest advantage of reviewing a story by someone who is still alive and who could actually answer you. I don't like telling the author I really loved the story. It's weird and it's what post authors except from a review but I can't do it. Also I never comment on grammar/punctuation unless it's really really bad, I find it a bit rude to comment on that one comma you forgot to put.

-Again I know that there is a Best/Worst Review topic, and if you find this useless feel free to block it.-

No, actually this might prove quite useful.

Also, most authors prefer quoting of one's favorite bits, which is good as long as you elaborate as to why you've liked/disliked those bits.

Then, most authors really appreciate when you write about your own interpretation of the story.

I'm out of ideas. :XD

One of the best reviews you can get on Mibba are from Yeya (Beelzebub.)

Her reviews are amazingly long. She tells you any con-crit she has, like maybe spelling errors or grammartical errors that she picks up whilst reading the story, then goes into detail about the parts she liked and how she interpreted them.

I dunno if that helps, but she's a good example of how to write a review.

I most definitely agree.
Also, Helena's, abra cadaver.'s reviews are something every author is really happy to see.
Hunt them down for a good example.

Bastard Son.:

I most definitely agree.
Also, Helena's, abra cadaver.'s reviews are something every author is really happy to see.
Hunt them down for a good example.

My best ones are from Helena. Or Sara. I dunno, the Croats are good at it.

My favorite always came from The Way. I like when readers can look at the metaphors and get meaning from it. I get very depressed when people don't pick up on some of the symbols I put in my story. Like the reason for Mikey in Nanashi or the Snow in Cherry Soda Boy.

I also like when people find quotes they love and post it, cause that just shows they were really paying attention to the content.

I really like it when people explain why they do/do not like a characterization of a certain character. I also like it when they quote their favorite lines. When I leave reviews I try to explain things in imagery. Like if a certain line makes me see something, I relay that to the author. [That line made me see all the problems as if they were vines tangling throughout everyone.] Something like that. The other day I left a PM review [which I still need to transfer to the actual comment thread] telling someone that their vocabulary was so perfect and well-picked that it seemed like they had picked each word up with tweezers and set it down perfectly on paper.

It's always better than: good, great. Like that Ryan's not like normal. Pretty.

That was my story! :-D

That review made my day.

And what I think makes a good review is a favourite line/part, then why you liked it, what else you can say about the writing in general, maybe any con/crit or noting errors.

I try and do that every time.

Sardonic Grin:

My favorite always came from The Way. I like when readers can look at the metaphors and get meaning from it. I get very depressed when people don't pick up on some of the symbols I put in my story. Like the reason for Mikey in Nanashi or the Snow in Cherry Soda Boy.

I also like when people find quotes they love and post it, cause that just shows they were really paying attention to the content.

I agree.

Elle (that's her username) is very good at leaving con crit reviews. She's not afraid to tear it apart and say what was confusing and what could be worked on. I asked her to review one of my one-shots and she really helped me. I realized what was confusing (even to me) after she pointed those things out.

Like everyone else, I like reading what people loved. But I also like reading what they didn't. If enough people agree I normally consider changing it around a bit. I think some people on here are afraid to point out those things. I don't see why...I think authors like knowing what their readers don't.

I personally I don't like reading stuff like, "Your grammar was good, and no spelling errors." If there weren't any mistakes with grammar, I don't see why there is a need to put that in. I assume if there were errors, those would be listed.

Other than Elle, here are some people I think leave good (as in will tell you what was wrong/could be improved, too) reviews:
Beelzebub.
Zodiac.
Freakish.

The most important thing about writing a review is that it should be positive. Any type of critique should be. Its not about finding things that are wrong. Its about giving specific comments that the writer can actually use. Every one loves praise and while it feels good it does nothing to help the writer grow and develop. I'm not saying don't give negative criticisms. Just "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Write a review that you would like to receive. Don't start sentences with the word you. (you did this, you did that) It’s a personal attack in a way. Say I or this or me… (I felt that, this made me think) Don't ever say: "you should have written it like this:" We all have our own styles of writing and need to respect that.

Always be honest and let the author know where you're coming from. If you despise slash but found their piece to be moving then say so. If you're a cynical person but found hope in their words then that means something. It’s easy to say you liked it but the real challenge is trying to figure out why.

Here’s a list of things you should look at when writing a review

Grammar and spelling

Overall structure and flow, the general pace and length of the piece.

The consistency of the point of view

The showing vs. telling balance

Plot wise how effective is the opening? Is there sufficient conflict through out the story? Is it resolved at the end or is the reader left with questions? But more importantly are they suppose to be left with questions?

How did the story make you feel?

Is the story line believable? Is there any parts of it that seem to be just unnecessary fluff?

How well did they create the settings and the characters? Are they believable? Do they act realistically? Is the dialog appropriate?

You don't have to address every point every single time, just the ones that made an impact on you. Offer feedback and suggestions on what could be changed but know that that’s all it is suggestions… Reviewing isn't hard. It just takes time.

Elle:

...Reviewing isn't hard. It just takes time...

Amen to that.

