Looking back, I see that there have been an average of about a dozen reviews each month, until last Nov. which has only 2. Dec. and Jan. have 3 each.
I have found lots of good stories thanks to reading reviews. What happened? Policy change, everybody dead, or ?
Possibly a coincidence and I can't see how it could have had a direct influence, but that's when the 'click for more text' was introduced. There have been about 800 stories posted in that period, FYI.
I have to find a story that makes me want to review it. They are rare but still being written. Its not that much work to write one, but I still have to think about doing it before I decide to do it. Most reviewers have a fairly short span of being interested in reviewing. If you see a review you like you can contact the reviewer and ask for more. I don't know if that will work, I have been contacted very little and I have over 100 reviews.
I don't know if that will work, I have been contacted very little and I have over 100 reviews.
I think people not contacting you has to do more with your alleged sense of humor, and not your skill as a reviewer. :)
I think people not contacting you has to do more with your alleged sense of humor, and not your skill as a reviewer. :)
Hey..!! Play nice. It's not polite to mock the afflicted.
Humour is subjective, so what one finds amusing everyone else may not. However, the subject is reviews and having submitted over a hundred is deserving of praise, not ignored so as to poke fun elsewhere, however tempting and warranted.
To be honest, I tend much more to go off of reader feedback.
Most reviews seem largely to follow a handful of writers, so really of not much use I find. But what people write to me I find of a lot of use. And if there is one thing I am constantly discovering, is that people tend to want "happy endings".
I often enjoy "playing" as I write. Take some idea and just run with it, even purposefully "breaking tropes". Places like this have been "infested" with incest stories for as long as they have been around. But while I long ago made it a point to not fall into what I see as a worn-out trope, I have written a few that I call "Accidental incest". Where only at the end does the narrator realize that the person they had sex with was related.
I have long loved "Do-over" stories, but they quickly fell into a Mary Sue, where they get all their wishes at the end. So to fight that I wrote one with a tragic ending to show that cause and effect is not eliminated because one had already lived through a time.
But people do not seem to like (or get) those. They want the "Happy Ever After" ending of "Twelfth Night", not the tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet". But mostly I just shrug, as I mostly write to get my own ideas out and try to keep sane. Great if they are liked, but I hope at the end I at least made them think a bit.
To be honest, I tend much more to go off of reader feedback.
Most reviews seem largely to follow a handful of writers, so really of not much use I find.
Agreed. The majority of the reviews I've read, read like its the author giving a quick summary of the story and extoling how awesome it is. Pretty much every review is exactly like that.
The reviewer took the time to read the story and write a review. That indicates that the story was worth the reviewer's time to read. Very few reviews rate a story as "just so-so", but we know that the majority are just that, or worse. A reviewer isn't going to bother reading and writing a review for those, so of course most reviews are positive.
Reviews have led me to read stories that I might have skipped if I had just scanned the story details or even the first chapter. Not every writer is good at drawing you into a story right off the bat.
Reviews have led me to read stories that I might have skipped if I had just scanned the story details or even the first chapter.
And that is exactly what the reviews are for: increase readership.
And that is exactly what the reviews are for: increase readership.
That's not a review then. Its an advertisement.
That's not a review then. Its an advertisement.
Yep, "public information to increase interest".
Places like this have been "infested" with incest stories for as long as they have been around.
I could happily live the rest of my life never seeing another incest story, but alas that seems highly unlikely.
I've read stories before based on reviews, so I appreciate that effort, but I haven't seen a reader comment since I discovered I could turn them off. Too much chaff, not enough wheat. imho
Reviews of your story Okinawa, one by me, don't fit your description of the majority of reviews.
"Okinawa by Mushroom
Author's Description:
The experiences of a Marine when he is stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. He meets an amazing lady, and things go from there.
