Hmmm. Hmmmmmmm.

[amarissia]

I think I just got my first negative fic review.

Not sure how to feel. Happy that it's the first, of course, that wasn't something I expected back in the old days, the 'Madness' days for example.

Hmmmmmm. I feel like I should address the disgruntled reader's concerns and/or possible hatred of me, but she didn't log in.

Hmmmmmm.

Sephy: "Stop saying 'hmm'."

You mean you actually do hate that? :)

Comments

[ravensilver.livejournal.com]

You think? A negative? On which fic?

Pity the person didn't log in - so it's anonymous? Then I wouldn't worry about it. If someone doesn't have the curtesy to log in and post under their name, then I wouldn't worry about their opinion. Don't give them power over you. It's not worth it.

*HUGS*

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

"Irreparable".

:) Thank you.

[chalkbutterfly.livejournal.com]

Pffffft. How many reviews have you had, and how many of those were negative? Who gives a damn what they think anyway? Just post something up on your LJ or ff.net account, and then post us a link to the review so we may laugh at their idiocy.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

I'll post the review, so you guys can tell me what you think, yeah...

:) Thanks.

[echoalias.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, another who did not supply a log in. Admittedly, I don't know what she said, but I'd simply ignore it.
For one, she's a coward and gave you no way to really respond (it’s not THAT hard to sign up for an account!), and secondly, I’ve been seeing a lot of "un-named" semi-flames on reviews lately. Maybe a stupid semi-troll fad?
I dunno, but either way...WE all know you're awesome – the worst thing you’ve done so far is get us hooked! Also, congratulations on the years you DIDN'T have something like this to laugh about! ^^

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:)

[lilymoon1.livejournal.com]

:sigh: It comes to us all eventually. Usually if there's anything constructive about the review I look at it carefully. If it's someone flaming or just generally being hateful I ignore it.

Don't take it too much to heart, hon'. There are still so many of us that love your writing. You just can't please everyone all the time. ~_^.

:hugs:

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

It happens to everyone. There's no explaining some of them, sometimes it's jealousy, sometimes they're entitled enough to think you should be writing exactly to their tastes, most times they're idle losers. If they actually had a point, it may be worth examining even if you don't end up making any changes, if they were just flaming, shake it off and go write more of what pissed them off. >;D

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

I am kinda weirdly urged to write more, just to annoy her. :)

*hug*

[buttertoast89.livejournal.com]

Oh well, can't please everyone... Although, if it's a flame and not a displeased reader giving their opinion in an educated and constructive manner, then ignore it, it's a troll.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

She did express herself well enough...it wasn't like "OMIGOD I H8 U DIE" or anything like that. :)

[buttertoast89.livejournal.com]

As long as she was polite, I guess that's ok... A negative review is one of those things you cannot avoid. After all, pleasing everyone is impossible since people have too many different tastes :) So don't be too bothered by that and have a cookie *offers plate of cookies*

[lynn-stardragon.livejournal.com]

Without seeing the review, I can't get really specific but. . .

The longer you write, the more likely you are to eventually get negative feedback. I'm up front with people, I put my warnings in bold, out in the open where everyone can see them. I tell readers that they can say what they feel, and I'm all for Socratic argument on valid points, like my style or execution of material. I stress that I prefer constructive criticism, and readers shouldn't feel bad for ripping into me or my fiction as it makes the story stronger.

You know, find the weak points and take them out or fix them up?

But there's one other thing I tell them, what a flame is, and how I and my muses will just ignore or laugh at any we receive. I don't know about FF.net, but on AFF.net, if you get a review you don't like, or is actually a flame, you can delete it. I've had to when the system reviews me, telling me to correct my disclaimer, or that A/N chapters are no longer allowed, what-have-you. When you gently remind people that you will listen even to honest negative feedback to improve a story, and that you can remove a flame so that not even other readers can see it--when trolls just want attention--you usually don't see much if anything in the way of negative feedback.

I think the closest I ever got was people asking me questions about my plot, or things that had happened with my plot, and we got into a discussion wherein I found that maybe the story had started to get away from me, and I needed to reign it back in. Fun stuff that.

