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Things I do when reviewing:

First, I read the first chapter and see if it builds my interest.
Then I re-read it looking for spelling errors if I didn't notice while reading (sometimes you find some early on all over and others are just one or two here and there) If I find any I make a note, mainly mental but if there are a lot I'll write them down if I feel the author could use the input.

If there is more, I leave the rest until I'm done with the rest of it, but this is usually what else I'll do.

I look at the plot set up and check if the keep story elements are there. You can't really have a resolution with no climax, and all that jazz. ^_^

I look at the format to see if it reads okay and easy.

Then I check that the dialogue is what my creative writing teacher would say "Real Speech" -- that is, does it read like it would SOUND if that was an aloud conversation. If it doesn't than I will tell the author that and ask them if that was their intention. Sometimes authors don't want to write that way but the majority of dialogue should be that way in stories. It helps show a side to the character that is hard to get at with out it. People don't talk good English (or any other language)
Pointing this out to an author's attention is great- because I know that if a story's dialogue is too perfect or sounds fake I loose interest in the story and move on.
This is a habit I'm trying to quit- and making myself send reviews instead.

Then if something in the story sparked my interest or raised a question in me I let the author know.
Small bits of advice and/or opinion on the story or a subject within it.
and then of course If it was really good and incomplete I usually do ask for more, but that's because I just wrote about the things I noticed that could be improved and I'd like to see not only what happens next but another author benefiting from the help of reviewers such as myself.

these are just things I do, I'm sure others have much better and different ways.

I don't review so much anymore as I no longer find myself reading too many new fanfics. Just the old ones I like getting updated but when I review, it was generally to a story that needed help. I dont know how many times I have told starting out authors that when a new person starts to talk you have to hit ENTER and start a new paragraph, not just bunch it all together.

In my history of reviewing...I have written one flame. I have never received one myself and know how others perceive flamers but this author was in sore need of a flame. 12 years old and writing disgusting smut. She reviewed one of my stories so I checked her out and found her story. Compelled by her age and the rating I read it. However, it wasn't a very bad flame. I merely pointed out the negative aspects of her story and writing, grammar, genre characterization and such and phrased it in a well perceived manner so hopefully she would understand.

WHen pople review they should actually review. I've asked my readers to give me feedback on one of my original characters to get he feel to see if they noticed any foreshadowing I put it around her. I've got one review back. Oh wel. C'est la vie.

I don't really leave reviews that often, mainly because I don't read many fanfics these days. At least, nowhere near as much as I used to. When I do leave reviews, I often find myself wondering just what to say and how to say it. Sometimes I find that I don't know how to express myself--I know something about the 'fic appealed to me, but I just don't know how to put it into words.

When it comes to critique, I try to point out the most obvious mistakes and or errors that an author made, some they do frequently, that they could improve upon. Sometimes I feel that I come off as--shall I say preachy?--when I do this, and as such I end up looking through the review two or three times just to make sure I didn't say anything the author could take as a personal insult. We all know how difficult that can be with some, though *winces*

My worst habit is that when I do review, it's usually only on things that I feel particularly moved from, or it's something that friends of mine have written. I've tried to break that habit, but...:/

busy I am.....but If I add it to my favorites on FF.Net- the likely hood that I read it one night while trying to float off to sleep is pretty high.

It's funny I use my favorites as sort of a collection of things I have read and reviewed/want to read/read and need to review/ and then my favorites I want to keep an eye on.

Well, what worked for me in a small way was giving out a few reviews of my own. Sometimes all it takes is spending a few minutes to comment on someone else's work to get them interested in your own. Mind you, that's not always going to happen, but every once in a while one kind act can spark another.

Truth be told, ff.net is really a popularity contest; between the broken record player plots that one group likes, tasteful to gag me with a fork pairings, terrible writing that attracts swarms of stupidity, and other such cliques it is a difficult task indeed to be noticed there. Yes, I am bias on that point due to some very negative experienced, but I maintain that my point is valid. Sometimes a work that you think is great is overlooked by many due to a less than catchy summary or not including certain buzz words that attract the general user to give it a try.

I would also like to ask a question in return. Are you looking for reviews as a means of criticism or just to 'keep up' with the other spotlighted authors? I mean no offense by this question, more of a general curiosity getting the best of me again.

Sadly, FF.net isn't the only archive where popularity reigns supreme. As it would go against gaia ToS, I will rephrain from naming the other places my work appears. but both have the same problem as FF.net if not worse. Deceptris is right though; keep trudging forward and hopefully a few fans will discover your work and even leave behind a few reviews in passing. If not, don't lose hope; everyone starts out small. Just because the normal riff raff and trolls that hang around that place don't take notice of your writing isn't a reason to stop.

Um... "he really is jus an unpleasent woman"? Wouldn't want to meet it in a dark alley.

Actually, I usually overlook them; the only reason that one was noted is it was funny.