A Guide to Reviewee Etiquette, not to be confused with Basic Human Decency. This is usually innate. [edited].

___

This guide is to save any future reviewees from embarrassing themselves in the comments section whenever they're feeling particularly defensive about their work.

Your work is yours, I understand.

However, I won't be tearing your book to shreds. I'm trying to point out its weak areas so it can improve. Don't completely disregard the hours I spend slaving over your work and don't disregard any genuine pointers I've given you after a few years of my own research spent on honing my craft.

Also, if you know you already have decent etiquette, still read. If you don't, definitely read. Don't feel offended unless whatever I'm saying sounds like it could be you. If that's the case, feel offended and be sure not to act like the below. I don't have a blacklist yet because things haven't been too atrocious, but this is trying to prevent one.

Now to.

[A1]. The Reviewee Upon Receiving the Review

1. Keep a cool head.

(1) Take deep breaths and calmly read the review. Save comments for your second read.

(2) Don't get emotional in the comments section. Regardless of whatever you're feeling, it's still some decent etiquette to maintain politeness and civility. Using anything from a dismissive tone to sarcasm where not needed, I'll be honest, kinda hurts. If I'm being a dumb or misunderstand anything in your work, don't insult me, but just try to kindly explain wherever I misunderstood, and I'll correct myself. Does this sound like rocket science?

Communication, people.

This is the key to receiving any successful feedback. Don't just only be clear to me. Sit down and read what I've written. Don't jump to defensive conclusions about what I've said, until you've read through the review at least two times, yeah? The whole purpose of communication is to bridge thoughts and ideas from different views. Don't just talk, talk, talk, but listen. That's what makes it a conversation. See things from my perspective, because I'm always seeing things from yours.

2. Call the reviewer out where they don't make sense.

Being a submissive reviewee only hurts yourself. It also hurts me because I won't know if and where I went wrong. Maintaining politeness and civility is the only constant in all of these interactions. An example of what NOT to do.

DON'T

This is kinda soft still, but I haven't gotten worse yet. When I do, a different author will be the template of a 'what not to do' comment. 

Notice how while not atrocious, the grammar leaves some to be desired? Try to keep your grammar and spelling decent, and be sure not to confuse those pesky homophones. Here's a decent correction.

DO

Now see how above I'm obviously at fault because I pull reviews and I deducted marks for what I thought were illogical motives. They actually weren't, and I would have found out had I read the next chapter (unfortunately, the story lost my interest before I could). In this case, I'd obviously have to go back and award the marks where they should be given since they were logical motives (her mom was kidnapped).

Cases like these also have special caveats though, so don't go commenting expecting me to award more marks because I pulled the review. Not every comment like this will work.

*A NOTE: I'm not saying it's a 'don't' to have your username as mrslachowski_ and a 'do' to have it as something like junowrites_. Those were me stereotyping. har. har.*

3. Leave feedback.

If you were so kind as to read the FEEDBACK chapter I have right AFTER the queue chapter, which is the second chapter people even care about, then you will see that I'm a reviewer heavy on communication. After investing a lot in writing your review, I'd like to hear your thoughts-both the positives and the negatives.

A quick etiquette tip on giving feedback: include both positives and negatives. There'll always be one more than the other, but feedback can't be all good and all bad. If you hated it, still try to find at least one thing that was passable ("regardless, it was still informative and the em dash hack was a useful tip"). If you loved it, still give me an area that kind of gnawed at you ("my only complaint is that the review literally took three weeks to come out, lol").

I wish I could link the chapter, but Wattpad doesn't like too much customisation and liberty in your own book, so just roll your eyeballs down like one peg and you'll see the FEEDBACK chapter. Comment there after I've given you a review. You can also comment in your review itself and I'll screenshot it and add it to the chap.

You'd think that A1's topic would come after this, but I'm doing this based on order of importance, not sequential. I want the meat of the matter at the top before this becomes a snooze fest.

(Comment 'je vois' right here so I know you've read).

Heed the following rules of RBR Etiquette.

1. If I haven't published your review within two (2) weeks of accepting your request, and you are at the top of the queue and due for one, pm me. I was probably just due for procrastinating or school got a little hectic.

2. If you changed your username, have some forethought or courtesy, and message me or leave a comment saying that it's been changed. I don't want to mention a username that no longer exists in the official review, and I'm tired of having to change a username only because I somehow stumbled upon it being changed to begin with. Geez.

3. Add this book to your library. I mean, if you're expecting a review this should go without saying. I do message people sometimes to tell them their review is up or asking for feedback, but you really should be checking yourself. I go as far as to mention you twice and link it on my message board. Like, people, come on.

4. If you've got any specific areas you want me to focus on, you should have already written that in your submission. Forgot an area? Reply to your own comment again and mention me. Don't PM me.

5. If you suddenly want to change the book you initially submitted, I won't allow it. I only accepted you to begin with because I was ok reviewing the book you submitted. Apply again for that other book. Unless I took an entire year to get to it and it's no longer the book you're focused on, I'm keeping the initial book.

6. The form's not complicated. If you don't have decent spelling and grammar when you submit, I won't accept your book. Decent GPS is the bare minimum people. I'm big on it.

7 ad infinitum. I'll come back here and add new rules whenever more incidents that need addressing occur.

[A3]. FAQ*

1. Why wasn't I accepted?
- Either I just didn't want to review your book or your submission had grammatical or spelling errors. A hack: Grammarly is a free browser extension. I recommend you use it; it's decent, though it doesn't always pick up on everything. If you're typing your novel on a phone that's your first mistake. (caveats to this).

2. How many chapters do you read up to?
- I already said this from the SUBMIT chapter. 5 max, but as long as the book holds my interest. It usually doesn't go past 3. Yes. I pull reviews. Want a full story review? Bugger off. Jk. There are other review books that do your full novel. Try your luck with them. I don't have the time, attention span or energy to do so.

3. What's the payment, if any?
- Of course there's payment. Am I mother Theresa? It's to (1) add this book to a suitable public reading list. Eg. Shirley has 2 reading lists. One is called 'BEST BOOKS EVER!!' and the other is called 'HELP BOOKS FOR WRITERS'. Shirley adds my book to 'HEL BOOKS FOR WRITERS'. 

-(2) Tag 3+ persons interested in getting a review. I did have another feature which was to read a chapter of my novel Harvest Season, but I don't feel like having it butchered by people in a rush to complete a payment so that'll be reserved until I find a better method that actually helps me.

Note that if you think you've completed the payment and I still haven't added you to the queue, it's because you didn't do the payment properly.

4. When do I complete payment?
- Only complete it AFTER I have accepted you. After. Después. Aprés.

5. What if I can't tag 3 people?
-It's ok. Tag 3 usernames that you know, or authors whose works you read. Not necessarily friends. I tag past reviewees in Book Critiques and Book Clubs and such. They won't gun me down for doing it, so no one will shoot you in the foot either. Tag away.

6. Do you accept FanFic or Random?
- No and no.

7. Can I ask questions outside of the FAQ chapter (this)?
- No. Only ask questions here. I want the FAQ right below the Etiquette chapter as a constant reminder. Ask them anywhere else and I'll ignore.

(Comment 'crystal' here so I know you've read).

In the 'any other comment' section of the form, write 'I have nothing to declare' so I'll know you read this chapter.

Ask your questions right on this line below:

-----> A S K H E R E <------