Tango
Creator of the Doduo Alliance
So a while back there was a certain topic titled: How do I guaruntee reviews?
It dawned on me that I have the answer!
Ah, but who am I?
Eight months ago I was no one. At least no one on here. I wasn't even an author! What started as a lets-play for the sequel to the Gameboy Pokemon Trading Card Game spun out of control with my frivolous commentary and evolved into a full-fledged fanfic! After some light research, I discovered Thousand Roads. 03/05/2025. That was when I first posted my fic. Since then, I've devoted considerable time to obtaining feedback from other authors in the form of reviews! I've been implementing feedback and growing as a writer and I believe I've received about 65 reviews since then! (General estimate.)
So, I figured why not make a guide out of it? Here you have it:
How To 'Guarantee' Reviews!
In relative order of effort vs results
1. Post your fic as a new user.
This probably gets your fic noticed by Negrek. Negrek loves to welcome new users to the forum and be supportive. This might not be a real guarantee, but it worked for me! (@Negrek Thanks Negrek! Your early support was super helpful for my motivation! You're welcome to read and review more of my fic any time, especially for my new Book One that is almost finished *wink wink nudge nudge...*) Need some help posting your fic? Check out this post.
2. Ask Astinus @Astinus
Astinus rocks.
3. Engage in Catnip Circle or Reading Rookidee
This is almost foolproof. The only way you won't get a review if the other author pulls out after signing up and never participates again.
4. Leave a review for the person who is 'it' in the Review Tag thread.
Eventually someone else will want their own fic reviewed. When they do, they will have to review your fic first so that they can become 'it'. This will probably take a long time, but it guarantees a review... eventually.
5. Make the chapters in your fic very short.
3k or less if you can. This makes it less daunting for others to pick up and review. It also makes your fic a more attractive target for the yearly Blitz event which is a magical time where reviews fly around all over the place like little whimsical fairies.
6. Post in the Review Exchange Thread!
The most enthusiastic authors tend to post in there. Having a post allows you to direct others to it so they can get an idea of what it is like to exchange with you. It also makes you cooler.
7. Having a fic premise that is popular.
If that were a requirement for reviews, I wouldn't have nearly as many as I do. Granted, I'm sure it does help. Probably mostly for reader count.
8. Adding fanservice to your fic.
If you are able to do this in a way that grabs attention, you might get more readers, but it's unlikely you will get more reviews. Also, keep in mind this might drive some kinds of readers away, but hey, you're the author.
9. Be willing to exchange reviews.
This one is super important. It doesn't matter how good your fic is. If you aren't willing to review other people's fics, you won't get reviews. (Ok, you might still get SOME reviews but they will be very rare and you won't get NEARLY as many as you probably want and far less than you could potentially get...)
10. Be willing to initiate ongoing review exchanges.
No one is going to PM you asking you for a review exchange. If you want one, you need to go find it yourself by PMing potential partners for it. You should also volunteer to review their fic first. (That isn't a rule, but it is good manners.) As for who you should reach out to, try to do a little research on them by looking around on the forum. Seeking out active members on the forum that have fics around the same word count as you is a good idea.
11. Join the TR Discord
It's another way of interacting with the community and the real-time aspect of it can be helpful for getting some immediate attention, even if its just to ask if anyone will review exchange with you. (Do not spam. If you are obnoxious you will only be hurting your chances.) If you join Discord, ask someone to help you sign up for Catnip notifications so that way you don't miss them!
12. Pursue writing and seeking reviews with as much free time as you can.
Pros: You can do more than anyone else. Cons: The cries of games from your backlog will haunt you.
(Make sure you are taking care of yourself and not neglecting your loved ones.)
13. Be open minded to reading and enjoying the fics of other authors.
Even if it isn't what you usually go for. Even if the other author is really bad at writing. (Besides, helping a fledgling author can feel great!) If you only want to read certain kinds of fics, you will greatly limit the number of potential review exchange partners. Other fics can be surprising in how good they are. You really can't tell for sure if you won't like a fic until you have read some of it. (This does not apply to content warnings. If you can't handle certain content, you should avoid those kinds of fics. No one needs to read content that makes them feel bad just to get reviews. If you do the other things in this guide, I 'guarantee' you won't need to!)
