Appearance Isn't Everything

It's a review about the fanfic, yes? 

And your jobs are meant to be to critique the contents of the fanfic, yes? 

Let me ask a question... 

Have you guys ever picked up a book, especially those hardcover ones with the plastic cover? No? Yes?

It doesn't matter, I'll tell you anyway. 

If you read the back, it would have comments from other authors with pleasing comments about the story. Short sentences but nonetheless compliments. 

And those little mini reviews/compliments (whatever you want to call it) says things about the story and the way they felt about it. 

Do you fancy shamncy reviewers notice that they don't talk about the pictures? They don't say the cover (partly because they probably got it as a manuscript first, but that's beside the point), nor do they criticize the chapter titles or the pictures. I'll tell you something, Quentin Blake (illustrator of books and such) to me didn't do such a good job in making the illustrations he had done for Roald Dahl (to me personally) and he's not the only one but let's not get into that. 

Despite the fact that the pictures weren't all that good, Roald Dahl's books we're amazing and just so well written. His writing captivates readers of all ages, especially the children. Heck, I remember my teacher telling me her favourite author was Roald Dahl. Anyway, now I see review shops giving a zero to those who doesn't have a poster because they didn't "notify them earlier" or deducting marks because it's not a proper poster, it's not pretty enough or they just don't like it... blah blah blah. But they also not only deduct points from posters but backgrounds as well as chapter pictures and layout... I get the fact that readers will be affected by the appearance of fanfics. I understand that some posters aren't pleasing in the eyes, backgrounds aren't suited and the fonts are hard to read but seriously why must you even rate them in the first place? Everyone has different taste and the point of a review is to know how to improve on ones writing, not their sense in visual art. For example, if I was into pink and I make my poster and background pink but the reviewer happens to hate pink, then they're going to say... "The appearance wasn't that good." That's because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. 

Seriously! Who the hell cares about the appearance, I am sure that the requesters aren't asking for their posters and backgrounds to be critiqued and I find it kind of useless since a majority amount of people request for posters. Meaning they don't make their own posters. Meaning they don't really care about what you think of their posters and backgrounds because it doesn't affect them at all. Maybe they're just obligated to use it, or maybe they just have a different taste from you. 

Grammar Natzi 

Oh c'mon, it was just a few grammatical mistakes. Who knows where to properly put comma's anyway? There are just so many rants about grammar natzi's that I cannot even. It's true it affects people's writing but if it's not too much mistakes, then why bother deducting points?? 

Titles

I'm sorry but since when does a chapter title have a mark out of 10?? 

Honestly, it doesn't even matter. I don't care whether their chapter title is called "Chapter One" "Anonymous" or "The Stranger's Story That Had Made Me Cry"

It's hard coming up with appropriate titles without giving much away at the beginning and making it sound strange with just one or two words. If there's too little words, one would say it's "confusing" and if there's too much they would all go "you just gave it away from the beginning"

You're already reading the fanfic, so why not just go on ahead and read the story, ignoring the chapter titles.

As for titles however... it's hard coming up with one. I do know that there are a lot of stupid titles out there that doesn't really capture your attention but sometimes those stories are quite well written.

Here's a suggestion, just not mark stupid titles. I know it's very hard marking them, finding the flaw and pointing out the good. It's so hard coming up with original titles in a place where they are just everywhere. Nothing is unique anymore because at one time, someone else would have already done it.

And just so you know, not every single first letter has to be capitalized in long titles. The rule isn't "Always capitalize the first and last word" nor is it "Capitalize every single beginning letter" 

I'm pretty sure it's "Capitalize every single beginning letter unless there are four or more words on your title. If there's four or more words (or was it three or more... idek), capitalize the beginning and the other major words. (kinda like finding keywords on your essay question o.O) 

Forewords and Descriptions: 

Why must you mark them separately? A lot of people put their credits and author's comment there and you mark them down for that too?! Honestly you guys are just so... 

Ugh! 

Just mark them for the relevant content why don't you. 

And the rant goes on

Okay, so overall, the job of a reviewer is to actually give advice to the writer. There is always room for improvement so instead of saying "It was perfect. I loved it" or "You have bad grammar, bad writing style, so cliche and unenjoyable just quit writing stories and do the world of AFF a favour" try actually telling them where and how to improve. 

So English isn't their first language, tell them how to improve it. Read books, practice online... blah blah blah. 

Don't just constantly tell them off and tell them how much they or how much you loved their fanfic. Point out what they have to do and such and such. 

And for the writers that are asking for reviews; sometimes reviewers are one track minded people. They don't really try to delve deeper and who knows, maybe the writer hadn't intended for their fanfic to have anything deeper but they don't try to read what's between the lines nor do they try to see it from your point of view. They read what's written in there and that's what they are going to mark you for, unlike English teachers who tends to go all:

"The curtain was blue because it represents the feeling of Johnny who was feeling down. It represented the rain outside and how blue tends to make things darker which allows the reader to envision the dark and gloomy house that Johnny lives in." 

When in fact the author just thought of blue for no apparent reason at that time. 

At the end of the day, it's always going to end up with one's personal taste. Someone who dislikes horror and can't follow mysteries would easily get confused when reading those sorts of fanfic. However if they love fluff and , then they are most likely to give a higher point to those writers. Honestly, not a lot of reviewers are even suited to be one, but oh well. Close minded, shallow, grammar natzi, appearance judging reviewers they are everywhere, believe you me. 

Anyway~ If you're reading this, then that means I have finished ranting at this time.... 

And yes I was guilty of being a shallow reviewer but hey, I grew up, thank you very much :P 

So yeah.... I think I've stopped raging now. Tata~