Based on my experience, with over a dozen books published on Amazon and over one hundred stories published on BC:
You are three times more likely to receive a comment on Amazon than you are on BC. Perhaps that's because people leave a kudos on BC instead of a comment.
My books on Amazon have received over 500 comments. My stories on BC have received nearly 2,000 comments.
There doesn't seem to be a difference -- between the number of good and bad comments, whether here or on Amazon. The ratio seems to be about 9:1.
Hint to those who write nasty comments. A thousand Attaboys are wiped out by one Aw Shit. If you want a writer's muse to go on permanent vacation cast your black pearls at will.
Jill
Comments
Interesting stats! :)
I don't have enough books on Amazon to make that kind of comparison and have it stick, but you certainly do!
I will agree with the nasty comments. I honestly don't understand why someone (here or anywhere else) would want to leave a bad comment just because they personally don't like the book, content, or style. Sure, if there is something really wrong with it, like it's hard to read, or something, that's one thing, but just saying "I don't like it" (or giving it one star on Amazon) is certainly a muse killer! :)
HUGS!
S
Actually, sometimes it can be quite amusing
There is one person who has posted ten comments on my Bru stories.
One is response to another comment (if you read it today it's quite confusing since the comment the person is responding to has been removed). That comment is not really related to my story at all.
One comment is purely informational. I consider that neutral.
8 comments express varying degreess of disapproval and/or incomprehension.
0 Comments with at least some indication of liking any of my stories.
This has reached the level where I find it hilarious. I'm looking forward to the next one :)
If I leave positive omments?
Do I get Brownie Points? Do they add up like Green Stamps? How many do I need before I may borrow your pink Hadrian dress? I was wearing a pink blouse a couple weeks back, my snow white hair brought out the best in the blouse and the pink did the same for my hair. Got me to thinking...., Brue has a pink dress and...? I might not put the curves inside like you do sweety but I can bring it all together.
Hugs Bru
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
I like comments
I like positive comments. I also like constructive criticism. Good point about the Brownie points. I must introduce such a program soonest. Just have to think about the details. For the pink dress? Let's see, that would require ...
Now I think I'll take cover for a while until some time after you have read my latest story. It's just possible that you might read something into a paragraph there.
You give...
You give pink dress. I add matching green pantyhose, blue hat and yellow purse. For free!
Frequent commenter program
I have been thinking about it a bit more.
A one line "Good story" 2 Points
A gushing postive comment 5 Points
Constructive Criticism 10 Points (if also gushing 15)
Purely informative comment 1 Point (added if combined with positive comment etc )
Comment off-topic but not negative 1 Point (Hey, it helps the story's status)
Negative non-constructive comment -20 Points
Rewards:
- 50 Pillory (is there one at BCTS?)
As for the positive rewards I haven't decided yet. Perhaps a Cameo in a story or similar. Until I do decide the Frequent Commenter Program is suspended :(
QModo: Who should we get to sponsor the purple shoes for Barb?
So Many Readers Would Be Pointless
eom
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
I'm Pointeless due to an injury
:(
Comments
Positive comments are great, but realistically, a "You're fantabulous" isn't any more help to the writer as a "You suck" is. A thoughtful balance between what's good and what could be improved is more helpful. Especially if the comment/review focuses on the story. Like my Christmas story this year. Most of the comments are just hate on KFC with little about the story itself. My take-away is don't use KFC as a setting. Not really helpful. A lot of the reviews I get on Amazon just say the book wasn't long enough. What about the content? Most of my BC stories, the comments peter out around 10. Other folks get dozens. Why? I wish I knew.
Melanie
If I get 5 or 6 comments here
I feel I've done quite well. As Jill has mentioned before my stories don't get the large readership that some authors have, including Melanie, but I do get a very good kudos to read ratio, so I suspect I have a small but dedicated readership to whom I'm very grateful. I also know that my writing has helped one or two with various issues and that brings a new dimension to posting here.
Angharad
Maybe...
Maybe it is because your writing is too perfect?
I admit, I comment your stories (if) with simple "You're great" while i guess your story is worth more than a single kudo from me.
"The book wasn't long enough"
Sometimes this is code for "This book is awesome, but now that I've finished reading it I can't continue to enjoy reading it."
By that standard many of your books, but especially I'm With The Band, are not long enough.
I just wish I knew how to make sales!
Congratulations on being a successful published author on Amazon.
I only have 8 books on Amazon (one just added) and only 8 reviews.
At least after the spite comment was removed (they never even looked at the book!) they are all good.
How do you get known? I do have some followers here and over on Fictionmania, but I am just not getting the sales.
All my collections are over 60,000 words so novel length, and include plenty of unpublished material.
Marketing seems so difficult given that this in transgender fiction.
Please help!
Maryanne
Comments?
Its a rare thing indeed for me to get any sort of comment either here on BC or over on Amazon, where I have over 40 Maddy Bell titles available. If I lived off reader response i'd have starved to death years ago!
Whilst its frustrating to garner so little 'customer' feedback, the plus side is that i'm not getting tons of negative stuff either. Of course i do write for my readers, well up to a point, mostly i write for me, if that coincides with readers tastes thats all to the good but even if it doesn't i'll still write what i need to.
I was looking at my 'in progress' pile last night, there are half a dozen 'live' projects on the go, there are no comments to influence me one way or another, once its written its written, any comments at that stage are irrelevant. I wouldn't claim to have no ego but what i have is driven by me, targets that I set, that I work towards, not someone else imposing things on me. Yeah, its nice to hear someone likes a particular story/image/feat/meal etc but i don't do things in the hope of praise, you don't get disappointed when it doesn't happen that way!
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Tasty
I find your stories very, VERY tasty Maddy. I'm really glad you've written and published them.
Some days just feel like...
Love, Andrea Lena
Feedback
For those of us without commercial ambitions, reader feedback is our main form of payment. Most of us write for ourselves and that might also be a payment, but for me that doesn't get me over that last hump of editing and formatting that actually puts it out there for readers. So readers, comments do actually help keep the flow of content going.
This is near the anniversary of the release of our group project of "A Dozen Roses". I mention this because, at least for me, this worked well in providing additional feedback. That feedback created both the Sam and the Secret CD characters. I wonder why I don't see more such group collaborations?
From acknowledgements it seems many, if not most, commercial books are due to collaborations of teams of writer, readers, editors and encouragers.
Comments
When you finish an Amazon book you are asked for a revue. I wonder if that helps generate comments, From what I have seen and experienced here, authors pleading for comments generates little response.
Kudos, Comments, Compliments, and Trolls
Dear Jill,
I salute your efforts to provide happiness and joy through your writing. I find your observations enlightening. You have made some important points here and should be reread by all.
My experiences, my efforts, and my finished products pale in comparison to the true writers here. When I first started, it was to provide myself with an outlet to see my thoughts on paper. I fumbled, I learned, I grew. And it was through the kind suggestions and encouragement from you and many, many others here that made me want to improve.
I have a long way to go. I still suffer from the need for immediate gratification. Sadly, this is my biggest flaw and becomes an impediment.
I am hardly astute or talented enough to give advice, make observations, or issue constructive criticism. I still enjoy writing and giving my thoughts wings to fly. I write for myself first, but all my growth comes from listening to the thoughts of others.
I try to remind myself that quantity is not quality.