Hi all, the content editorial team would like to make a statement that we will mute/ban any readers or users who leave reviews/comments teliing a writer to kill themselves. Death threats and threats of physical harm are also included in this category. For writers who experience these, please remember to take screenshots (with timestamps if possible) of such abusive reviews/comments before going to the staff (please approach your assigned content editor directly). Please also include a link to the user's profile.
For uncontracted authors, please either approach the staff via the customer service pop-up chat in Inkstone, or come find any one of us on the Discord server. If you are really unsure who to look for, you can DM me. Be sure to do the same thing above (get screenshots + link to the abusive reviewer/commenter's profile)

Readers: Just a reminder that you may be anonymous behind a computer, but the writer behind that screen is also human with feelings. You are free to disagree with a writer, or criticise certain elements of their story in a fair and constructive way. However, being abusive and leaving death/suicide threats will not only get you muted/banned, we will also cooperate with the police if the writer chooses to file a report against you.

Writers: Writing is a solitary activity most times, so be sure to look after your mental health! Be kind to yourself and remember that what internet strangers say about you isn't necessarily the truest reflection of yourself.

    I don't know why but readers tend to forget that the authors are also human and has feelings, they are not robots.

    Keep in mind that every single thing you say affects the author. If you can't encourage them, then please don't spread hate. Your hates effects both, the author and their writing.

    There are many authors who make living by writing. And you are destroying their future, their life.

    (I saw this thread and couldn't hold myself to write this)

      Peace is the option. Let us all chill to our heart's content. We should remember the reason for visiting this site in the first place; and that is to read books. We may diss the characters due to investing our emotions in the story/plot/characters etc. but, we must always make a note to not go beyond and spread hate to the author.

      After all, authors are human beings too. Readers are not bots either. We came here to enjoy amazing stories; so, let us not go beyond that and enjoy our time here.

      As a writer and someone who had received comments like that, I agree wholeheartedly.

      Some writers are mentally strong are able to ignore these comments, but one can't say when a writer is going through his down phase, and that's when they can seriously harm themselves because of comments like these.

      Readers might forget they commented something like this and go on with their lives, but it's a life we are talking about. Even thinking for someone's death is sin, let alone telling that to someone.

      Not only death threats, but anything but valid criticism should be avoided. Comments like "Trash, stop writing, etc" can really affect someone's self esteem. Instead it's better to point out a writer's mistake in a constructive manner. That way, reader and the writer both benefits.

        Demonic_angel because apparently, writing to insult the writer is much easier than writing constructive suggestion, or how to make the story better. IMO, in front of readers who insult the writer, just ignore it, and if they start telling fake things about your story, try explain it to them in professional way, they might have misconception or getting a wrong conclusion, don't abuse them back. In short, respecting each other between the reader and the writer is the best way.

          Take a lyre player: he’s relaxed when he performs alone, but put him in front of an audience, and it’s a different story, no matter how beautiful his voice or how well he plays the instrument. Why? Because he not only wants to perform well, he wants to be well received — and the latter lies outside his control.
          - Epictetus, Enchiridion

          The fact is, we all want to be accepted and appreciated. But there will always be mean and hateful people in this world. There is a huge difference between constructive criticism, honest feedback, and plain disrespect. We can say we didn't like something without calling the author an idiot, right? On the other hand, why criticize, if you have no intention of suggesting how it can be improved? If you didn't like a story, move on! There are thousand other choices here, and chill!

          (Especially if you're reading for free. What gave you the right to complain?)

          To all writers and editors here, I just want you to know that I appreciate your hard work. Keep it up! Adopt the Stoic's attitude, and don't let what you can't control bother you. Don't let haters and trolls drag you down. Who made them the experts on how you should write, or how your story must unfold, anyway? You're the creator of your novel, your universe, dammit! Stop giving them control, even on how you should feel and think!

          The only opinions that matter are those that lift you up. Rest if you must, but don't stop writing. Banning is a great way to clean up this site. We should all do our part to report undesirable behavior. I only hope WN would act on it, too.

          ealdgyth I kind of understand your point.
          But I'm not someone who will say for sure that my take on a novel is actually suitable for the novel. A review is based on a reader's opinion so it's kind of (to me) an entitled thing to say that if they are going to criticize about (random people reading this please notice how I didn't say be mean or insulting cause that's never okay) something they found lacking or bothersome in the novel then they should also mention how to improve on it. They are just the readers and although they might say they didn't like a particular thing/aspect, that's their opinion which can be wrong or right. They also aren't being paid to give suggestions. If they give any thats by choice.