But if this person left you no way to respond, outside of replying within your own fiction, and they had nothing constructive to say--negative or positive--forget them. They aren't worth it, and they just want the attention. You've proven that you know what you're doing, and don't need to defend yourself to the likes of them.

*Gives you a Sora (KH) plush with 'Hug Me!' printed over his squeeze tummy.*

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

*hugs plushie* Thank you. I don't think I'll delete it...oddly enough, I kind of want to keep it there, just to wave at myself if my head ever gets too big. :)

[lenine2.livejournal.com]

Wow, your first? After all this time, all of the chapters of your fics, and all of the reviews? Wow.

But yeah, like everyone else said, if the person was too chicken to log in, and it wasn't constructive, it's not worth paying attention to.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) Thanks.

[robonun.livejournal.com]

I'm going to echo everyone else's opinion of no login + no constructive criticism = not worth your active consideration. If they get to be too annoying you can always disable anon reviews.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) I don't mind anon reviews...and yeah, when I think of it, she wasn't really constructive, just annoyed. Also, she insulted Sephy.

Sephy: *displeased*

[makokitten.livejournal.com]

Well, I came here expecting to have something insightful to say, but everyone else came and said everything first. :P

So all I can do is reiterate: brush it off. :) If it's not constructive criticism and the person didn't even bother logging in for you, then they're not worth your time. And congrats for going all this time without getting a negative review. :)

However, I know that negative non-concrit reviews kind of leave an icky, scummy feeling on your soul no matter what you say. When I get one (it's happened a couple of times, although thankfully not often), I kind of end up wallowing for a little, not writing, and feeling out of sorts. Don't do that! Go do something that makes you happy and don't think about it anymore.

Out of curiosity, what did the review say?

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

Gimme a sec, I'll post it in a new entry...

*hugs from me and Cloud* Thank you. I won't let this stop me from writing.

[marchwarden23.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much with everyone else on this matter. I had a negative review once and it crushed me pretty hard. Just keep in mind that the lack of ownership in regards to the comment should say more for it's validity than anything else.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

You? Really? What, there's people out there that object to yumminess? Scary. But since you're one of my very favorites, that makes me feel a bit better. *hug*

[kel-fish.livejournal.com]

What did the review say? I've only received one bad review and it was ridiculous so I shrugged it off (something about believability but with no justification), but I essentially swim around in anonymity. In this case, blessing. Geh. *hugs* Can't please everyone. Is it a petty review? Once a friend of mine got bitched out because oatmeal creme pies weren't available in cases yet, even though my friend actually researched this and found they were. It was the most ridiculous fight ever, and it was basically one-sided because this person also remained anonymous. Why do flamers anon? Pisses me off.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

Oatmeal creme pies? LOL...how annoyed do you have to be to start with someone over pies?

I'll post the review so you guys can see it. *hugs* Thanks.

[ayuka86.livejournal.com]

I think I have to agree with everyone else here. If there is no constructive criticism to be had, then just ignore it. It's just a flame then, and flames should be used to roast marshmellows, warm feet (in winter), and or to make hand-puppet. No worries dear.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) Cloud will like that, he loves when I make s'mores. *hug*

[tenxxxryuko.livejournal.com]

Very first one?! Damn, I though you would've been flamed to a crisp when you did the whole Angeal-made-Zack-pee-on-the-floor thing or with all the non-con stuff....
Anonymous? Eh, probably lazy? Post it so we can dissect the incorrect spelling, bad grammar, and cellphone text-talk variations? :) Pweaty Pwase? And I give you hugs and cookies! *hugs and gives out your favorite cookies....fuss over you* It was going to happen one day. It's impossible to keep every single person happy. Don't take it to heart.

Cloud: Hug? *holds out arms*

That's right babe, hugs! :)

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! I was expecting therapy bills over Madness, and nothing!

Sadly, the grammar was fine. But I'll post it so all can see...

Thank you. *noms cookies, squeezes Cloud*

[rsasai.livejournal.com]

Well, my suggestion is to find the person, find their penname, flame every single story they have ever written and make your fangirls help you in the destruction of their once good name.

