I have a sneaking suspicion, that people aren't leaving reviews, because they don't know what they should say in them.
It's something that I asked myself about, when I wanted to leave a review on a story I enjoyed.
I didn't want to just say 'good job', and I also wanted to avoid saying 'this is bad' or 'good', without being as objective as I could be.
So, I sat down and thought about what things a reader and writer of fan-fiction, might want to know or should know, about a fan-fic.
With this in mind, I wrote down a list of things that I may or may not put in a review, depending on whether or not I think it should be said.
This is the list that I now use, when writing a review.
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Was this story good or bad overall? Could you recommend the story? Give at least a vague reason or example as to why, it was good or bad for you.
Do the characters have, for the most part, 'clear' and 'reasonable' motivations that drive them to do what they are doing? If motives are in doubt, can you offer improvements to the motives of their characters?
Is the story too, out of place, to be believable in the 'cannon' of that 'universe'? If it does feel out of place, can you offer an improvement, so the story doesn't feel out of line with the 'cannon' of that 'universe'?
How is the wording and spelling? Is it difficult or easy to read through? If it is difficult to read through, can you offer a suggestion as to how the writer can improve on those?
Does the story's title, description and tags, give the reader a clear idea of what the story may be about, without, spoiling the story? Can you offer advice on how to make these more clear, without, spoiling the story?
What else, if anything, do you want the readers and/or the writer to know, about this story?
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These are of course, things that I felt would be important in a review, for both a reader and writer.
I think this would be a good template for those who are looking to give an 'objective' review, but don't know where to start.
Of course I'm always eager to hear other's thoughts and perspectives on the matter, and on the template I now use.