          Still it does feel a lot better to see reviews with suggestions and also the nice reviews compared to just criticism without any detail.

          Authors are humans and readers are humans too. If someone spends a bunch of time reading a novel and later finds something they dislike, then of course they are going to mention it cause they have invested their time in the story. Best course of action is don't like don't read but that isn't always possible because a reader has spent too much time in the novel to just abandon it without even a word of what they felt.

          Leaving comments like "the author sucks" is never appropriate. So don't do that ever.

              Reviewers also should not be able to leave 1 star. There are no such thing as a 1 star unless the grammer or story is really unreadable. If the story isn't to the reader taste, then it is not his cup of tea and the reader is reading the wrong stuff that he dont even like in the first place.

              From what I can see, it is becoming more like novelupdates where harem story all get 1 star regardless on how good the story really is. If they dont like harem, why bother reading in the first place or commenting in the first place?

              Yes, authors are humans too. Please give authors some respect:)

                itsmeTuba I totally agree! Critiquing a story though should never include a vile remark about the author or translator. Readers should know how to stick only to the specific aspects of the novel they didn't like. Unfortunately few don't. Social media and anonymity just makes it easy for trolls and bullies. But their opinions don't count. Consider them mere distractions.

                That said, I don't waste time on books I know won't be worth my time, and move on. It could be well written but if it's not my cup of tea, then it's not the author's fault. It's simply me and my prefrences. Why must I take it against them?

                Ultimately you must write for yourself-- because you have a story to tell, because you have a message to share, an emotion to express, a craft to hone. In fiction, as it is in real life, the journey wouldn't be interesting without villains and obstacles. Consider yourself, the author, as the MC of your life story -- and the trolls as thr bad guys you get to faceslap later, as you sign your contract and laugh all the way to the bank! 😉

                Avidfan I have read several books here with grammar issues or funny translation but I have found it possible to overlook these flaws to enjoy the author's imagination and creativity. In fact many novels here are like that, and I simply remind myself that it's a Chinese site. That authors are able to create such stories inspite of language barriers is awesome in itself. And yes, I did take time to mention it (respectfully and kindly) in my reviews. I have yet to encounter an author who didn't appreciate it. A couple have in fact pinned my reviews, positive and negative feedback, on their front pages.

                    This is cyber bullying. These haters should be shoot down and not allow to continue such an evil attack

                    In fact, everything is simple. You must follow the rules for using WebNovell. Adhere to network ethics. To criticize only the work, but not the author himself.

                    Sometimes angry criticism knocks the author out of the creative mood. You can see a lot of great novels on WebNovell with 40 or 100 chapters ... but the novels are never finished. Something happened to the authors. Instead of support, they received undeserved words of reproach.

                    If moderation responds in time to inadequate readers, then the authors live easier.

                    Good publication!

                    I have to agree if we can't encourage the writers then don't say anything. They are doing there best and enjoy writing so we as readers can enjoy it if you can say it nicely then dont say it

                    islinda Hey Islinda, I am not an author, but I thought that it would be good if you could edit your post to include channels for non-contracted authors (those without a content editor) to report abusive readers. That way, it will be clear to all Webnovel writers that Webnovel is supporting them all in cracking down on the cyber-bullying comments/reviews.

                    Perhaps it would also be in the community's best interest to edit it to ask for reports from anyone who notices such a comment since there could be a chance that another reader and staff can remove the abusive comments before the author sees it and gets impacted.

                    I am glad that Webnovel is taking action, and I thank you and all the other hardworking staff for making this community a better place.

                        4 days later

                        KoraL Hi KoraL, sorry for the late reply as I rarely visit the forums. You are right, I didn't mean to word my post in such a way that we are excluding anyone. I have amended my post to reflect that ANYONE who is being harassed in such a manner can approach the staff. While contracted authors can approach their content editors, all other authors can approach the staff via the Customer Service chat on Inkstone. We value all authors regardless of whether they are contracted or not.

                        Thanks for pointing out my mistake! :)

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