Nah.

Just ignore them. I get one every couple weeks, and sometimes it's just better to shrug your shoulders and let go. It's not worth worrying about, if they couldn't even point out what you did wrong. If they did point out what they thought was wrong, take a look at what you wrote and look into it. It's always better to check.

*huggles*

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) *huggles back* Thank you, dear Sai.

[rethira.livejournal.com]

Aww, I remember when I got my first. It made me feel really weird, especially as the person in question seemed to really, really hate me all of a sudden.

But what can you do? *shrugs* Some people are just dumb like that. On ff.net I've blocked anonymous reviews, because that tends to put flamers off - they don't want to flame when you can find out who they are. But apart from that, a polite but stern reply and possibly a logical argument usually flummox them. Just don't get angry at them. It encourages people.

Otherwise, just ignore it. You've had how many reviews/comments? Hundreds? Well then, one person can't be right. Trust the majority, not the minority.

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) Thank you.

Hmmm...

[cutecookiecat.livejournal.com]

Heya sweetie

I thought for a long time about whether or not I should write a comment on this... I decided to do so, even though parts of it might sound a bit 'odd'. I hope you understand what I want to say...

Actually, I can't even comment properly without seeing the review and knowing what exactly was criticised. Therefore, I can't say whether it was meant seriously, or just to hurt/annoy you and whether the points raised where valid or not.

But regardless of that, let me say the following:

First of all, I completely understand you. When you write, you put a part of your very heart and soul on display, and being criticised for that always hurts. Even professional authors who are used to being torn apart by critics every once in a while still feel the pain. And being the perfectionist I am, I take every trace of negativism very, very hard... so I no different from you.

But then again: why do we write and publish our stories? Isn't it because we want to know what people think, even if it hurts? Without criticism, we can't develop, we can't improve. And we have to get used to the fact that taste is different. You can never please everyone (that was said before, I know).
Look at the bright side: You have thousands of reviews by now, and not a single one was negative? All I can say is WOW. Really. You should be proud of that, not upset about a single person seeing things differently.

Besides, you are an incredibly popular author. That is a great thing, but has also some side-effects that are not only positive... One of them is that a lot of people will not be open to you. They might write nice reviews just because everyone else does, or because they like you personally, or because they liked your earlier stories. It is hard to find people who will also tell you honestly when you are deteriorating, or when something is 'just not right'.

As I said, I can't really judge things without seeing the review. However, I wanted to give you my honest opinion on this: don't be sad about it. Criticism is not a negative thing per definition. It all depends... If I am honest to myself, I actually prefer people who are honest, even if they tell me I messed up. If I know they are honest, their praise means even more (but that's just me, being a person that can't take compliments and always thinks people are just being nice).

Finally, what matters most is that not even a hundred negative reviwes could change the fact that thousands of people love your writing and enjoy every single line you publish... Keep that in mind.

*hugs*

Re: Hmmm...

[amarissia.livejournal.com]

:) That was like a warm blankie around my heart. Thanks, hon. *hug*

Re: Hmmm...

[cutecookiecat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy :)

I was a bit scared you might think I wanted to say: "What's all the fuss about? You're overreacting, that's all..."

But I don't even know why I was worried... You always seem to understand me just fine. That's a gift I treasure endlessly.

Therefore, let me repeat it once again, with all honestly: I personally adore your writing, and I think you are amazingly talented. Therefore, you are part of my very personal 'devine trinity' of authors (along with sphinxofthenile and SilverThorneIris). And this fact is not likely to change any time soon :)

To add one more detail (and as odd as it might sound, it's a huge compliment): The amazing thing about you personally is your style. For me, you are a person who could write basically anything, and I would love it, just because I adore your style, your way of story-telling. Even if you include things/people/details I don't exactly like, don't agree with or see entirely different (not that this happens often, though), you manage to raise exactly the issues I have for not liking, and offer a solution that I can accept.

You are blessed with a very rare talent, sweetie. And just for the record, I think you're amazing.

More *hugs*