14. Value the reviews you receive.
How do you do that? Reply to the reviews you get with positivity. The person that left the review for you might want to feel valued. Shame on you if you won't at least give their review a 'like'. But honestly, a reply is a much better way to show appreciation. You really ought to give a reply to their review... (Pro tip: do the reply first and THEN give their review a like. Doing that will call their attention back to your fic and they may notice your reply at that point. They might even give another reply so you can get some extra enjoyment/use out of it!)
15. Don't skimp on your reviews for others.
When you leave a review, everyone can see it. If you go around leaving 100 word reviews for everyone, you are going to develop a reputation for leaving sucky reviews. Posting substantial reviews shows your interest in other author's work. They are looking for feedback just like you! Don't be a disappointment. Posting a lacking review is a letdown to the other author. ESPECIALLY if the other author put in a ton of words in a review for you. I'm not saying you need to match the word count of the other author, but if they give you a 2,000 word review and you only give them a 100 word review, you honestly need to be slapped or something... If you need help with writing reviews, check out this post to deter oncoming slaps from annoyed authors.
16. Don't burn yourself out.
If someone is giving you very small reviews, don't bother complaining to them. They aren't going to fix themselves even if you beg them. Instead they will just get annoyed at you. Just give them smaller reviews to match their lack of depth. This encourages them to do more for you and helps conserve energy for authors who deserve it.
17. Don't make your review exchange partner wait forever for your review.
Doing this makes you look like you don't take it seriously and that you don't respect the other author. If you have a reason for waiting, let the other author know. A little communication goes a long way. NO author should have to wait FOUR months for ONE of your reviews!
18. Make sure you read the fics of others.
When I say read. I mean actually read. DO. NOT. SKIM. I realize it may be a struggle not to do that for certain fics, but if you aren't processing what you are reading and retaining the information, it's going to make you look dumb later when you get confused about stuff in the fic that you shouldn't be confused on. Also, skimming the work of another author is sad. That said, don't be harsh with others if they skim your fic some... Your fic might have a really boring section or they might be reading late at night or aren't feeling very well. That leads to my next point.
19. Be patient with other authors.
You don't know what they have going on in their life unless they choose to tell you. Not being patient doesn't get you anything. It just gets on their nerves. It's ok to ask them for status updates occasionally, but you should avoid spamming them.
20. Cater your review to the preference of the other author.
If the other author has preferences, listen to them. Also, even if the author has no preferences, don't leave a review that is 95% critique or more. (And honestly, it probably shouldn't even be 60% or more...) Even if it's constructive. Doing that could easily demoralize the other author. (If you are TRYING to demoralize them, then that makes you a bully!) Remember, a writer needs to learn to crawl before they can run... It may seem helpful to point out all the flaws, but you should hold yourself back and try to point out only the more glaring issues. Try to balance your crit with positive reinforcement. It can go a long way. You don't know the mental state of the other author. Be kind.
21. Consider all feedback that comes your way.
It doesn't mean you need to agree with the feedback, but the other person took the time for YOUR fic. You can at least read over it and think about it. Some of the best ideas originate from feedback from other authors. Not all your ideas are guaranteed to be good ones. Some ideas will chase readers away. If you don't mind chasing readers away, then do whatever you want. If readers and reviews matter, you need to try to take into account what they love and hate to at least some extent. Reviews help tell you what those things are.
22. Make your fic better.
Put more effort into your fic. People will like it more. If they like it more, they are more likely to review it. You can do this by improving the plot, characters, writing style, and by adding art to it. Adding art shows your passion for it. If you care about it more, other people are more likely to as well!
But don't just take my word for it. What do YOU guys think? Comments and suggestions welcome and encouraged!
(By the way, if you want to see the fic I made, it's in my signature. If anyone finds this helpful, the best way to say thanks is to give me a review for a chapter in my fic!. 23. don't be afraid to shamelessly beg for reviews as long as you aren't being obnoxious with it... )
It dawned on me that I have the answer!
