The Truth About Reviews

[Alfir]

The Truth About Reviews

When I first started reading reviews of my work, I expected them to help me improve as a writer. That was the logical assumption—after all, feedback is supposed to be valuable. Yet, over time, I realized something unsettling: reading reviews wasn’t actually making my writing better.

To an extent, I believe this applies to everyone. Reviews tend to do one of two things—either they make you feel awful, or they provide a fleeting sense of validation. Constructive criticism is rare, and even when it appears, it often focuses on personal preferences rather than actual writing quality. A reader might complain about a character’s actions without understanding the narrative intent, or they might praise something that was entirely incidental. Neither reaction gives much insight into improving one’s craft.

More often than not, reading reviews feels like an emotional gamble. A single negative review can overshadow ten positive ones, making it easy to fall into self-doubt. On the other hand, praise offers a temporary high, but it doesn't provide concrete guidance on what to do next. In the end, both responses are distractions rather than tools for growth.

For me, the real satisfaction comes from watching the numbers go up—knowing that people are reading and enjoying the story enough to continue. Comments that express excitement for the next chapter are far more motivating than a detailed breakdown of perceived flaws. Rather than obsessing over reviews, I’d rather focus on writing more and letting the story unfold naturally.

Improvement doesn’t come from endlessly analyzing opinions but from the act of writing itself. The more I write, the better I become—not because of reviews, but because experience is the best teacher.

Think about it. Sometimes, reading reviews just isn’t worth it. So where was this feeling coming from? Well, I don’t really know. Maybe it’s because writing is personal, and having strangers dissect it feels unnatural. Maybe it’s because reviews are, at their core, just opinions—subjective and inconsistent. Or maybe, deep down, I already know what I need to do to improve, and reading reviews is just a way to seek reassurance rather than growth.

So if reviews don’t make me a better writer, what does?

 

[AncestorDuck]

I'm not using reviews to see if something is bad or good, but to filter out plots I don't like. Apart from this, I don't think it makes too much sense to rely solely on reviews, as our minds and tastes are just too different.

 

[John_Owl]

A reader might complain about a character’s actions

I felt this one. I've had a few actions that were unpopular with readers, but it made sense for the character in that specific instance. My current story, I've got readers that blatantly admit to ignoring most of one of the groups it's following, because the secondary lead (the 'mom' of the MC) was an abusive b**ch - but it's a redemption story - a story about her finally seeing the issue and actively taking steps to correct it, while the MC himself is trying to overcome the memories of the abuse.

And I have another action planned that's going to be... very, VERY unpopular... A character is going to die in a way that actually makes perfect sense. But she is a character that is liked. And what sucks is that I do have it planned for her to come back, but I'm like 99% sure some readers are going to abandon the project before it gets to that point. That said, It's a bit of a pet project, so I'm going to keep on my path, regardless of what anyone says. I have my own reasons for writing it.

 

[Deleted member 266]

So if reviews don’t make me a better writer, what does?

Imo. Dont read "reviews" reviews are for readers, not for writers

Ask for "feedback" from people.

Get better by reading books, think about what you read, why it is written that way.

Read books that are "good", think about the what make it good.

Read "bad" books, think about what makes it bad.

Go give people feed back, don't give subjective feed back, think about why things work and don't work. As you give feed back it improves your writing.

 

[ArtBusterBeeze]

Well, to some degree you have a point. It depends on who is your reviewer. Some random or someone who you expect constructive feedback from? Random ones can breither way and you shouldnt be expecting to learn much from them but when you specifically look for constructive feedback, then you should get it and you would take some of thr advice to heart. As you write, yes you improve and you realize your mistakes.

The thing you got wrong is thinking getting Reviews was not an experience in itself that helped you. You learned something from getting the reviews even if you cant explain it. So give yourself some more credit.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

There is often this conflation between review and feedback. A review doesn't have to be an author feedback. A review is someone's opinion of the work. Review doesn't have to help the author in anyway. A good review should inform a reader what they're in for. Reviews do not have to be objective either. There is a reason people watch certain reviewers over others on YouTube. A review usually inputs the reviewers opinion.

This doesn't mean that a reviewer should not try and be objective, but it's not a requirement.

An author feedback should inform authors where they make mistakes, and people usually give feedback in the comment sections or on the forums.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

 

[Alfir]

Ask for "feedback" from people.

