Got my first bad review today on RR

tofu_moon

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Jul 12, 2020
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....and it sucks. Any tips on how I can move on?
I know there’s multiple threads discussing criticism and reviews on here, but I would like some advice on what to do after the bad reviews come.

This is the first time I’ve received such a negative response so I’m not sure how to digest it. The review in question was a one-star review that was posted after the read the first three chapters. They just said my story was cliche after reading the first three chapters. But I mean, what’s wrong with cliche? I don’t believe the review worked as constructive criticism since it didn’t give me anything to work with that I could use to improve my story.

thank you in advance!
 
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BenJepheneT

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Literally don't care and keep going. Take a piss, put on your slippers and go out for a walk with your favourite album in your earphones. Come back and keep writing.

Endless-River.jpg


Do give that review a read, though. Cross reference its criticism to your work and see if any valid points are made. And as @Assurbanipal_II said some threads ago, privately acknowledge the criticism while calling the reviewer a pleb.
 
D

Deleted member 29316

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....and it sucks. Any tips on how I can move on?
I know there’s multiple threads discussing criticism and reviews on here, but I would like some advice on what to do after the bad reviews come.

This is the first time I’ve received such a negative response so I’m not sure how to digest it. The review in question was a one-star review that was posted after the read the first three chapters. They just said my story was cliche after reading the first three chapters. But I mean, what’s wrong with cliche? I don’t believe the review worked as constructive criticism since it didn’t give me anything to work with that I could use to improve my story.

thank you in advance!
Sorry to hear that, man.

But, I agree with @BenJepheneT. Literally ignore that review if you know which way your story would take. Cliches are fine as long as it serves your intent for the story. If, let's say, we're 10-20 chapters in and still predictable as ever and that's not your intent, then you may only begin reconsidering if the review has a grain of truth in it.

In a related note, I think that a lot of people in RR are arrogant, feeling-connoisseurs in novels. Like, I received a 0.5 star rating and review just because the MC didn't fuck every girl he comes across. He called my work 'kiddie and nakama bullshit' that doesn't deserved a spot in RR's lineup of novels. Know what I did? I downvoted the review, ignored the rapist, and continued with my life as an author. A few days later, his review was gone, prolly reported by some of my readers. (I think you could still find that thread I made about that in the forums here).

So yeah, my post reply is long but the message is clear: if you know your story's direction, don't be fazed by such nay-sayers. Treat them as obstacles you have to cross in order to reach the top.

As long as you know you did your best to your stories, you'd find your loyal audience.
 

Sabruness

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there is a known sub-culture on RR where wankjobs who only like trashy self-insert stories (on the level of bad CN webnovels) target novels that dont fit into their specific thoughts on how novels should be. Every novel will get at least 1 troll review from the idiots. Just ignore it if it doesnt seem like a real review.
 

BenJepheneT

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there is a known sub-culture on RR where wankjobs who only like trashy self-insert stories (on the level of bad CN webnovels) target novels that dont fit into their specific thoughts on how novels should be. Every novel will get at least 1 troll review from the idiots. Just ignore it if it doesnt seem like a real review.
Did you know that there's a specific genre of novels where there's a tool that lets you completely change the character's name to any name you prefer along with the pronouns and shit?

It actually exists lmao
 

tofu_moon

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Literally don't care and keep going. Take a piss, put on your slippers and go out for a walk with your favourite album in your earphones. Come back and keep writing.

View attachment 4298

Do give that review a read, though. Cross reference its criticism to your work and see if any valid points are made. And as @Assurbanipal_II said some threads ago, privately acknowledge the criticism while calling the reviewer a pleb.

thanks!Just walked a bit and that helped clear my mind lol


Did you know that there's a specific genre of novels where there's a tool that lets you completely change the character's name to any name you prefer along with the pronouns and shit?

It actually exists lmao

you mean the y/n stories right? I had to look it up in urban dictionary after all the stories that had this same strange character name that sounded like elon musk’s child haha
 

tofu_moon

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Sorry to hear that, man.

But, I agree with @BenJepheneT. Literally ignore that review if you know which way your story would take. Cliches are fine as long as it serves your intent for the story. If, let's say, we're 10-20 chapters in and still predictable as ever and that's not your intent, then you may only begin reconsidering if the review has a grain of truth in it.

In a related note, I think that a lot of people in RR are arrogant, feeling-connoisseurs in novels. Like, I received a 0.5 star rating and review just because the MC didn't fuck every girl he comes across. He called my work 'kiddie and nakama bullshit' that doesn't deserved a spot in RR's lineup of novels. Know what I did? I downvoted the review, ignored the rapist, and continued with my life as an author. A few days later, his review was gone, prolly reported by some of my readers. (I think you could still find that thread I made about that in the forums here).

So yeah, my post reply is long but the message is clear: if you know your story's direction, don't be fazed by such nay-sayers. Treat them as obstacles you have to cross in order to reach the top.

As long as you know you did your best to your stories, you'd find your loyal audience.

100% agree with you!! Wonder why the RR community can get so toxic. Does the LitRPG genre naturally attract bum holes? Lolol
 
D

Deleted member 29316

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100% agree with you!! Wonder why the RR community can get so toxic. Does the LitRPG genre naturally attract bum holes? Lolol
Well, my brother (a journalist) and I have been discussing that trend nowadays. He jokingly suggested that it must be because of the currrent 'incel' culture that these 'sex-crazed maniacs' are always on the lookout for something that would make them 'hard'.

