Mutual reviews for web novel authors

[circlegray]

Fellow authors, I’d like to propose a fair and constructive review exchange.

Here’s the idea:

• We read each other’s first few chapters
• We leave a detailed and honest review
• We highlight both strengths and weaknesses

Things we can focus on:

• Writing style and flow
• Atmosphere and emotional impact
• Plot hooks and engagement
• Pacing
• Scenes that could be shortened or strengthened
• Any inconsistencies or weak points

No empty “Great job, keep going.”
Only thoughtful, constructive feedback.
I read your story — you read mine.
Fair. Honest. Useful.

Let’s help each other grow and improve our writing.

Here’s the link to my novel:
[https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2127718/the-mad-immortal/]

 

[c37]

Fellow authors, I’d like to propose a fair and constructive review exchange.

Here’s the idea:

• We read each other’s first few chapters
• We leave a detailed and honest review
• We highlight both strengths and weaknesses

Things we can focus on:

• Writing style and flow
• Atmosphere and emotional impact
• Plot hooks and engagement
• Pacing
• Scenes that could be shortened or strengthened
• Any inconsistencies or weak points

No empty “Great job, keep going.”
Only thoughtful, constructive feedback.
I read your story — you read mine.
Fair. Honest. Useful.

Let’s help each other grow and improve our writing.

Here’s the link to my novel:
[https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2127718/the-mad-immortal/]

Fair enough. I'll go through your first 2 chapters(by tomorrow) and come back meanwhile here is my book.

 

[Tabula_Rasa]

 

[Eldoria]

First, post this thread in the feedback section. SH has a dedicated feedback sub-forum there.

Second, I'm not forbidding you for review swaps or mutual reviews... but I won't. I prefer voluntary feedback to transactional feedback.

Third, I hope this doesn't happen here. But swap reviews are often abused, either by creating cosmetic reviews and ratings, or by betrayal of the transactions. It often damages trust between members.

Fourth, there are currently at least four active open feedback threads. If you want to improve your narrative, I recommend you take advantage of these facilities before them closes.

Good luck.

 

[L1aei]

Good luck.

Yeah, good luck.

See, something like this can spiral. It's similar to how one follows another just because they got followed by them. Think about it; does it really mean they follow me, them, us, you because they like whatever you've got going on? Not always, but now it becomes a problem because if you rate and review what they got, and it turns out poorly, do you really wanna find out how they may respond to your own work?

Reason I bring that up is because we've been seeing some of these folks here who don't want genuine feedback. What do they want? I'm guessing a hit of dopamine. Like, when they share their chapters, instead of a review, they want from us a pat on the head with something said like "This is a masterpiece!" sort of stuff.

Hey, don't believe me? Check some recent feedback threads. Not all, but enough, especially those of this month that have those persistent writers who start backtalking or outright ignoring our feedback entirely.

Again, if don't wanna look, then take a moment to pause. Think. Really think about the transaction and the price of being honest with your feedback. If you go for it... well, at least two of us wished ya good luck.

 

[Alski]

This is also the behaviour that started RR's spiral in to cartels.

 

[L1aei]

This is also the behaviour that started RR's spiral in to cartels.

 

[Nyctoria]

This is also the behaviour that started RR's spiral in to cartels.

Cartel wars are funny. The winners are always the one making enough money for the site.

 

[L1aei]

Cartel wars are funny. The winners are always the one making enough money for the site.

You're not wrong, but it ain't the whole reason.

 

[Nyctoria]

You're not wrong, but it ain't the whole reason.

The whole reason is explained inside a 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 20 seconds video by April titled "A Brief Study of BRRanded." (A detailed guide + spreadsheet)

 

[L1aei]

The whole reason is explained inside a 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 20 seconds video by April titled "A Brief Study of BRRanded." (A detailed guide + spreadsheet)

Thanks. I'll check that out this weekend.

 

[FRWriter]

This will only lead to Authors praising each others stories and swapping 5 stars. With time expect multiple 5-star GPT Reviews to appear under every new story with 10 readers.
Though as far as I know, this isn't explicitly forbidden, so who am I to complain? However curiously nobody on SH has really done this before, at least not in a public manner.

 

[Makimaam]

This will only lead to Authors praising each others stories and swapping 5 stars. With time expect multiple 5-star GPT Reviews to appear under every new story with 10 readers.
Though as far as I know, this isn't explicitly forbidden, so who am I to complain? However curiously nobody on SH has really done this before, at least not in a public manner.

Reviews boost RR’s rising star algorithm, but that’s not the case for SH.

 

[circlegray]

What is SH? You often mention this in the comments, I honestly don't understand what it means.

Reviews boost RR’s rising star algorithm, but that’s not the case for SH.

Yeah, good luck.

