The correct time to review a story.

[OP1000]

Hello!!!!
I recently read a thread talking about how the review ratings don't mean anything in the grand scheme of things, and one of the users that replied to the thread asked the user that posted the thread if there was a need to write a review for a story that hasn't been completed.

After reading that response, it got me thinking "When is the right time to write a review?". So I would like to ask other readers on what you guys think on what the perfect time to write a review for a story is supposed to be.

 

[LilRora]

I don't think there's something like a perfect time to review a story. Some people would say it should be only after finishing the whole story, but that's not applicable to majority of stories out there.

I'd say that you can review at any time as long as you give a good justification of your review. Hence reviews shouldn't be given if you haven't read at least a significant part of the story, because you will have very shallow picture. For me the "perfect" time would be either after finishing or after dropping the story, necessarily including the reason for dropping in the latter case.

 

[Lire]

Preferably before they delete it.

On a more serious note, I guess it'd be ideal after an arc or "book" is finished. But I don't think a lot of people group their chapters into "volumes", so yeah...

For me though, I usually review it when I feel like it and to act as a motivation for the author. Cuz you can kinda notice when they're about to just drop their pens for eternity.

Sometimes, when a web novel is good but I just don't like it enough to continue, I leave a review/comment before I do.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Once you read the whole story. But we review web novels, and readers rarely read the whole, finished story before leaving a review. Moreover, you can judge the quality of the web novel after reading chapter one a lot of the time.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I personally think that the best time to give a review is after the initial arc, after the story has 40k words(roughly 40-50 pages), or after the story is complete. This gives enough room for the author to flesh out some characters, the world, and the plot enough that it can make sense. The exception being if it's a short story, or if the story is so poorly written that it's hard to read.

As for the thread that says that reviews and ratings don't matter, I would disagree as they matter a lot. Reviews allow for readers to express their thoughts about the story in a somewhat professional and straightforward way. Whether it be good or bad, the author can use this information to grow and better their story. The ratings themselves are more of a way for readers to rate on the scale how much they enjoyed it without having to go into detail. This can be good for both the author and potential readers as they can see what the general consensus is. Thus, allowing the potential reader to decide whether they should give it a try with the information given.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I personally think there is no perfect time but the reviewer should mention to what chapter they’ve read. The only thing that you can judge from the first chapter or story arc is the grammar and prose, especially when it comes to webnovels. Most stories tend to fade in plot quality, but there are exceptions.

Mentioning the chapter read and date since Authors can edit is the most fair way to review.

 

[Domoviye]

YOu should review it when you have enough to say something useful about it.
If the first chapter truly wowed you with the worldbuilding, dialogue, editing, or something else, you can leave a short review.
If it takes the entire story to give you something useful to say, then you can leave a review when its done.

Serial stories aren't regular novels. They can take years to complete and you watch the process in real time. Waiting until the very end to leave a review would mean the author doesn't get much feedback for their work, and potential readers will only see a synopsis for a story that no one apparently likes.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

After the check clears.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Anytime your spirit moves you to do so! Don't forget to give my story a one-star review ?

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Once you get to a point that you feel that the prose has reached its normal fluidity that will continue for the rest of the story. WITH either past the halfway point or the end of the first arc, thingy.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Whenever you finish (with) it. Can be either the chapter you quit it or the ending of the (current arc of the) story.

Readers don't care much about the author unless they like/dislike them very much.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Anytime your spirit moves you to do so! Don't forget to give my story a one-star review ?

FINE. I gave you a review. I even called you the AuTHOT not the Author. Hope you are happy.

 

[LAJistics]

Reviewing the whole story? I'd wait until I've reached the climax.