As for RR, he implied (jokingly) that it's because most of them are from the West, known for their 'critical thinking' of almost everything, including those that should be left for purely entertainment. (I'm not saying it's bad or anything, just to be clear)

Well, I don't intend to create a hot debate in this thread, but I guess, we just have to hunker down and continue doing what we love.

And also, popular genres tend to attract assholes, and gatekeepers. That's why we need to develop thick skins to counter them.
 

IDreamNovels

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I feel you, man. :blob_reach:
I got a 0.5 star rating on rr in just a few days after I published my novel there. There wasn't even a review. And just yesterday, someone rated it 2 stars. But at least, he left a review. But it is also the only review I've received so far across all platforms. So I kinda have mixed feelings about it.

Anyways, if it just a bad review or ratings here and there, I would just move on. But if you are only getting bad reviews/ratings but not even a single good review/rating, then it's probably time to stop writing for a while and instead analyze and try to figure out what you are doing wrong to deserve so many bad reviews/ratings.
 

Saileri

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I feel you, man. :blob_reach:
I got a 0.5 star rating on rr in just a few days after I published my novel there. There wasn't even a review. And just yesterday, someone rated it 2 stars. But at least, he left a review. But it is also the only review I've received so far across all platforms. So I kinda have mixed feelings about it.

Anyways, if it just a bad review or ratings here and there, I would just move on. But if you are only getting bad reviews/ratings but not even a single good review/rating, then it's probably time to stop writing for a while and instead analyze and try to figure out what you are doing wrong to deserve so many bad reviews/ratings.
Or people just come to you with their completely baseless expectations. I know a thing about that. Just look at the title of my novel. I've received even some PM's saying there's not enough porn there while I clearly stated pretty much in every place that it's a lore heavy slice of life story with occasional happenings.

You might just not have stumbled on the people who actually come to read stories to experience them and not just to nitpick the parts they want to see in it. Unless you really get semi-constructive negative feedback, it most likely is that you didn't encounter many of normal readers.

When I started my story, it rained one-stars. 2 per day, then once 5 during one night, now sitting at 14. But with time, people who actually like to read things arrived and more positive ratings appeared. I'd say give it some time. And if your work is somehow touching a sensitive or controversial theme, it might need even more time.
 

Maple-Leaf

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Did you know that there's a specific genre of novels where there's a tool that lets you completely change the character's name to any name you prefer along with the pronouns and shit?

It actually exists lmao
Anytime I try to read one, one of the characters end up being named my real name, and I get uncomfortable. By anytime I mean once.
 

UYScuti

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In a little over a month you have 377 followers and 86 ratings on RR. You’re doing a lot better than most, so people clearly enjoy your story. Bad reviews happen. You’ll get bombed with 0.5’s over there as well. Just have to accept it. The person who gave you that review has only done one more, and that was a 1 star as well.
 

melomarl

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....and it sucks. Any tips on how I can move on?
I know there’s multiple threads discussing criticism and reviews on here, but I would like some advice on what to do after the bad reviews come.

This is the first time I’ve received such a negative response so I’m not sure how to digest it. The review in question was a one-star review that was posted after the read the first three chapters. They just said my story was cliche after reading the first three chapters. But I mean, what’s wrong with cliche? I don’t believe the review worked as constructive criticism since it didn’t give me anything to work with that I could use to improve my story.

thank you in advance!
I don't mean to be insensitive but I'll tell you that it certainly won't be the last. RR is a world full of perfectionist readers who like throwing bad reviews. Newbies are eaten alive but if you persevere and just do your own thing, you can move on from it. It's always up to you what to take away from their words and what to take lightly...

So fighting! Don't give up on writing!
 

tofu_moon

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In a little over a month you have 377 followers and 86 ratings on RR. You’re doing a lot better than most, so people clearly enjoy your story. Bad reviews happen. You’ll get bombed with 0.5’s over there as well. Just have to accept it. The person who gave you that review has only done one more, and that was a 1 star as well.

erm..thanks? I’ve been working on how to accept it by not thinking about lolz. I guess it’s a human thing, a part of that strange phenomenon where one negative can easily drown out a lot of positives
 

tofu_moon

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I don't mean to be insensitive but I'll tell you that it certainly won't be the last. RR is a world full of perfectionist readers who like throwing bad reviews. Newbies are eaten alive but if you persevere and just do your own thing, you can move on from it. It's always up to you what to take away from their words and what to take lightly...

So fighting! Don't give up on writing!

thank you! SH is such a great community, if we didn't have ppl like you that encourages non-professional writers to keep going, I’m sure this site would have dieD or turned into another RR😭😊
 

EgaoChan

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I can relate to you, I got two drive-by 0.5 stars with no review and was quite taken a back for a while. But seems like you are doing very well! Congrats and keep going!
 

melomarl

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thank you! SH is such a great community, if we didn't have ppl like you that encourages non-professional writers to keep going, I’m sure this site would have dieD or turned into another RR😭😊
No probs :blob_okay: I'm rarely active here but when I do, it's so much better to spread good vibes than be nega~
 

ChronicleCrawler

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Keep it up bruh. Just write and continue to improve. The more word (which must make sense) you write, the better you become. Many fall from this trap and just quit writing. Think of them as a carton box audience. Ignore and enjoy.
 
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