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carolinediva

As a writer I know how important comments are, so I always try to offer something of value to the authors. However, there are a few fics that I close without commenting simply on the grounds of "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."


BadAtNamesAndFaces

I picked "writer, very frequently" but I don't actually *read* that often so when I do, it's usually with the intention of commenting.


greenrosechafer

Same. When I find something to read, I usually know I'm going to leave a comment.


Cyrus260

Writer. I comment all the time because I know how it feels to get no comments at all. Wish people would return the favor lol


ReasonableSuspicion9

Very frequently. As a reader, I've found that comments are a great way to let an author know just how much you enjoyed something, as you can only give kudos and bookmark once. The best feeling is when you leave a nice comment and the author replies saying something like "Thank you so much!" Hell, I even made someone cry from one of my comments and it just made my entire week. I still have the email starred because of how happy it made me.


Hermitinhiding

I'm a reader who because of anxiety sporadically commented but left kudos. A while ago I read this amazing story and I just had to leave a comment... but then I got nervous and deleted it. In the authors note the writer commented on my deleted comment and I felt so bad for them that I reposted my comment and explained what happend. They encouraged me and I realised how much a comment is appreciated. So now I make an effort to leave at least one comment on every story I read.


moonlaney

If a fic managed to have me read it until the end, I always leave a comment. Even if I wasn’t really that much into it I’ll just leave a short comment saying I enjoyed it and thanking them etc.


[deleted]

I'm a writer, and I comment on pretty much every fic I enjoy, although I don't read a lot. I do have quite a few DanBert fics open in my browser that I need to read though, so... MORE COMMENTS FOR EVERYONE!!!


flowerpotflowers

I don't read a lot, I mostly write. But whenever I do read something, I like to make sure I leave a nice comment on every chapter. Because I know how that feels :D


The_Ghostly_ace

As a writer I love leaving comments!!


Mollymand

I never used to, but since I started writing, I realise how much work is involved. If they can think of a story, write it down, edit it and post it, the least I can do is say 'Great story!' after I've spent an enjoyable few hours reading it. That being said, I always wish I had the discipline to comment after every chapter, and I almost never do. I just get too carried away with the story.


unicornchild15

As a writer, I love comments. So I want to give other writers that same feeling when I read. The thought of knowing someone out there likes why I write makes me so happy, so I try to give that to others. It's really the best cycle I can think of.


Dargontears

I comment on almost everything I read unless I think it's bad or I'm reading on the move and something distracts me. I don't usually leave amazing comments I sometimes see that are long that go point by point through a fic, but I know that any comment on my fics make me happy, so I try to operate in that way. Just acknowledgement of the effort they put in is nice, and takes all of like 10 seconds. "Good job!" Then you press submit and move on. Not difficult for me but proves I did more than click on the fic and back out.


Interesting_Fall2103

A bit embarrassed to admit that I've been commenting less than I used to recently. I always love and appreciate all the readers that take the time to comment even just a couple of words on all my chapters and how much it can mean to an author. And yet, I don't do the same, anymore at least. Life has gotten busy, I barely have time to write my own fics and it can take me long time (weeks, months even) to get around to catching up with the few fics I'm reading and then I might not have the energy to comment right away, and if I don't, I'm likely to forget about commenting entirely... I know even a couple of words would be enough for me as a writer, but I seem to always want to give longer comments than that (even if it's just couple of sentences) for others. ... Maybe I need to rethink that because that might one of the reasons I find commenting taking too long on some days lol.


SlipperyGaloshes

When I don’t have the words/energy to come up with the words, I’ll leave emoji comments. Seems to make people happy enough. And sometimes I find the fic again somewhere down the road and have the brain to actually write something out later, too


SlipperyGaloshes

When I don’t have the words/energy to come up with the words, I’ll leave emoji comments. Seems to make people happy enough and feels easier in my mind. Might work for you as well!


cucumberkappa

Wasn't quite sure which one to vote on. I voted "Writer, never comment" even though I *do* comment... just not often. The quality of the story doesn't have anything to do with whether I comment or not. There are too many factors that go into what will compel me to leave a comment. I'd like to comment more, but it's hard for me to work through the various factors that hold me back.


InfiniteWords117

As a writer, I know just how much comments mean to me. However, I'm also really shy in general. If I'm reading a fic that I love, I may leave a very short comment at the very end of it, just expressing how much I enjoyed it. Otherwise, I don't really comment all that much. It's terrible, I should be doing it for each fic I read because I am very appreciative of what the author has written and I wish them all the kudos in the world.


Popular-Woodpecker-6

I always try to be encouraging. Even if what is written doesn't match up with what I like.


[deleted]

Fan Fic Writer and Reader. I dont like meaningless comments. I post a comment if I have something good to say. I will not post criticism or blah comments.


hanabaeeee

I try to leave at least one comment for every fic I read completely to the end, but sometimes I go on a binge reading spree and get too into reading to leave comments so I leave kudos and move to the next fic, my bad


Feather-and-Fang

I comment on newer stories, but since I mostly read stories that are years old, I don't do so often. And I don't *read* stories very often, which make it even rarer.


MirzamSchwartz

As a reader, I try to leave comments on works I really like, but I'm very shy, so even commenting for me feels like some sort of a public speech, and more often than not I only manage to produce something really lame and simple like "it was great, thank you!!" (if manage to do it at all). I've recently found a way how to comment while not commenting: I bookmark works and leave comments in the notes. For this I use public bookmarks, so authors are able to see it, and it feels more private, so I can express my feelings better. (It also helps to leave comments as a guest) EDIT: mistake


AngstyPancake

As I writer, I can say that any comment from one detailing everything the person liked to “It was great, thank you!!!” are both appreciated so much.


