I am an author and I deleted reviews when:

  1. The reviews are only used for EXP, by writing *UTY$$)(&%$% and the score is less than 4 or 5 stars. If they were gonna use my novel for EXP, they better do it decently and not ruin my novel rating by giving me 1 star.

  2. The reviewers write hurtful things because they are mean and just basically lowly human beings. I can't sleep if I keep thinking about the hurtful reviews, so I had to protect my sanity. Example would be: 2 stars review saying "I loooooove the novel, but I won't give it good rating for fear it would contracted by Webnovel and therefore I have to pay for it."

I had two reviews like this in the past and they got me soooo depressed. I wanted to be contracted! It was my dream to be a full time author.

  1. The review was soooo entitled. One time there was a 3 star review saying "This is one of the best novels I've read in Webnovel, but the author is a liar and lazy. She often published her chapters late at night or didn't keep her promise for mass release" (I am a liar??? In 90 days time I published 110 chapters.. and prolly 300k words in 4 months. Do the math.)
    Some people can be really evil and hurtful.

  2. Sometimes the readers don't understand how reviews work. They would give 1 star and said "I loooooove this novel. It's awesome!"
    Are you for real???

  3. One reader was only on chapter 0 and gave me 4 stars, writing "I don't like it. The story is average. If you have a good taste like me, you'll understand what I mean."

Even though it was 4 stars, I didn't see any added value and I also thought it might be just another EXP review. There was nothing about what is good or bad from my novel, and what I could improve on, or what other readers could learn from their review. So I deleted it.

So, yeah... I do delete bad reviews, but only when it was justified. My novel's rating is 5.0 from 143 reviews and the other one is 4.9 from 2400 reviews.

https://www.webnovel.com/book/13038754206496605/The-Alchemists

https://www.webnovel.com/book/13062785205524305

I do have one reader who keep giving me the same reviews (maybe 10) but how could I say no to her, she had been supporting me for months and maybe no longer has anything to say. She now just give 5 stars review with hearts or thumbs up. I don't delete those, but I also don't like them.

I understand if authors delete reviews with their own reasons. I really like this function, to delete bad reviews from authors' side, because malicious reviews that cannot be deleted can make authors depressed and lose the desire to continue writing. I think in this context, it is better to protect the authors than the readers, because authors are the ones who have to work hard to create content and just like most artists, depression/frustration can kill their creativity.

Authors who keep deleting reviews without justifiable reasons will lose readers, or losing people who would review their novels. In the end their novel will suffer.

kazesenken
No I mean, you just kinda tell us what he's modeled after, instead of showing us the characteristics you pulled from those butler type characters. I wanted to be able to think: oh wow, he's like x, y, and z. I even looked up the guys name from BB, and he for sure wasn't named in your book, but thats who I immediately thought of. Pietro is now Valkyhein. He better turn into a literal wolf and air dash, or else.
It's a bit weird because after, your character stops telling us who he exactly is, and tells us what he's like. Its this weird specific-to-general thing that just threw me off. You dont do this with, uuuh, Eyrn or Carina, so why with Pietro?

      Lilliny
      That's what the MC's first impression was. He is guilty of preconceptions. He assumes wrongly, which is why he thinks in terms of references. I actually didn't know that BB character that you mentioned. The MC was just 'oh, it's a stereotypical butler.' He does the same for Carina actually, immediately thinking of her as Cooking Mama.
      I actually had no solid characteristics in mind for the first few chapters for anyone, which I realize could be fleshed out now, but that might be the normal trap that I fell into that is common for JP light novels (in which the characters are drawn out) An oversight on my part.

          kazesenken
          I think that's the difficulty in useing fleshed out characters (Sebas/Valkenhyn), vs a character like Cooking mama. One is highly specific and leads to assumptions about the Pietro, (and if all of them are true that would be a boring character,) and one is generic and easy to digest and the assumptions are more surface level. It's too strong a reference I feel.
          I guess what I'm saying is:
          Sebas = An actual person.
          Cooking Mama = a simple archetype.

          But this is kinda nitpicky and something that is easily changed.