Ah, but who am I?
Eight months ago I was no one. At least no one on here. I wasn't even an author! What started as a lets-play for the sequel to the Gameboy Pokemon Trading Card Game spun out of control with my frivolous commentary and evolved into a full-fledged fanfic! After some light research, I discovered Thousand Roads. 03/05/2025. That was when I first posted my fic. Since then, I've devoted considerable time to obtaining feedback from other authors in the form of reviews! I've been implementing feedback and growing as a writer and I believe I've received about 65 reviews since then! (General estimate.)
So, I figured why not make a guide out of it? Here you have it:
How To 'Guarantee' Reviews!
In relative order of effort vs results
1. Post your fic as a new user.
This probably gets your fic noticed by Negrek. Negrek loves to welcome new users to the forum and be supportive. This might not be a real guarantee, but it worked for me! (@Negrek Thanks Negrek! Your early support was super helpful for my motivation! You're welcome to read and review more of my fic any time, especially for my new Book One that is almost finished *wink wink nudge nudge...*) Need some help posting your fic? Check out this post.
2. Ask Astinus @Astinus
Astinus rocks.
3. Engage in Catnip Circle or Reading Rookidee
This is almost foolproof. The only way you won't get a review if the other author pulls out after signing up and never participates again.
4. Leave a review for the person who is 'it' in the Review Tag thread.
Eventually someone else will want their own fic reviewed. When they do, they will have to review your fic first so that they can become 'it'. This will probably take a long time, but it guarantees a review... eventually.
5. Make the chapters in your fic very short.
3k or less if you can. This makes it less daunting for others to pick up and review. It also makes your fic a more attractive target for the yearly Blitz event which is a magical time where reviews fly around all over the place like little whimsical fairies.
6. Post in the Review Exchange Thread!
The most enthusiastic authors tend to post in there. Having a post allows you to direct others to it so they can get an idea of what it is like to exchange with you. It also makes you cooler.
If that were a requirement for reviews, I wouldn't have nearly as many as I do. Granted, I'm sure it does help. Probably mostly for reader count.
If you are able to do this in a way that grabs attention, you might get more readers, but it's unlikely you will get more reviews. Also, keep in mind this might drive some kinds of readers away, but hey, you're the author.
9. Be willing to exchange reviews.
This one is super important. It doesn't matter how good your fic is. If you aren't willing to review other people's fics, you won't get reviews. (Ok, you might still get SOME reviews but they will be very rare and you won't get NEARLY as many as you probably want and far less than you could potentially get...)
10. Be willing to initiate ongoing review exchanges.
No one is going to PM you asking you for a review exchange. If you want one, you need to go find it yourself by PMing potential partners for it. You should also volunteer to review their fic first. (That isn't a rule, but it is good manners.) As for who you should reach out to, try to do a little research on them by looking around on the forum. Seeking out active members on the forum that have fics around the same word count as you is a good idea.
11. Join the TR Discord
It's another way of interacting with the community and the real-time aspect of it can be helpful for getting some immediate attention, even if its just to ask if anyone will review exchange with you. (Do not spam. If you are obnoxious you will only be hurting your chances.) If you join Discord, ask someone to help you sign up for Catnip notifications so that way you don't miss them!
12. Pursue writing and seeking reviews with as much free time as you can.
Pros: You can do more than anyone else. Cons: The cries of games from your backlog will haunt you.
(Make sure you are taking care of yourself and not neglecting your loved ones.)
13. Be open minded to reading and enjoying the fics of other authors.
Even if it isn't what you usually go for. Even if the other author is really bad at writing. (Besides, helping a fledgling author can feel great!) If you only want to read certain kinds of fics, you will greatly limit the number of potential review exchange partners. Other fics can be surprising in how good they are. You really can't tell for sure if you won't like a fic until you have read some of it. (This does not apply to content warnings. If you can't handle certain content, you should avoid those kinds of fics. No one needs to read content that makes them feel bad just to get reviews. If you do the other things in this guide, I 'guarantee' you won't need to!)
