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Becoming a critic and reviewing

If you read widely and have a point of view, you can be a critic. Critics publish reviews with a Crisp (recommend) or Faded (skip it) verdict, and their take helps other readers choose. Here's how to claim your critic identity and write your first review.

Read time about 5 min

1Claim your critic handle

On any issue's review box you'll see a Become a critic to review prompt. Claim a handle and an optional bio, and you get two things: a public critic profile at your own critics address, and a Critic Studio (in your account menu) where you manage your reviews. That's the whole sign-up, one handle and you're a critic.

Being a critic is separate from being a creator. You can review other people's work whether or not you publish your own.
Pro note
Pick a handle you'd be happy to sign for years. Your critic name is a little brand, so make it yours.

2Shape your Critic Studio

In your Critic Studio you shape a persona (a display name, a bio, and a separate critic avatar), watch your stats (published and draft reviews, likes, credibility, accolades, and agree or disagree votes), manage your reviews (edit, delete, draft, or publish), track your review-access requests, and even write posts, your own longer analysis, that show on your public critic page.

Critic status on the Studios page: published reviews, reads, likes, credibility and progress to accreditation.
Critic status on the Studios page: published reviews, reads, likes, credibility and progress to accreditation.See the full screen
My reviews lists drafts and published reviews with View, Edit and Delete, next to Write unattached review.
My reviews lists drafts and published reviews with View, Edit and Delete, next to Write unattached review.See the full screen
Pro note
Watch your credibility and agree-versus-disagree votes. A critic readers trust is one who calls it straight, not just loud.

3Write the verdict

Writing a review is simple: pick Crisp or Faded, optionally add stars, and write either a short take or a longer illustrated piece, then save a draft or publish. Across all critic reviews of an issue, FoundryInk shows an aggregate percent Crisp badge on its page, so your verdict adds to the score readers see.

The Critic review box on an issue's page, with the Review as a Critic button.
The Critic review box on an issue's page, with the Review as a Critic button.See the full screen
The review writer: choose Crisp or Faded, rate out of five stars, and write a Short or Long take.
The review writer: choose Crisp or Faded, rate out of five stars, and write a Short or Long take.See the full screen
The verdict is always Crisp or Faded, FoundryInk's own language, never anything fruit-and-spoilage. Crisp means it holds up; Faded means it doesn't.
Pro note
Be specific, and be kind but honest. Name what worked and what didn't; a review that only cheers or only sneers helps nobody.

4Reviewing paid work

To review a paid asset you don't own, use request review access. If the studio grants it, they comp you a copy so you can read the whole thing before you judge it, and your requests are tracked right in your Critic Studio. Studios control where critic reviews appear, so a thoughtful, fair review is also the best way to be welcomed back.

On a paid issue you do not own, the Critic review box says you don't have full access.
On a paid issue you do not own, the Critic review box says you don't have full access.See the full screen
The review writer for a paid issue, with the Request full access button next to Save draft.
The review writer for a paid issue, with the Request full access button next to Save draft.See the full screen
Pro note
Never review from the blurb alone. Request access, read the whole book, then give it the verdict it earned.

Start reviewing

From reader to critic. Links into the app. Saved on this device.

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Quick questions

Crisp is a recommend (it holds up, it's worth your time); Faded is a skip (it doesn't hold up). They're FoundryInk's own verdict words, used everywhere instead of any other site's language.

No. Critics are readers who review. You claim a handle from any issue's review box and get a Critic Studio, whether or not you make your own work.

Use request review access. If the studio grants it, they comp you a copy so you can read the whole thing first, and your requests are tracked in your Critic Studio.

On the issue and series pages (adding to the aggregate percent-Crisp badge) and on your public critic profile. Studios control exactly where critic reviews appear on their pages.

Yes. Enable Reader's Lists on your studio and curate a shareable list of the books you rated Crisp, an ongoing "picks" shelf on your public page. See the Curate a Reader's List tutorial.

You've got a verdict

A handle, a persona, and the power of a Crisp or Faded call. Now see it all from the reader's side.

The reading experience →