              Lilliny
              Oh, I see the issue now!
              I'm not actually referring to the Sebas from any particular reference.
              The line reads, "One look at his face gave me the impression of an Alfred or Sebas…"
              The intention there is that Alfred and Sebastian (his thought got cut off at that point) is a stereotypical butler name, that is commonly used. Basically, an old English butler guy. It wasn't meant to reflect a specific person any more than cooking mama did. It was more the romanticized image of a butler. Like Batman's butler, or the ones from Black Butler and Overlord.

                  Lilliny
                  No, that's fine. It's great to be able to talk through a misunderstanding like this. My English and yours isn't the same, so it certainly helps me think about how I can improve.
                  Thanks for the input.

                    Cantiara

                    Aye, so you are. At work atm. I will hit you up as soon as I get home.

                        Cantiara

                        Clowniac#7342 is my tag. Send me an invite and let's get this show on the road.

                            Gourmet_DAO There are English writers that make lots of mistakes also. I think if the person reading has an exceptional English language they can figure out what you're saying, but I do think if they correct you honestly it will help you with your English, because it does take away from the story if there are to many mistakes. I always say I can't fix what I don't know is wrong, I listen to any good advice, no one has to be demeaning to leave a comment they can convey there thoughts without being mean. Not everyone is going to like everything. There was a book I read or tried to read I just couldn't get through it I'm very determined that things will get better but I was so lost in that book it took me 5 months to give up on it so my comment was I didn't like it because it was to confusing I kept thinking there was a book before it but there wasn't and I'm sorry but I couldn't read the entire book. I did point out the things that confused me. I don't like to give bad reviews but I will tell you what I did and didn't like. I know things will get better take everything with a grain of salt, and carry on don't allow anyone to bring you down. From great strife comes great accomplishments. Or as in Batman, Why do we fall down, so that we can learn to pick ourselves up

                                Twinks15 Better not to say! When I don’t like it, I say so. Sometimes you read a novel for swap reviews, and the chapters are not interesting or the genre is not mine, then I write about it too.

                                We were taught at the university to give a review (teaching methodology) - first we need to write positive points, and then give criticism. But in any case, you can not go to the author. Since we give an analysis of the text, an analysis of the work and not of the author himself. In the dialogue you need to observe network ethics. Otherwise, why write a review?

                                I personally think that morality is needed in the 21st century, there is no need to offend people, you need to go the bright way and not the dark. Therefore, in a review you never need to offend the author, even if you do not like the work. You can put 3 stars but tell the author, try, correct mistakes, grow above yourself, develop.

                                Thank you for your interesting opinion. It was cognitive for me. Respect!

                                  Twinks15 Better not to say! When I don’t like it, I say so. Sometimes you read a novel for swap reviews, and the chapters are not interesting or the genre is not mine, then I write about it too.

                                  We were taught at the university to give a review (teaching methodology) - first we need to write positive points, and then give criticism. But in any case, you can not go to the author. Since we give an analysis of the text, an analysis of the work and not of the author himself. In the dialogue you need to observe network ethics. Otherwise, why write a review?

                                  I personally think that morality is needed in the 21st century, there is no need to offend people, you need to go the bright way and not the dark. Therefore, in a review you never need to offend the author, even if you do not like the work. You can put 3 stars but tell the author, try, correct mistakes, grow above yourself, develop.

                                  Thank you for your interesting opinion. It was cognitive for me. Respect!

                                    OJROMANCE when communicating, opponents should not swear, as soon as there is a swearing, this indicates that the person is not mature. He cannot control his emotions.

                                    if you are not satisfied that they criticize you without reading your novel, you have the right to do so, but when you insult someone you are reading, who in their right mind will read you? If you as an author cannot behave within the framework of network ethics.

                                    Want to chat, follow the rules. You are outraged that you were not read, you want to say that the reviewer is wrong? Say it! But without rudeness! And if you insult others, then the response will be ignoring you at best, if you come across a person similar to you, he will swear with you, and the third will simply write you a letter to the moderation service for your inappropriate behavior during the discussion.

                                    They say in our country - the best behavior is modesty and politeness, a polite word and a cat is nice. Whereas rudeness harms everything.

                                        Gourmet_DAO I just wrote a review about a book, can we tell the book? and it got deleted by the author. I do not know why authors have the right to delete real criticism. obviously the synopsis of that book was painting a false image of that book. I read all free chapters, 34 chapters, and the synopsis was kept untouched. So thats what I wrote in my review, saying the synopsis was wrong and misleading.
                                        So in the end reviewers get muted by authors. I do not think that is a healthy way to go around dealing with critizism.
                                        Is there anyway to still make our voices known because this way it just is dictatorship on authors side.