Size: 223 KB (44,476 words)
Genre: Romantic
Sex Contents: Much Sex
Tags: Ma/Fa, Ma/ft, Fa/Fa, Fa/ft, Mult, Consensual, Drunk/Drugged, Pedophilia, Romantic, Lesbian, BiSexual, Heterosexual, Military, DomSub, MaleDom, Gang Bang, Group Sex, Orgy, Interracial, White Male, Oriental Female, Hispanic Female, Anal Sex, Cream Pie, Exhibitionism, Masturbation, Oral Sex, Petting, Tit-Fucking, Voyeurism, Prostitution, Slow
Bookmark Zip EPUB
Review by richardshagrin [other reviews by richardshagrin - Contact Reviewer]
Reviewed: 9/2/2016
I was trolling for something to read (what a surprise) and I found a good oldie that is well worth recommending. It is set in Okinawa (somehow the title gives that away) with a Marine sergeant as the hero as he loves and lives the part of his career the story covers. I don't feel the need to give any spoilers, but it's got LOTS of sex and presented in arousing language. They don't rate stories on stroke value any more, but this one would be high on the list. It tells a real story with a happy ending (and like a massage parlor, has a lot of happy endings.)
Lets do the numbers. Plot is very good as the Marine travels to California, Mexico, one of the Carolinas and the Philippines, in addition to Japan and finds interesting adventures and girls to do everywhere he goes. Japan because Okinawa is part of Japan. Based on 6 as a C, 7 as a B and 8 as an A, I give this an 8. I almost gave Technical a 6 as the author thinks a Philippino can be a female, and 34C breasts can be small. But I didn't catch any grammatical howlers or other errors so lets make Technical a 7. Appeal is almost a 9, an A plus, but I am going to round down to an 8. Part of the reason is that the author gave too much information, in my opinion which is the one that counts, about what happens after the happy ending. Some people probably want that information, but for me it brings down the good feelings that would have given this a nine if he quit while he was ahead. Your opinion may vary, write your own review if it does.
Plot: 8 | Technical Quality: 7 | Appeal to Reviewer: 8
Review by Cowboy [other reviews by Cowboy]
Reviewed: 9/24/2003
Great plot. The story is very good. So I would like to tell everyone to read it. It is a must read.
Plot: 9 | Technical Quality: 9 | Appeal to Reviewer: 9"
Reviews of your story Okinawa, one by me, don't fit your description of the majority of reviews.
And I do thank you for that, as that was the first review one of my stories ever got and I appreciated it.
However, when sorting by author, it is not hard to find a great many stories reviewed of a single author, most of them by a single reviewer. Or when sorting by reviewer, that each story has a particular "kink" involved in the stories.
My comment was simply an observation, not a complaint. And you are also one of the few that will go over older stories and review them. Not all that long ago you reviewed a 14 year old GMW story, which I doubt many in here would bother to do.
I am an Lazzee approved reviewer.
I am s long time monetary subscriber/supporter of SOL.
Most stories I see from recent authors are not worthy of a positive review.
The criteria being 'say something positive' about the story in the review.
Simply... do not review the story if you cannot say something positive.
There are so few new stories that meet that simple criteria.
As always, your criteria/opinion may be different.
Maybe.
Some have been reviewed by others and already say what I would.
Some have author settings that do not allow reviews.
Some do not quite 'trip the trigger' of personal like to be worthy of a positive review.
My frustration is authors that have made the choice to disallow voting or reviews. Are they so insecure?
My frustration is authors that have made the choice to disallow voting or reviews
Is that true? I thought Laz changed it so that voting was now on for everyone and couldn't be turned off?
Laz has removed the voting switch from the wizard, but it can still be set from 'manage stories'. Until next year, when the switch will be removed entirely. Details here
AJ
Ahhh, I see. It never really bothered me as I was quite happy to collect ones.... LOL
If I have to be honest, I'd love to give feedback or reviews but I have no idea how to do so.
I probably have missed something evident, but I don't know how to achieve that. It's quite sad since I'd love to give feedback on some stories I've read.
I'd love to give feedback on some stories I've read.
You have to ask and be approved to be a reviewer, but anyone can provide feedback (unless the author turned it off for a story). Your feedback is sent to him as an email.
And then there are comments. Once again, the author can turn that off. But I believe comments are designed for feedback to other readers, not feedback to the author. Then again, that's what reviews are for.
You have to ask and be approved to be a reviewer
If you want it listed in on the Reviews page.
