Thoughts on someone leaving harsh reviews on your novel?

[StoneInky]

As a general stance, if you intend to do it for the author, I'd rather recommend a comment below the chapter or a direct pin. You can give fair critique and issues you see that you'd like they'd take care of. You need to consider, given the number of reviews, that a negative one is going to bring down the rating and viewership of the story. Now if you want to warn other readers, then that's your point, but it's definitely not helping the author create a better story if readers drop before giving it a chance, because the perceived quality is so low.
I'm not saying it's wrong to write a negative review, but you should make sure that your intentions and the likely results of your actions align.

As a personal point, it certainly isn't a great feeling to see someone talking badly about the project you poured your heart into. While I'm open to suggestions and admit to faults, oftentimes I just can't do much with negative reviews. Problematic I find emotional ones. Like, the development wasn't what readers hoped for and therefore a 1-star review is apparently warranted. Recently got one of those from someone who dropped my story at Chapter 174. Clearly, it was apparently at no point engaging. So, I'd at least ask reviewers to try to sort out their feelings before acting upon them.

Yeah, this was my main concern. If I review a novel, it means I love the heck out of it, I just think it could be better.

Maybe the pace drags in a spot. Maybe they go overly flowery. Or maybe their transitions feel abrupt. But I don't want to drag down the writer or do anything detrimental to them while I'm having fun. It makes me feel sad that some other readers may not read the novel due to my review.

This helps. I think I'll do that instead.

I heard you were also from Korea.
There are some... comics... my friend wants translated.
Can you help?

If it's illegal stuff, no. I don't want to go to jail.

 

[DeepWater]

Last time I got a nasty review I quit writing for a few years

 

[AnonUnlimited]

If it's illegal stuff, no. I don't want to go to jail.

How is it illegal to translate?

 

[StoneInky]

How is it illegal to translate?

For example, pirated stuff that you plan to spread online. If not, then maybe. What are the novels?

 

[AnonUnlimited]

For example, pirated stuff that you plan to spread online. If not, then maybe. What are the novels?

Uh... it's a comic... >.>

 

[StoneInky]

Uh... it's a comic... >.>

Must have read wrong, oops. Sorry. I dunno how to edit the little writings in, so that'll be difficult.

Unless they're fine with the translations just hanging under each page as text, lmao.

 

[SirDogeTheFirst]

I love harsh reviews. I don't have any friends interested in writing and I am not in a circle where I can discuss my writing, those harshn reviews where people take their time, pointing every nook and cranny they find are my heroes.

Firstly, English is not my mother tongue, and I learned it mostly from memes, games, and other media I consumed it, so my grammar is rather weak.

Secondly, my brain can get foggy while writing and I can easily forget that people don't know everything about those characters I write or the world they are in.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Must have read wrong, oops. Sorry. I dunno how to edit the little writings in, so that'll be difficult.

Unless they're fine with the translations just hanging under each page as text, lmao.

Just translate... my uh.. friend will take care of the rest :D
Also... I'll try to scan out the Korean characters from the pictures.

 

[CodeCrisis]

Depends on exactly what type of "harshness" you mean. I'm all for reviews that break down the story and give actual, usable lessons the author can learn from and create even better works. However, if the harshness is something like "your story is crap, no one likes it and you should never write again", well that's just hate.

Which, honestly, I would take harsh constructive criticism any day. Though, I am rather fragile and would shatter like weak glass being broken to pieces by the world's heaviest hammer.

 

[MasterY001]

Any press is good press. The fact people actually took the time to read your book, think about a review, and then write said review is already a win. Even just a "you suck" rant is preferable to no feedback at all.

 

[Erysion]

I got into trending and got a lengthy *1 review "you suck" rant. I was happy to get my first *1 review but then someone reported it and the review was deleted

 

[MasterY001]

I got into trending and got a lengthy *1 review "you suck" rant. I was happy to get my first *1 review but then someone reported it and the review was deleted

Snitches get stitches.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I don't care if they do, but I believe reviews should be directed at readers. Therefore, a reviewer should try to be objective as possible, but objectivity is not a requirement.