                                            before_after Wow?! And how many stars have you set? Was he correct in communicating with the author? If so, then I am amazed at this fact!

                                            I personally leave reviews 3 stars, calmly. One dude stopped by and gave me 1 star, but he didn’t discuss my novel, he said that I’m bad, that my romance is bad, that my English is not good and I don’t have the right to write in such English. Well, if we Vulcans would win the Cold War, now I would criticize him for his bad Vulcan. But I have an English third language, I do not justify my mistakes, but I strive to learn from them.

                                            In short, I deleted his review, he did not even read the novel, he only looked at chapter 1.

                                            If you come to me and appreciate my romance, you will be objective, you will not swear, give me advice, I won’t remove you, even if you give me 2 or 3 stars! I will appreciate your honest review. The rating is not important to me right now. I want to improve my writing.

                                            So why don’t they try to evaluate my work?

                                            I am writing 6 novels. Many ideas. A lot of materials on the history of the Silk Road. I want to popularize this topic.

                                            My content is interesting, but the grammar is lame, I can’t use grammals, we don’t have any conversion in the country, and my old computer doesn’t pull large programs. I write as I can. The text is difficult to read, but you can understand the general meaning. If you don’t worry much about bad English, then try to evaluate the plot and content.

                                            My 6 work (I rewrote 5 chapters - 6 have not yet adjusted) on the advice of a reviewer. It seems a little better.

                                            Waiting for your honest review - https://www.webnovel.com/book/15195393805364505/The-Adventures-of-Treasure-Hunters

                                                LostInFictions hm alright so lets say readers are just misunderstanding the writer, but what about the writer writing a misleading synopsis? Telling one thing but just going somewhere completely different?
                                                I read this novel and 34 chapters in it did not go anywhere. Synopsis talks about MC getting the powers to change himself literally shapeshifting and working on his revenge. 34 chapters into the story and all I see and read is a teenage lovestory. Now I wrote that into my review and get angry comments of the author saying I only look for faults in novels and then "shittalk" them. Of course said author deletes my review.
                                                Is this a case of me not understanding the author? Or plain author deceiving potential readers?

                                                    Gourmet_DAO you talk about taking a class to learn how to write a review. But not everyone will take that class. As long as the person is not direspectful to you and clearly and honestly gives their opinion on the book, then no matter what star ratingyou give them I don't see why the author has the right to delete the review. In the end of you were with a publishing company and your book was published, you would not have the option to delete every review you found unpleasant just because you did not like it. That goes for any field people work in.

                                                        Gem4Life This is an interesting question. On the one hand, the right to choose, on the other, the strength and work of the reviewer.

                                                        If you were given an honest review without going over to the personality of the author, without being rude to him, without calling him names, objectively giving an assessment of his work. By suggesting ways to correct errors in your opinion. Then the author must find the strength to leave a review. If he does not agree with your assessment, then you can discuss this. At the same time, everyone can remain in their own opinion. But delete the review because of this is not worth it.

                                                        But there is still such an aspect, I personally don’t give a damn about the rating because I like it, I don’t get any money from it, I haven’t concluded any contracts, so I’m ready for honest criticism.

                                                        But there are those who receive money, and apparently in this case negative reviews affect the rating and cash receipts.

                                                        In the end, now in the world money means more than an objective assessment of the work of the author IMHO.

                                                          Gourmet_DAO I gave 2 stars and gave my opinion why I did so.
                                                          Writing Quality 4: there were still mistakes, but overall better then majority of novels
                                                          Stability of Updates 5: daily updates
                                                          Story Development 1: no developement since it went a completely different route, also on that route nothing happened
                                                          Character Design 1: no idea how the people look like, only general feelings, no real thoughts
                                                          World Background 1: no description of environement or any kind of information, not even info dumps

                                                          I mean if the author would talk to me or even something, but if you as an author just go around calling people "shittalkter" and then delete their reviews, while outrightly deceiving your potential readers with that synopsis and misleading tags, isn't it the author and not the reader/reviewer?

                                                          The thing which irks me the most is that synopsis, talking about one thing but after 34 chapters nothing is touched.

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