I don't use this thing enough, at all. That's two seperate thoughts by the way. This isn't about my thoughts on how to review on going fics. (Though that might be interesting. Generally, I'd do one review for everything already posted and then one review for each update if I felt i had stuff to say)
So reviews. What makes a good one. Well correct spelling and punctuation is essential but that goes for everything. My problem when review, I feel, is a tendencany to concentrate on the negatives; what I <i>didn't</i> like, the niggling little questions I have about the hows and whys. And while anything I don't mention I probably thought was good or excellent still the review comes off sound like I didn't like it.
Take this Harry/Cho story:
http://community.livejournal.com/smutty_claus/140125.html I really quite like it. Its got strong characterisation, an interesting plot line, sexy sex, what more can you ask for? But when I got to try an write a review for it. All I could think to say was that the ending seemed a little rushed and I wasn't keen on it returning to the canon pairings. In the end, I didn't leave a review, simply because I couldn't find the phrases to say what I liked about it at the same time as what I thought the flaws were and come off with it sounding positive.
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Anyway ongoing fics. I've got two on AFF (
http://hp.adultfanfiction.net/authors.php?no=1296881124) and I think I'm almost beginning to hate them. Trying to grind my way through the plot while at the same time trying to think of new ways to put in the smut. Plus the more ongoing fics you have the harder it becomes to update them in timely fashion.
So I put one on hold, to try and get the other one hammered out and completed. Now this one's a sequel and when I re-read the first fic in that series. I just start wondering 'Why am I writing a sequel? That endings perfect! Open yes, but still perfect.'
I think the problem is. I like to write on inspiration. I think up an idea or even just a scene and work from that. The problem with on going stuff is it just takes me so damn long to grind through the plot to the 'inspired bits' that by the time it's time to write them they've lost their shine. Maybe I should just write them but then it would be even harder to write the surrounding bits and anyway, I find even more difficult to get going if I start in the middle of a scene.