Book_Keeper Thank you a review would be much appreciated. I really want some feedback on how to further my writing

      Jamison_C
      Elotra
      Rius7
      LividEdge
      existing
      PoppyQueen
      Leonardodicaprio

      All ten stories have been either or both been assessed and reviewed.
      For the sake of space, full reviews will be posted on Virtual Bookshelf. Excerpts will be posted on the Webnovel itself.

      Assessments can be found on the website under Webnovel Assessments 10: https://virtualbookshelf.home.blog/2019/02/02/webnovel-assessments-10/
      Those with reviews will have a link on their title in the above post.

      Important Note: There is a big difference between a webnovel--a story of the internet and mobile world--and a published book. Besides straightforward editing, published stories are constantly polished to be more engaging, meaningful, and clear. So a successful webnovel doesn’t equate to the same caliber of a published novel. This is due in part to an online writer typically being a one man/woman show. Thus, reviews will be given as if regarding whether this could be a published print or e-book.

      Due to the time it took for 7 reviews today, I'll be putting any further review requests on a queue for when I have more time. I want to first amass a good library of assessed novels.

                      Book_Keeper

                      Hahaha, thanks for the review! Appreciate the effort.

                      I like how the various criteria were separated.

                      You have a discord? I think your website has potential , wanna ask you some stuff =D

                          Personally, I'm actually trying to make the reader level low because my target audience is low. I realize this by checking the readability level at a website.

                          So I use easy to understand words while still keeping a variety of synonyms to make the writing a bit more colorful. It's not for everyone though. >3</

                            Charlotte8

                            So actually, I just said I would put review requests on queue, but I liked yours and it was only 6 chapters, so I did one anyway, hehe~

                            The assessment and review is up on VB, and the review excerpt, on Webnovel.
                            https://virtualbookshelf.home.blog/2019/02/02/review-the-snow-gods-lost-daughter-charlotte8/

                            I just realized now that all my "your novel has been assessed and review(ed)" were incorrect, orz

                            And I also just realized that the 5 assessment factors unintentionally tie quite closely with Webnovel's 5 rating elements.

                              Jamison_C
                              You're welcome! I don't have a discord, actually. D: I know, how outdated am I, lol. But you're free to ask me anything here. :)

                              90751052
                              And that's perfectly fine! In my About section I actually wrote that a score of 1-2 on the 0-3 range scale is not considered bad at all. Rather, it's just as you said, it reaches a larger audience. But more specifically for mobile, fancy paragraphs are harder to read unless spaced out even more, lol!

                              AkaGin
                              I don't think I can do a blunt review; the assessment service I have is about the closest to a blunt review from me can go; haha, there is no in-between~
                              So I'll just do the assessment and stick you on the queue :)

                                      Book_Keeper

                                      Am I right to say your site targets readers mainly in order to connect them with ongoing original works?

                                      If that is the case, I would suggest a slight overhaul to the review system.

                                      For example, Chapter Length and Reader's level be separated from the 5 and should be in their own category. RL should be scaled from 0-3 on the basis of readability i.e 3 being the level whereby the general population would be able to read. My basis for this is the preconception that webnovels in general tries to play to the lowest denominator.

                                      As a reader, I would find the breakdown TQ/PD/CF and CL/RL much better and would facilitate me in making a decision whether to try the book or not.

                                      The scoring examples of said categories are well done. Expectations were laid clearly and a framework was established. Even if readers ultimately find your review to not fit their expectations, the deviations would not be much unless in outlier cases IMHO.

                                      Moving forward, I assume that you would continue this particular work for a period of time. My first question is whether monetization is on the horizon or this is simply hobby work as I deem the former to provide a longer period of stability for the website but that is just me.

                                      Lastly, I understand that you are going for an ability> pedigree kind of thing with your review website. I have a suggestion which is to humble brag whatever form of legit pedigree you may have in order to establish the first instance of trust for your reviews. To interest more people into reading the first review and so on. But, I understand that this may backfire spectacularly so please take my suggestion with a shaker of salt.

                                      Anyway, just some random questions I had on my mind as I thought your work was good and the website had potential so I was curious.

