Story Reviews and Comments Weekend anyone?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I keep meaning and meaning to write reviews of Pros stories here at ci5hq, because I remember that's what I was desperate for when I first knew Pros - with the plethora of fic out there - ideas about where to start, what I might and might not like and so on. And people are always asking for thoughts and opinions about what to read. Trouble is, time gets away from me, and writing a whole review seems like it needs so much thoughtfulness that it ends up at the end of my list of things to do.

So, I was wondering... game for the long weekend, anyone? *g*

What if we all chipped in to reviews with those single, quick comments that are so much simpler to write, but that, with lots of people contributing, would add up to much more information about an individual story or zine? That way we could have all sorts of opinions gathered together in a single place, too, make it easier for people to compare thoughts/likes/dislikes etc? And if a review post turned into a discussion, then that'd be fab too, because that's all the more information, and if no one posted at first, they could always come back a few weeks later and post then - no time limits or anything, although a concentrated weekend of it might be fun?

'course it all depends what people have read/are reading, but I've thought of that too... *g* What if anyone who fancies playing simply posts the title and author of whatever they're currently reading in the subject header - and if they can fill in the review info from the user page that'd be fab too, this bit I mean:

Title:
Author:
Link to story:
Zine:
Short review: See comments below!

... and then anyone who's read it recently/remembers it etc, makes a little comment below - long or short as you like, but it'd all add up to a bigger review?

Anyone fancy playing? And we could do them all at once too - in fact the more going at once the better, because we could use it as an excuse to re-read whatever fic from the posts grabs our attention, and then comment ourselves - a sort of fannish reading/reviewing circle!

So... if you've been reading Prosfic lately, then make a post with the title and author in the subject line, and if you can fill in the Review Info thingie in the post below, with just a commment to invite comments from anyone else who's read it then that's your lot - unless you want to write a more in depth review as a comment yourself, or join in any discussion etc that ensues... I'll post up a couple of examples, and hope that people might join in (otherwise I'll look very silly, won't I?! Plus, I really hope that this makes sense!)

Comments

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Great idea. I'm a newbie and find the amount of fic available to be daunting to say the least. I have no way of obtaining zines so I hope some reviews will be for online stuff.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am glad you like the idea! And I'm definitely hoping that some of the reviews will be for online stuff. If other people join in, then there's no reason why they shouldn't be! Sorry about the first two on that basis - they just happen to be the two most recent things I've read... Tell you what, I'll make myself sit down and read something from online, and then do another post, how about that? Such a hard life... *g*

What about you? Is there something you've been reading? It'd be fab to have posts from someone other than me too... *g* (Oh, and welcome to Pros - it's a gorgeous place to get lost in fic, so I hope you enjoy!)

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

So anyone can join in?

I read one long Pros fic yesterday which was poorly written if archived on the Circuit Archive. I'm not sure what the method is for reviewing fics you didn't like.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yes, definitely anyone can join in! I really hope they do, otherwise it's just me rabbitting away, and people are bound to get bored with that! *g*

Fics you don't like is kind of a tricky one I guess, but then it's a valid viewpoint, and as long as a reviewer isn't mean about it ("This wasn't really my cup of tea" as opposed to "This story sucked!") I don't see any reason why people shouldn't say so... Of course I say that as someone who's not posted a negative review myself, so... at least I don't think I have... okay, maybe I have, over at palelyloitering...

Actually, you've made me think that I need to put up a proper section for Reviews at palelyloitering, to make them easier to find on the website...

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

What a brilliant idea! And may I be cheeky and ask if the relevant posts might be linked at Palely Loitering too? Because that would be really useful for finding the reviews at a later date.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hah - yes! 'tis all part of my dastardly plan, since palelyloitering is all about linking to things - and those include reviews... *g*

So... wotcha been reading lately? Fancy posting it up for people to comment? Promise I'll link to it at pl... *vbg*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

'Tis done! Hope it's ok. I'm only half way through it, so can't give a review yet!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeay! Thank you!

[towerbridge2006.livejournal.com]

It does sound like a good idea.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh good - can we look forward to a post from you then?! *g*

[towerbridge2006.livejournal.com]

I expect so. :) Right now I'm working my way through the Rainy Days series by Jane. I don't have all the parts, and I'm likely to read all but the last novel-length end to the series. Don't know how to get that one.

So, we are supposed to use your format in our lj. Then, we make a comment and others will add theirs to make a more rounded review?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, jolly good! (Except about the last part of Rainy Days - it's so hard when they're older zines, isn't it... Hmmn, have you thought about asking the Circuit archivist? If I remember she's got alot of the other parts to the series up, and once told me she has almost all Pros fic ever printed - she may well have it, just not scanned to go up yet? Can't hurt to ask..!)

As for format, you can use any that you like really, I just suggested using the header we have to make it easy for people to see the relevant information. And you could post in your own lj, but if you made a post here at ci5hq then the whole community could see it... *g* But yes to the comment, and yes to hoping that other people will add comments to it as well!

[towerbridge2006.livejournal.com]

I had no luck finding it when searching recently. I think I was told that the author isn't archiving anymore.

It is such a feel-good series. That and the hot sex make it a winner for me! Hee! I'd really love to read all of it. My friend will be searching through her zines to find some part for me. It's a bugger when parts are in all different zines published at differnet times under different zine titles. I'm becoming a detective. Thank fandom for the fact so many parts were archived. Yay!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"tis all part of my dastardly plan"

A very awful dastardly plan! ;-)
Very good idea!
I'm always looking for inspiration -
but as ariss_tenoh said - first I'm working through online stuff!
Uff...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - good job you decided it was a good idea rather than an awful plan, you had me worried for a minute there!

It's not supposed to be about non-online stories though, it's for those as well! It was just coincidence that the two I posted aren't online...

It would be fabulous if you fancied putting up a post for an online story, one that you've read recently!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know - nobody understands me...
I think I go and throw myself behind the next train! ;-)

No! I really think, it's a good idea!!!
Maybe I'll do it, and post for an online story.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Awwww - you made me giggle though! *g*

And yeay, please do one!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Hah! Since I've been posting along to these things - I was going to point out what a fab idea it is, and then I found this post LOL

So, may I do one, please?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, please do one! The more people who do them the better!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Ahem, I already pre-empted you and posted *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - there's no pre-empting, I was hoping people would just go ahead and post in the first place!