It’s tricky though because the review I’d find fantastic and helpful some find slightly offensive. Like, I really, really appreciate it when people point out my typos and grammar errors because I’m a perfectionist. But I’ve come across people who think that that’s just petty. They might see typos as unimportant details which doesn’t matter if the rest of the story is good and might see it as rude if I point them out however gentle it is done.

For some reason I find it a lot easier to review poems. The poets seem less defensive about their work than the writers (from my own experience of course. It’s not necessarily the case in reality). I guess on reason it’s easier for me though is because of the simple fact that I spent about four years giving and receiving con-crit for poems on GSB.

as an author, the reviews that make me happiest are ones that SHOW that the reader has connected to the story, whether they're excited by it and want more, or have been made to think or have been reduced to tears or are laughing on the floor - any REAL reaction is just.. gah, so SO satisfying to hear. it really makes it all worth it.

but, i don't just mean that someone's said "That was great, update soon!" [though it is nice to hear, i guess]

i mean where someoneactually starts a CONVERSATION about it. where they're all "Oh wow this bit:"*quotes bit*" really brought out *this* part of *character's* personality"
and "I loved the way you used *this mechanism* to illustrate *this point*"

or just asking questions about it "oh wow - this makes me wonder what *character's* intention's really are! is he going to be okay?"

stuff like that. stuff that shows that the reader's really READ the story and has been carried by it. it's such an incredible feeling to see that someone'sreally INTO your characters or your plotline. so PLEASE, show us that when you review!

although i'm grateful to every review, "That was good, well done" [and equally: "this could have been better"] really doesn't TELL me anything.
i want to know WHICH bits were good, WHICH bits could have been better, y'know? cos... if you don't tellme, how am i supposed to know how to improve?

and a note to authors:
i try my hardest to thank every reviewer. i think it's only polite if they've taken the time to respond to my scribblings!
i sorta find.. when *I* review, and the author hasn't bothered to acknowledge they've read it, that i'm less inclined to review that person again [as i assume they don't care]
so remember to say thank you! these people don't have to waste their time and their bandwidth stroking your ego, so appreciate it when they do!

I like it when reviewers ask questions if they don't understand something.
It means they obviously care enough to wonder.

I think a review most consist of basically and essentially 3 parts

Objective constructive criticism
It must have examples to support your arguments, you can't just say "its a bit vague" with out saying how do you think it could be improved.
A reviewer must speak about the plot line, the descriptions, the character way to conduce him/herself, the atmosphere created.

Then the Opinion this is lot more open
but you can't just say "lovely" Lovely why? What did it made you feel? What bits resume the whole writing? What is out of it? How would you have changed it? Is it believable?

And finally Grammar, Idioms, and slang
does it fits the story?
is it wrongly written?
does it needs an explanation at bottom?

I think it's dumb not to ask questions. You obviously can't do that with reallife books/poems. It's great when the author's not dead and on the same site as you are.

My reviews are getting way too much like literary critique. Do you think that's particularly annoying ?I mean I can talk for at least 2 pages about how your narrative perspective and why it suits the story, but I don't even look at things like grammar or spelling. I was talking with a friend the other day and we were saying that stories should be debated not reviewed. Then what's the purpose of reviews on mibba ? to debate the story contempt and somehow find its true nature or to give constructive criticism and help the author improve their writing ?

And since we're on the topic would you read critique for mibba stories ? I mean as an additional part to the story not necessary a review of a story. I'm not even sure if anyone actually reads critique unless they're forced to.

^ because i'm really creepy, i probably read more critique on this site than actual stories. sometimes i'll just chill in the story review thread and read through it, while taking glances at stories to see in detail what people are talking about. i think it started when i wanted to learn what my reviews should really contain and how detailed they should be. but i don't review a whole lot because i don't read a whole lot either.
this thread helped a lot though.

I just like hearing anything. Any reaction. The more in-depth the better, of course.

If I've made a mistake, grammar or spelling or something, I always want it pointed out.
I love con. crit. but also hearing what is good about my story because I like to know my strengths as well as what I need to work on.
Just anything that the reader draws from the story, it's good to hear about. I find that readers tend to give reviews that they think justify the story (or, I do anyway)...I'll work harder on a comment if I absolutely adored the story.

I'm surprised this thread's been inactive for four months, because it's a pretty useful one in respect to both writers of stories and writers of comments :shifty

I think in the terms of recieving reviews, any feedback is a feat in itself; positive or not. Concrit helps you figure out your weaknesses, positive feedback helps you see your strengths. And just seeing what people thought in general about what you write is always nice to find out.

When I write comments, I tend to end up rambling about what I thought individual lines meant, how I thought it linked together, things like that. I sometimes speculate as to why the characters interact like the do, what their backstory is, what might happen in future chapters, if there are any. Mostly, I try and do a story justice in a comment.

And as has been mentioned before; reviwing isn't a hard thing, as long as you put the time and effort into it.

The best reviews I've ever received are from Sheep - She tells you what certain parts of the story make you feel and which particular words do that, so of course, you know what to do in future :cute: She's honest as well, so it really helps when you go to write in future. She doesn't ramble like she claims to :tehe: She talks about them in depth.

I personally like long comments, even if they tell me they dislike the story, like Sardonic Grin did once. She was honest (brutally honest, as she put it) but it made me want to do better in that particular story.