On Writing Fan Fiction Reviews
You may recall that one of my first posts on this blog was about how to write reviews well. I would like to revisit a similar subject this time, more specifically the topic of writing fan fiction reviews for sites such as FanFiction.net and Archive Of Our Own.
Most of what I said in the previous post still applies, so please take a look at the review for the basics on content and length. However, there is one important point about writing fan fiction reviews that does not apply to other kinds of user reviews:
These reviews are for the benefit of the authors, not prospective readers.
Some readers read the reviews, but mainly to see what other people thought about the fic, rather than for help deciding whether they should read fic. Most reviews are specifically addressed to the author, and written as feedback on the work.
With that in mind, here are a few more specific pieces of advice.
Try to focus on constructive criticism: If you strongly dislike a work, it's fine to make a scathing user review, but in this case, the writer is likely seeking feedback on where they can improve, and is unlikely to take an overly negative review to heart. You should not shy away from making criticism, but consider its tone and try to make it as easy to understand and accept as possible.
Spoilers are not a concern: In fact, you should feel free to make specific references to the fic when doing so helps support the points you are trying to make. As I mentioned above, it is most likely that any readers who read the reviews have already read the story.
Consider that the stories you review are works in progress: The importance of this is twofold. On the one hand, any feedback you have can potentially address problems that may arise later on in the story, so it is important to make your concerns known. On the other hand, you may not necessarily know how the story will go, or the importance of any single part in the larger narrative. In the latter case, you may not be wrong to criticize a certain part of a story, but you should not be surprised if the author disregards your advice and continues according to the vision they had for the story.
If the author responds, thank them and reply appropriately: Unlike most published authors, it is possible to begin a correspondence with the authors of fanfics you review, and play a role in each other's growth as writers.
The writer is not obligated to listen to your review: Perhaps you may be right, and your advice may help the writer improve, but they may have legitimate reasons for declining your advice. Perhaps it is simply a question of style, or they already have a vision for how the story will go. If they politely decline your advice, you should politely accept their decision.
These are a few pieces of advice that should help your advice be more easily understood and accepted, and possibly help foster good relationships between you and the authors of the stories you review.
Most of what I said in the previous post still applies, so please take a look at the review for the basics on content and length. However, there is one important point about writing fan fiction reviews that does not apply to other kinds of user reviews:
These reviews are for the benefit of the authors, not prospective readers.
Some readers read the reviews, but mainly to see what other people thought about the fic, rather than for help deciding whether they should read fic. Most reviews are specifically addressed to the author, and written as feedback on the work.
With that in mind, here are a few more specific pieces of advice.
Try to focus on constructive criticism: If you strongly dislike a work, it's fine to make a scathing user review, but in this case, the writer is likely seeking feedback on where they can improve, and is unlikely to take an overly negative review to heart. You should not shy away from making criticism, but consider its tone and try to make it as easy to understand and accept as possible.
Spoilers are not a concern: In fact, you should feel free to make specific references to the fic when doing so helps support the points you are trying to make. As I mentioned above, it is most likely that any readers who read the reviews have already read the story.
Consider that the stories you review are works in progress: The importance of this is twofold. On the one hand, any feedback you have can potentially address problems that may arise later on in the story, so it is important to make your concerns known. On the other hand, you may not necessarily know how the story will go, or the importance of any single part in the larger narrative. In the latter case, you may not be wrong to criticize a certain part of a story, but you should not be surprised if the author disregards your advice and continues according to the vision they had for the story.
If the author responds, thank them and reply appropriately: Unlike most published authors, it is possible to begin a correspondence with the authors of fanfics you review, and play a role in each other's growth as writers.
The writer is not obligated to listen to your review: Perhaps you may be right, and your advice may help the writer improve, but they may have legitimate reasons for declining your advice. Perhaps it is simply a question of style, or they already have a vision for how the story will go. If they politely decline your advice, you should politely accept their decision.
These are a few pieces of advice that should help your advice be more easily understood and accepted, and possibly help foster good relationships between you and the authors of the stories you review.
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