On the other hand anyone can write a story review and post it publicly in the Story Discussion and Feedback section of the forum, no approval necessary.
Sure, but you'd have to know it's there.
I think, though I love what storiesonline.net provides us with, that they could definitely improve the way they handle review/feedback. I've just seen that I could leave comments on a story, but this only appears at the far end of the story. Unless it's a setting chosen by the author, of course, I have no idea :D
Sure, but you'd have to know it's there.
And how many people on the forum don't know it's there?
I suppose there may be a few SOL users who are completely unaware that this forum exists, most of them are probably equally unaware of the reviews page.
Which is exactly my point ^^ I've been using SOL for a while and always wondered how to review and communicate there, until the curiosity got the best of me and I wrote to the admins. :D I just thought it could be nice for them to know that the review/feedback feature is a bit "hidden" for a normal user. :)
So why don't you start writing reviews on the 'Story recommendations' thread? Nobody, as far as I know, is stopping you from doing so.
"I'd love to give feedback or reviews but I have no idea how to do so." It's really quite simple. You simply write down what you liked about a story and what you didn't. If you really want to be helpful, then add what what you would like to have seen added to the story, whether that be better characterisation, more plot, or more bacon.
Edit: Good heavens! I can't believe that I actually wrote 'right' instead of 'write'. Pixy, get in the naughty corner...
I have been steadily reviewing low-hanging fruit of mostly stories I've already read.
I am happy to review any stories that involve my interests.
I am not much into fantasy/super hero or melodramtic stuff.
I like elements of BDSM/humilation but I am pretty open minded about what I'll review - since that's only fair to keep an open mind.
I prefer medium to longer stories. If anyone wants a review link me the story and send me feedback and if its a subject of interest to me, I'll add it to my reading list.
If anyone wants an interview
Is that shorthand for inter review, ie you basically bury the story?
AJ
I took this to heart.
For the next 90 to 120 days I am still stuck not being able to post my stories from my computer to SOL. Using my Phone I can read and send PMs. I can also read stories, and post in the Forums.
So, today I asked to become a Reviewer, and Lazeez approved. So, I have posted my first Review. I will try to post a couple of reviews a month.
First I am posting writing that had a significant impact upon me, even if there are technical or other flaws. I believe I can craft a generally positive review, and still offer some constructive criticism.
I hope to get more people to read stories that I enjoyed. I hope I can provide them an impetus that they didn't find in the author's blurb.
Looking back, I see that there have been an average of about a dozen reviews each month, until last Nov. which has only 2. Dec. and Jan. have 3 each.
No one reads them because they are not useful tools, so people probably stopped doing reviews.
You have stories where the reviewer reviews the first chapter posted, where the story will be a hundred chapters long and take literally a decade more to finish posting here. Absolutely useless.
Reviews on SOL offer nothing to a reader. They are simply advertisements to try and get people to read stories. They could be written by the story's authors and they would be just as genuine.
No one reads them because they are not useful tools, so people probably stopped doing reviews.
You have stories where the reviewer reviews the first chapter posted, where the story will be a hundred chapters long and take literally a decade more to finish posting here. Absolutely useless.
Reviews on SOL offer nothing to a reader. They are simply advertisements to try and get people to read stories. They could be written by the story's authors and they would be just as genuine.
And quite often they are simply fanclubs for a specific author, or fetish clubs for particular kinks. If I was the type to "game" the reviews back when they were big I probably could have done so simply by writing stories to suit specific reviewers.
Hit their kinks, and the odds are higher that they would then review it.
No one reads them because they are not useful tools, so people probably stopped doing reviews.
Any evidence for this? Except where they're of a story in progress, I find reviews helpful in deciding whether to read a story - alongside other clues about readability.
There are a lot of reviews on SOL. If you need something that a person Management OKed posting a review (which means the reviewer tried hard to follow the guidance reviewers are supposed to pursue) so likely it will at least be readable, even if you disagree with the reviewer. This will let you read stories that were posted years ago that it might be hard to find if you just look at the front page. If you don't like my reviews, and lots of readers seem to avoid them, try other reviewers, or go back to Celeste for a lot of older stories she reviewed, she is probably the most famous reviewer I know of.
