It is wrong that one review where someone says that your fic is horrible dooms you for nearly all eternity to lie in obscurity. Even if you did improve, if people check the reviews first, then whatever potential readers you might have are...afraid...to read it. It's happen on FF.net, it's happen on forums. It's a rather big shame. :/ Really, everyone should be given a chance.
Perhaps they are all afraid to review a fic that someone with a "lot of power" has said was bad, but they give a more positive review?
Me personally will read a story no matter what the reviews say. If the first person was the one that dooms, (-_-; ) then I go and read the fic to point out the positives so that the author doesn't feel bad. If the reviews are from the people who don't point out mistakes, then I give an honest review.
Though, by honest review, I say the good, the bad, and how to improve. I don't just say, "Read the Advice Thread because you suck." (This would be on the forums, naturally, because FF.net doesn't have an Advice thread, as far as I know.) That doesn't help the writer to improve. It only discourages, and might even just confuse, the writer. There's a lot of confusing topics in the Advice thread.
Ah well. I never could get a word count on a story of mine. They are either not typed up, not finished, or not edited to be submitted.