The thing is... the internet is generally evil. And being objective is a myth, something I learned the hard way. Perspective is a cage we all forget we are trapped in and no one would convince me otherwise. Whether it was a feedback or review, there would always be a bias... I used to ask for feedback a lot of times before and thought it was indeed helpful, especially from forum dwellers who were seeking to give feedback. They put effort into writing a comprehensive list of things why they don't like something, or otherwise. They wanted to help, but rarely I found myself putting the help into use for reasons like a difference in vision to something as mundane as my self-esteem deflating.

The thing you got wrong is thinking getting Reviews was not an experience in itself that helped you. You learned something from getting the reviews even if you cant explain it. So give yourself some more credit.

Thanks. I'm definitely giving myself credit. But reviews... are like drugs. You couldn't help but want it, but at the same time hate it.

Imo. Dont read "reviews" reviews are for readers, not for writers

Yeah, reviews are for readers, not for writers. I'm aware. That's how I pick my stories too. However, when you become a writer, your perspective changes too. It becomes tough not to look at the reviews. One way or another, you'd get hit...

This doesn't mean that a reviewer should not try and be objective, but it's not a requirement.

An author feedback should inform authors where they make mistakes, and people usually give feedback in the comment sections or on the forums.

Never been put better.

I'm not using reviews to see if something is bad or good, but to filter out plots I don't like. Apart from this, I don't think it makes too much sense to rely solely on reviews, as our minds and tastes are just too different.

Yeah, but words hurt, you know? They have like... a bonus stealth damage to the author. No wonder why numbers are easier to trust and rely on, they are hard facts.

 

[Deleted member 266]

However, when you become a writer, your perspective changes too. It becomes tough not to look at the reviews. One way or another, you'd get hit...

No matter how thirsty you are, you should not drink from poison.

internet

IRL

rarely I found myself putting the help into use

why things work and don't work

why it is written that way

think about what you read

think about what makes it bad

what make it good

Should not be taking "feedback" as "instruction".
Should understand the feedback. should be reading the "negative" space
Don't be a "consumer"; be an "author".

That's all I have to say about that.

 

[Valmond]

There is often this conflation between review and feedback. A review doesn't have to be an author feedback. A review is someone's opinion of the work. Review doesn't have to help the author in anyway. A good review should inform a reader what they're in for. Reviews do not have to be objective either. There is a reason people watch certain reviewers over others on YouTube. A review usually inputs the reviewers opinion.

This doesn't mean that a reviewer should not try and be objective, but it's not a requirement.

An author feedback should inform authors where they make mistakes, and people usually give feedback in the comment sections or on the forums.

Got it, we should do our reviews Steam style.

Still to this day, one of the best (dumbest) review I have read. Is someone who went through half the game, and complained the game suddenly became a dungeon crawler, when that’s what it was the whole time.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

You people are getting comments reviews?

 

[Alfir]

Should not be taking "feedback" as "instruction".

Never have, never will. Taking feedback as strict instruction just doesn’t work—it’s counterproductive as a creator.

When I said I rarely put feedback into use, I didn’t mean it wasn’t helpful. I was referring to the feeling of inadequacy that comes with realizing you’re not as good as you thought. I think most writers have been there—hitting a stump, struggling to make progress, or just burning out. Maybe I took it too far, but I noticed something strange: when I stopped actively seeking feedback, that’s when I started seeing success.

I figure it wasn’t just blind luck. It was likely the accumulated experience of failure, plus reading feedback, absorbing what I could, and slowly making sense of it over time.

Should understand the feedback. should be reading the "negative" space

As for "negative space," I had to Google it, and I’ll be painfully honest—I didn’t fully get it at first. People's feedback is already hard to understand sometimes, let alone apply in a meaningful way. Thinking about it helps, sure, but if it doesn’t click, then it doesn’t really solve the problem. It’s not that feedback is useless; it’s just that it has its limitations, like anything else.

 

[beast_regards]

Reviews are a marketing tool.

 

[DireBadger]

Honestly, most reviews on webfiction are either rants (good or bad) that have nothing to offer, or are some poor basement dweller's attempt to make himself (or herself) look sharp at your expense, and are packed with buzzwords and irrelevant nonsense like 'Plot Armor' and 'rhetoric vs. dialectic'. Most reviewers who try to offer advice like 'show, don't tell' literally have no idea what that means and are just trying to look knowledgable.

Don't get me wrong, I like reviews, since it helps me feel like readers are more engaged, but I don't actually give a damn what those reviews say... It's the thought that counts.