 

[OokamiOkuri]

I got into trending and got a lengthy *1 review "you suck" rant. I was happy to get my first *1 review but then someone reported it and the review was deleted

I reported it.

 

[LEGENDGOD1]

I've actually been holding off harsh reviews because I thought authors would dislike them. Who wants to be suddenly pounded into a pulp when you haven't even asked for it?

But I recently found a couple scathing reviews(?) written to the author, not the reader. That...surprised me. I didn't know that was ok.

I've come to this site from NU. That site is filled with translations, and so nobody writes reviews hoping to get the author's attention. That's why my reviews are written more as a guide for other readers. Usually in cases where the story doesn't have a proper synopsis, or when it gives something drastically different from what was promised. I just add no, this is what the story is actually about!

But now I'm pondering whether to start plummeling random authors. I hope people don't think I'm being mean...

Are you guys ok with this? Or nah?

please, if it makes you read my story, sure plz pound me with those harsh reviews. ......i am starting to think i am a masochist at my core.? or maybe desperate.

 

[okashihime]

I've actually been holding off harsh reviews because I thought authors would dislike them. Who wants to be suddenly pounded into a pulp when you haven't even asked for it?

But I recently found a couple scathing reviews(?) written to the author, not the reader. That...surprised me. I didn't know that was ok.

I've come to this site from NU. That site is filled with translations, and so nobody writes reviews hoping to get the author's attention. That's why my reviews are written more as a guide for other readers. Usually in cases where the story doesn't have a proper synopsis, or when it gives something drastically different from what was promised. I just add no, this is what the story is actually about!

But now I'm pondering whether to start plummeling random authors. I hope people don't think I'm being mean...

Are you guys ok with this? Or nah?

As someone not thick skinned enough to deal with harsh criticism, my approach is to read the review, see if it makes sense. Thank the reviewer if did, ignore if didn't.

Don't see a point trying to convince the reviewer, most of the times. Better learn what we can if the feedback makes sense then move on.

 

[MasterY001]

I reported it.

Someone get this guy some stitches

 

[Blackout]

I received several over a few of my works, and the most recent one posted on not one, but two of my novels. He wrote a freaking essay on my first one, and I didn't even bother to read the second one since he censored it under the Spoiler tag. I tried to search him up, and wouldn't you know, that little shitstain disabled his account, meaning I can't even look at his activity.

Intrigued, I tried to search him up in Google, and realized that he left reviews on other series too, mostly negative ones too. My first thought on this is that he KNOWS that he'll receive backlash for the shits he's pulling, so he made sure that he's the only one who's allowed to talk shit. I particularly loved one of the reviews where he wrote that it's one of the only five star review he left on this site, like his review actually means anything, and he pointedly read the ones that are mostly overlooked by most readers.

My point is, there are jerks everywhere. Listen to those who give out harsh but genuine and helpful ones, and ignore the trolls.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I reported it.

We reported it. We are all the same person.

 

[MasterY001]

I received several over a few of my works, and the most recent one posted on not one, but two of my novels. He wrote a freaking essay on my first one, and I didn't even bother to read the second one since he censored it under the Spoiler tag. I tried to search him up, and wouldn't you know, that little shitstain disabled his account, meaning I can't even look at his activity.

Intrigued, I tried to search him up in Google, and realized that he left reviews on other series too, mostly negative ones too. My first thought on this is that he KNOWS that he'll receive backlash for the shits he's pulling, so he made sure that he's the only one who's allowed to talk shit. I particularly loved one of the reviews where he wrote that it's one of the only five star review he left on this site, like his review actually means anything, and he pointedly read the ones that are mostly overlooked by most readers.

My point is, there are jerks everywhere. Listen to those who give out harsh but genuine and helpful ones, and ignore the trolls.

And this is what the internet was made for... bonding over that tiny minority of asswipes who find meaning in life by trolling nerds.