                                          Jamison_C

                                          Great thoughts, inputs, and questions!

                                          Yes, readers are targeted more than writers because because ultimately that is the force which will make the website’s mission successful. Regardless if writers want an assessment, it’ll happen lol. The secondary service of reviews is simply to help writers who will also benefit from (hopefully) increased readership.

                                          As for the review system, I actually had similar concerns. RL+CL don’t make or break a webnovel in comparison to the three other factors. I probably could even kick CL out, but I kept it because it has some weight in online novels that go by parts rather than a ‘true full chapter.’ Also, it gives a quick impression of how serious writers are in their works. If they have 100 chapters, but they only have 500 words on average, then it seems more of a bid for over inflated views.

                                          RL, for online novels is usually 1-2 based on my scale because you’re right, most cater to a larger audience. But why I kept it is due to the idea of judging from a publisher standpoint (which, btw, I am not, or else I’ll be living some more exciting life lol). Since it’s not only the Webnovel website I’ll be looking at, this consideration is more necessary for Wattpad who has an actual “publishing” deal as opposed to featured or contracted.

                                          With all that said, however, I might just opt for a pairing of CL/RL next to TQ/PD/CF and separate with a dash or something. Visually, it’ll be quicker to judge.

                                          Monetization.. LOL. Nope, that’s not happening unless I get some random rich investor who wants to buy my freely-hosted website! Yes, this is merely a hobby taken seriously with the hopes of actually being of some assistance. I know all too well the difficulty of finding a good original novel among all the, cough, low quality ones.
                                          And maybe one day, I shall find brave souls willing to assist me.. for free.

                                          Yes, it’s ability > pedigree because I’m a firm believer in showing through action and example. It’s up to the viewer to decide, and honestly, even if I were to list anything, people will still find fault haha. Considering people ask others who aren’t “experts” either for reviews and give ratings on stories themselves, this is no different. Except, it’s just from me.

                                          Ehh, just basically hoping the easy accessibility of finding good novels all in one place will convince them this system works~

                                          Thanks btw! I’m glad someone went out to seriously and curiously consider and understand the website and assessment method. This kind of conversation helps all of us. :)

                                          [EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention; I like this sentence: “may backfire spectacularly so please take my suggestion with a shaker of salt.” Haha! ]

                                              90751052

                                              Actually, I just reread some of my reviews and cringed over some typing mistakes. I was a bit too ambitious in taking on so many stories at once and lazy in the finish to not completely proofread my words.

                                              Oh well, the fix will have to wait until the morning.

                                                  Book_Keeper

                                                  You know, on second thoughts... I find courage welling up in my soul.

                                                  Unfortunately earthly concerns shacketh me to the earth.

                                                  I heard the keys can be found on a mysterious land named Discord.

                                                  Let me know if you head there, I have 4 digits like a lottery winning number waiting for you LEL.

                                                    Hello,

                                                    I hope I'm not too late on this thread. My novel is only a week old (by the time this was posted), but I would appreciate if you could spare a time to review my humble first four chapters.

                                                    https://www.webnovel.com/book/12847088505633405

                                                    P.S. yes Im on my phone's (alt) account now, hence why the author's name is different from this

                                                      Fine, I'll bite.

                                                      https://www.webnovel.com/book/12652502605368205/Transition-and-Restart

                                                      Should be enough of a chunk to give an assessment. We'll leave the full 380k words for another, rainy day ;)

                                                      Besides, your ranking system will be coloured by publishing interface. Each and every novel published on webnovel will automatically have one star yanked in the readability departement due to substandard formatting options. Webnovel doesn't meet even the most basic requirements for a publishing site catering for stories in the English language.

                                                        Book_Keeper

                                                        You decide about your own rating system, but a 100% show -story is an automatic wall-banger. It's unreadable. Authors need to learn the rule: 'Tell, don't show' after they've learned 'show, don't tell'.

                                                        If you're going to drag me through a horribly boring taxi ride between the city and the airport I'm dropping your book cold. There's a time for showing and one for telling. Scene's of transition should, on average, be told.

                                                          Web Novel Novel Ask