See, something like this can spiral. It's similar to how one follows another just because they got followed by them. Think about it; does it really mean they follow me, them, us, you because they like whatever you've got going on? Not always, but now it becomes a problem because if you rate and review what they got, and it turns out poorly, do you really wanna find out how they may respond to your own work?

Reason I bring that up is because we've been seeing some of these folks here who don't want genuine feedback. What do they want? I'm guessing a hit of dopamine. Like, when they share their chapters, instead of a review, they want from us a pat on the head with something said like "This is a masterpiece!" sort of stuff.

Hey, don't believe me? Check some recent feedback threads. Not all, but enough, especially those of this month that have those persistent writers who start backtalking or outright ignoring our feedback entirely.

Again, if don't wanna look, then take a moment to pause. Think. Really think about the transaction and the price of being honest with your feedback. If you go for it... well, at least two of us wished ya good luck.

I am only glad of honest reviews. Criticism helps me become a better person. I don't see a problem if it's constructive.

 

[Eldoria]

I am only glad of honest reviews. Criticism helps me become a better person. I don't see a problem if it's constructive.

No one is wrong about seeking honest and constructive feedback. But seeking feedback through a mutually beneficial exchange is problematic... and actually keeps you from honest feedback. Why?

Because you're turning feedback into a "transaction" that's simply about "profit." As a result, the person giving the feedback may be reluctant to give you honest feedback.

In a mutually beneficial transaction, both parties inherently want to please each other. This prevents someone from being honest. That's why review swaps often end up just complimenting each other.

If you want honest feedback, then make it a voluntary activity. People are more likely to be open and honest when it's voluntary because they don't feel obligated to "please" the other party. They're simply speaking their mind.

That's why the best feedback... comes from readers who are interested in your story, even if it's hard to come by.

 

[Tabula_Rasa]

What is SH

Sherlock Holmes. "SH" is a commonly used abbreviation in literary, academic, and fan contexts to quickly refer to the character.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

I like the idea (maybe) of *adversarial* reviews. IE, author A vs author B. Impartial judges decide who is better.

 

[DismaiNaim]

I used to do this years ago. Not anymore.

At first I felt pressure to stifle my honest opinion. Then one day I just couldn't help it and gave an actually honest review. Surprise surprise, I got retaliatory honesty.

 

[MFontana]

Fellow authors, I’d like to propose a fair and constructive review exchange.

Here’s the idea:

• We read each other’s first few chapters
• We leave a detailed and honest review
• We highlight both strengths and weaknesses

Things we can focus on:

• Writing style and flow
• Atmosphere and emotional impact
• Plot hooks and engagement
• Pacing
• Scenes that could be shortened or strengthened
• Any inconsistencies or weak points

No empty “Great job, keep going.”
Only thoughtful, constructive feedback.
I read your story — you read mine.
Fair. Honest. Useful.

Let’s help each other grow and improve our writing.

Here’s the link to my novel:
[https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2127718/the-mad-immortal/]

It's good, in spirit, to promote engagement, but as has already been stated by multiple authors here, will quickly spiral out of control and into into what has been described as cartels or collectives of folks review-swapping to artificially bolster their ratings, and standings in an effort to game the system.

I've already stated that I will not be partaking in such behaviors, though to my knowledge is isn't against any rules here on SH (ScribbleHub), so you do you.

There are a number of better ways to go about this, including asking for feedback in the appropriate forum channel, or submitting critique requests in the threads of those authors who are openly offering them.

To be fair, you're not wrong for asking for feedback, or reviews. However, doing so in a transactional manner will effectively dilute the integrity of the reviews, as well as those you are offering in return, and in the end, that is one of the few things we have to maintain the respect of any audience we happen to build.

 

[circlegray]

No one is wrong about seeking honest and constructive feedback. But seeking feedback through a mutually beneficial exchange is problematic... and actually keeps you from honest feedback. Why?

Because you're turning feedback into a "transaction" that's simply about "profit." As a result, the person giving the feedback may be reluctant to give you honest feedback.

In a mutually beneficial transaction, both parties inherently want to please each other. This prevents someone from being honest. That's why review swaps often end up just complimenting each other.

If you want honest feedback, then make it a voluntary activity. People are more likely to be open and honest when it's voluntary because they don't feel obligated to "please" the other party. They're simply speaking their mind.

That's why the best feedback... comes from readers who are interested in your story, even if it's hard to come by.

This is the paradox. With so many novels available, it's hard to find a reader who will give an "untested" book a chance. The exchange of reviews in this case is quite a practical choice, since the authors read each other's work one way or another. They may tone down their wording, but they can still help highlight the strengths and weaknesses of my work.

Fair enough. I'll go through your first 2 chapters(by tomorrow) and come back meanwhile here is my book.

I have written a review, and I expect your mutual appreciation.