The Canalave Library Reviewing Quick-Start Guide

Looking to get involved with the community here on the Library? Hesitant about reading and reviewing? Just not sure where to begin? You’ve come to the right place! Here, you can find a few suggestions to get you started, along with some tasks that you can tackle at your own pace.

Guidance on Reviewing

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a fic writer in possession of a good audience must be in want of validation.”

But what kind of response are we looking for? The short answer is, pretty much anything short of flaming! Whether you read one chapter or twenty, whether you have a thesis about the writer’s use of metaphor or you just want to say you thought that one fight scene was really cool, all feedback is warmly appreciated here. Just bear in mind our core rules, specifically as relates to treating each other with respect, and you’ll be golden. If you’re offering constructive criticism, write it with the aim of encouraging the author and helping them to grow, rather than tearing them down.

Where Do I Start?

Looking for direction? Wondering where to begin? Our library card catalogue lists many of the works on the forums in one convenient place, where you can check genre, completion status, and more. Or if you’d prefer a more structured approach, why not try some of our reviewing games? We’ve got the Review Game, if you want to give a review and get one for your own work in exchange; we’ve also got a review exchange in the works, so check here and the #announcements channel on our Discord for details of when that launches! Or, if you’d like something with lower stakes that you can tackle at your leisure, why not try picking some tasks from one of the lists below? You are under no obligation to do all of them, but if you do, feel free to post your progress here to help you keep track, or head to the Discord if you’d like to talk more about the works in question!

Finally, these lists will be updated every month, so do check back for more challenges!

The Beginner’s List (courtesy of manchee!)

1. Let’s start off easy: read and review a Rock the Block entry!
2. Awesome! Now, choose a chaptered fic with under 15 replies. Read and review at least one chapter. If you can’t find one, move on to the next task.
3. Let’s spice it up! Review a one-shot of your choosing. (This can include one-shots that are part of a collection.)
4. Choose a fic from the list below and review any two chapters of it:
               a) The Origin of Storms by sikesaner
               b) The Amazing Hawlucha Man by Firebrand
               c) Shattered Crests Book One: Lines Broken by vray
               d) Dakota’s Pokémon Journey by fattymccatcat
               e) Heart and Soul by Zephyr
5. Review another fic that fits task #2, if possible. If there are currently no fics with under 15 replies, repeat the same one you previously reviewed. If that’s also not possible, move on to the next task!
6. And finally, choose a fic from the list below and review any one chapter of it:
               a) Coltar: The Prophecy by Cavespider_17
               b) Operation GEAR: The Gardener of Gratitude by illustriousrocket
               c) Operation Cloudburst by lightningenergy
               d) Aquifer: A Prophet’s Guide to Dungeoneering by FifthQuin
               e) Bitter and Cold by Miner7365
7. Rinse and repeat! For suggestions of more fics to review, be sure to check out the catalogue!