14. Value the reviews you receive.
How do you do that? Reply to the reviews you get with positivity. The person that left the review for you might want to feel valued. Shame on you if you won't at least give their review a 'like'. But honestly, a reply is a much better way to show appreciation. You really ought to give a reply to their review... (Pro tip: do the reply first and THEN give their review a like. Doing that will call their attention back to your fic and they may notice your reply at that point. They might even give another reply so you can get some extra enjoyment/use out of it!)
15. Don't skimp on your reviews for others.
When you leave a review, everyone can see it. If you go around leaving 100 word reviews for everyone, you are going to develop a reputation for leaving sucky reviews. Posting substantial reviews shows your interest in other author's work. They are looking for feedback just like you! Don't be a disappointment. Posting a lacking review is a letdown to the other author. ESPECIALLY if the other author put in a ton of words in a review for you. I'm not saying you need to match the word count of the other author, but if they give you a 2,000 word review and you only give them a 100 word review, you honestly need to be slapped or something... If you need help with writing reviews, check out this post to deter oncoming slaps from annoyed authors.
16. Don't burn yourself out.
If someone is giving you very small reviews, don't bother complaining to them. They aren't going to fix themselves even if you beg them. Instead they will just get annoyed at you. Just give them smaller reviews to match their lack of depth. This encourages them to do more for you and helps conserve energy for authors who deserve it.
17. Don't make your review exchange partner wait forever for your review.
Doing this makes you look like you don't take it seriously and that you don't respect the other author. If you have a reason for waiting, let the other author know. A little communication goes a long way. NO author should have to wait FOUR months for ONE of your reviews!
18. Make sure you read the fics of others.
When I say read. I mean actually read. DO. NOT. SKIM. I realize it may be a struggle not to do that for certain fics, but if you aren't processing what you are reading and retaining the information, it's going to make you look dumb later when you get confused about stuff in the fic that you shouldn't be confused on. Also, skimming the work of another author is sad. That said, don't be harsh with others if they skim your fic some... Your fic might have a really boring section or they might be reading late at night or aren't feeling very well. That leads to my next point.
19. Be patient with other authors.
You don't know what they have going on in their life unless they choose to tell you. Not being patient doesn't get you anything. It just gets on their nerves. It's ok to ask them for status updates occasionally, but you should avoid spamming them.
20. Cater your review to the preference of the other author.
If the other author has preferences, listen to them. Also, even if the author has no preferences, don't leave a review that is 95% critique or more. (And honestly, it probably shouldn't even be 60% or more...) Even if it's constructive. Doing that could easily demoralize the other author. (If you are TRYING to demoralize them, then that makes you a bully!) Remember, a writer needs to learn to crawl before they can run... It may seem helpful to point out all the flaws, but you should hold yourself back and try to point out only the more glaring issues. Try to balance your crit with positive reinforcement. It can go a long way. You don't know the mental state of the other author. Be kind.
21. Consider all feedback that comes your way.
It doesn't mean you need to agree with the feedback, but the other person took the time for YOUR fic. You can at least read over it and think about it. Some of the best ideas originate from feedback from other authors. Not all your ideas are guaranteed to be good ones. Some ideas will chase readers away. If you don't mind chasing readers away, then do whatever you want. If readers and reviews matter, you need to try to take into account what they love and hate to at least some extent. Reviews help tell you what those things are.
22. Make your fic better.
Put more effort into your fic. People will like it more. If they like it more, they are more likely to review it. You can do this by improving the plot, characters, writing style, and by adding art to it. Adding art shows your passion for it. If you care about it more, other people are more likely to as well!
But don't just take my word for it. What do YOU guys think? Comments and suggestions welcome and encouraged!
(By the way, if you want to see the fic I made, it's in my signature. If anyone finds this helpful, the best way to say thanks is to give me a review for a chapter in my fic!
. 23. don't be afraid to shamelessly beg for reviews as long as you aren't being obnoxious with it... )