Reviews are important. They provide encouragement, feedback, and the best of them will tell you what the reader does and doesn't like about your work. I treasure every one of them though, particularly as I am not writing something that is going to put me into the mega-zone of review numbers. Having said that, they are not the reason why I write.
Occasionally a review will give me inspiration for how to write something, or maybe an idea for the story which hadn't occurred to me before. Perhaps it will make me realise that a plan I had won't work. Anything that starts a conversation or tells you what your readers are thinking is a big plus. It has given me a giggle now and then to get a review which showed that the reader was either onto me or SO NOT.
When I first began to write, the process of getting reviews unnerved me, especially the flames. The flames still hurt me - I wish people who feel the need to leave them would find a better use for their time - but I can now look behind them to see what the reason is. And if it is someone wanting something I have no intention of delivering then I can live with that.
Inspiration for writing comes from many quarters. Sometimes it is something that pops into my head unbidden, sometimes it is a review, and sometimes it is something else, like a movie ;). I finally got back on the bike to try to finish the (final) chapter of my story when Peggy McDaniel gave it a shoutout on here. Sometimes you need a push and a reminder that it isn't just you, there are readers out there who appreciate your work, and reviews give you that.
I reply to every review and always have. Even if the review was hurtful I will at the very least acknowledge it. Generally I reply in kind - a short review gets a short reply, and a longer and more thoughtful review will get the same. Sometimes this leads to a longer exchange and I welcome that. I have made friends that way as well.
As a reader, I was in the fandom for several months before I did the same, mainly because I was scared to. I couldn't see how my opinion of something would be welcomed by the author. But now I review every chapter I read (which isn't much at the moment) and I have been known to go back and reread faves so I can leave the reviews I should have left in the first place.
In short, reviews matter and no author I know would ever under sell their importance. If there is anyone reading this who doesn't review, or doesn't review each chapter I would say please do, it is really worthwhile! My life has been difficult over the past year or so and every so often it is nice to go back and reread reviews - it is heartwarming. :)
-bmitw aka MrsEphraimBlack.
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