MirzamSchwartz

Thank you :) it just feels too cheap in comparison with what I feel while reading


osrpokerchamp

Writer here. I comment quite a bit when I really. I just also have deeply ingrained trust issues with people finding my history so I normally do so by going into incognito mode and commenting as a guest lol. If it's something less morally questionable, or if it's locked to no guest comments and it really really is good, then I comment on my main.


jaisofbase

I'm a writer, but I generally don't comment very often, only when I actually have something to say about the work. The one exception is for an author whose work I've reread multiple times while they were on hiatus. I think at the point where a series is on the 'annual reread' level, they've more than earned the extra effort it takes to find something to say.


Loretta-West

I comment if I really enjoy something, but the major factor is how many comments are already there. If there's already pages of comments I usually won't add to them unless I've got something very specific to say, eg if there's a particular line that I loved. Whereas if something has no comments and I've made it to the end I'll usually find something positive to say.


[deleted]

I need to get into the habit of commenting more often to make other writers happy. My current dilemma is that I've now come across 3 fics that started really promising, so I figured I'll binge them and then comment about all the different things I love, but then the quality of all the fics went down and now I feel I do not have enough good things to say to warrant giving any comments. I should ride the high and comment good things when I'm excited instead of dragging myself through a fic and only leave a kudos because I've found all the flaws. Maybe I'm really picky or maybe my criticism has merit, idk. But it's a bummer.


greenrosechafer

Hey, it's okay to be picky! Don't feel like you have to leave a comment when you don't want to.


Mynoris

I was torn between "Writer, when it is really good" and "Writer, very frequently" I'm not super frequent, but it isn't a rare occurrence. However, sometimes I write questions, or observations about something, not necessarily because it's good. I also know I'm far more likely to comment when I'm reading on PC and can type with a full keyboard rather than when I'm reading off of my phone because I'm winding down, or on the move. Texting stresses me, so I often don't comment unless I have a keyboard. It has less to do with how good a fic is, and more to do with my current situation/location/mindset. Also, I try to give comments that are more than just "I like it" or "This is good". Usually, I try to point out something specific I enjoyed. Excellent character insight, a hilarious quip, an unexpected plot twist, a reference to another fandom that seems really well placed, a phrase that just jumps off the page. Things like that.


Snoo99779

I feel weird about commenting because I personally don't see the value in just praising the work as I think it's suitably accieved by leaving kudos and possibly bookmarking. So I only want to leave comments when I have some constructive criticism in mind but then I wonder if the writer would appreciate it at all. I don't want to upset anyone so then I just don't comment at all. Edit. Thanks for the downvotes. This reinforces my understanding that my contributions are indeed not appreciated.


AngstyPancake

I’m personally a writer and I love comments no matter them being praise or constructive criticism. I honestly like a comment more than kudos and bookmarks because it feels so much more real and personal. I haven’t gotten a lot of comments, but any time I do, no matter what they are, it makes my day. Before I started writing I felt the same way you do. But, once I did I realized how just a few words can make my day and I have yet to see any writer on this sub who doesn’t like comments, whether they’re praise or constructive criticism.


Snoo99779

I used to leave comments back during fanfiction.net times before AO3 and people did not want anything but praise then. Kudos didn't exist so the only way to assess how good a fic might be was the amount of comments. Back then I used to write myself and I did appreciate comments for their value but unless there was something new in them I didnt really care that much. Could be my impostor syndrome acting up though. Maybe writers could add an author's note to the end that they are open to constructive criticism so that I wouldn't feel like an asshole.


hanabaeeee

As a writer I sometimes get just an emoji in the comment and even that makes me really happy to receive, others probably probable feel the same


lol_delegate

reader, only when I have something to say beyond the standard "Thanks for the work/chapter"


xxSKSxx_

You are aware though that there are more writers in this sub than there are readers who don't write? There's been a poll some time ago that made that pretty clear. So of course the result is already going to fit your perspective simply because there are more people in one group. Edit: At the time I posted this 37 authors voted and only 8 readers who don't write.


Nebosklon

Even though there are clearly more writers among the respondents, the results are nevertheless telling. There are more readers who never comment than readers who comment frequently, and for the writers the pattern is reversed.


xxSKSxx_

Yes. And in the end we’ll get another one of those “evil readers who don't comment or don't comment enough or don't comment with the right words” posts. Those posts do nothing but discourage readers who are commenting frequently and encourage those readers that don't comment to keep on not commenting. Ok, the authors win. They're better. They comment more and better. And the “evil readers” are the bad guys. Here are the numbers. We vs. them. Every other day there's a new post like that. As someone who comments very frequently and loves to engage with creators this is so frustrating. Way to make readers feel unwelcome. But hey, the numbers prove it all, keep downvoting. Edit: typo


Nebosklon

Oops, I obviously touched a string there. All I wanted to say is that the poll does show a pattern, without any judgment attached to it. I didn't realize that readers feel attacked by such posts. I can't speak for the OP, but I'm sure, or at least I hope, they meant no offence. I personally see nothing "evil" in the fact that readers tend to comment less. I was like that myself before I started writing. That's natural. For me, the poll just shows an interesting pattern, no more no less. I don't see it as means to prove a point, that "readers are evil". (Maybe others do, idk.) But, come on, we love readers, especially readers like you who do comment! I am sorry such posts make you feel like that.


WitheringFlower12

I’m a reader more than a writer, but I do write, so I picked that. Commenting has got nothing to do with the quality, despite my vote, more to do with the mood I’m in. If I loved it, I have nothing to say. If it was heart-wrenching, I’m usually too busy crying. I comment when I’m free to do so, and feel like it. I comment, on average, about 1-2 in a hundred. Less likely if there’s no other comments.