Let me say, at the outset, that comments from me are spotty... sporadic, if you will. When I first started writing I was, quite unashamedly, a comment whore. I lived and breathed for the comments on my stories. I DO understand, therefore, the importance of comments.
I've been reading TG fiction now for over 12 years, and my commenting has slowly degenerated, for which I truly apologise. It takes a LOT anymore to get me to comment, as I have read literally thousands of stories and it's unavoidable that plot devices get used over and over again, so it might take me several chapters to get far enough into a story before I feel the urge to comment on it, and some stories... well, some of them just don't move me in any way save disgust or apathy.
What I'm trying to say, in my own inimitable manner, is that if you get a comment from me, you have accomplished something unusual enough, or different enough that it caused me to speak up. With me, less tends to be more, so if I comment on your story, it means that it really moved me and impressed me. I also tend to not comment on every chapter of every story. I feel like that would cheapen the value of a comment and become expected or even redundant.
Believe me, I KNOW, I know, I know how important it is for writers to get comments on their work, and I try, I really do, to find something in each story to say something about. Sometimes though, the only thing I could say would be critical and maybe even mean, so I refrain from saying anything, feeling as though "if I have nothing good to say, it's better to say nothing", than to hurt someone with my words and risk losing a writer because of what I said.
Please forgive me if I seem jaded or unfeeling if you don't get a comment from me on any story... or every story. I DO use the kudo function VERY often... much more often than I comment.
Thanks to ALL the writers who have the courage to post their work. I DO appreciate ALL of you.
huggles and love,
Catherine Linda Michel
Comments
You're not alone.
I tend to only comment when something strongly motivates me to do so. Like this for instance. I find myself agreeing with much of what you've written here. I don't like to give any criticism unless there's something positive I can also say about the story as well. If there isn't, I won't comment at all. I don't like having my words misconstrued and people taking offence to what I've written, despite my intention to be as fair and polite as possible.
I've been reading TG stories for roughly 10 years or so now. Sometimes plot devices (tropes, if you will) are so cliche I've had to put the story down. It's gotten to the point that some cliches will act as minor annoyances and will now pull me out of the story. When I see characters hurt or abused and these tropes come up I more or less roll my eyes rather than feeling for the character.
Like you, I probably hit the kudo button a lot more frequently than I ever comment. Especially on mutli-part stories. What can be gained from me saying "hey, good story, I'm looking forward to more" on every part. I've tried that. It looks a bit forced and it lacks any sort of substance. I feel like the kudo button says all of that for me.
It's hard putting your work out for people to read and judge (quietly or otherwise). I recognize the courage it takes. I applaud that. Hopefully authors know they're appreciated.
As with you
I do not comment publicly if it isn't something deemably constructive to the story publicly or if something about the story bothered me too greatly to post a comment. In those instances, I do PM the author and mention what I would not publicly. I still count it as something of a comment / critique of sorts although only the author would know it's content.
I'm here to keep authors here with whatever I can do. I like to comment too.
But suggestions, grammar, punctuation and questions of story plots that I make or ask about, best belong in private.
But for authors that turn their private messaging off, I nor anyone else can PM them about the above. In the end, the authors that turn their messaging off tend to suffer because they won't get constructive critiques or questions about their works asked that really do not belong in public comments.
The author is free to choose how they wish to interact with everyone. All that I can do is offer what help I can, comment where I can, and critique / semi-edit and send minor change suggestions to those who have the PM's on. There are a lot of other authors and readers here that are ready to volunteer and assist authors as well: click here to see the list of them in the comments.
If I haven't commented on your story, that just means I haven't gotten to it yet. I am quite busy doing many things at once all day every day. I will make my best effort to get there though.
Sephrena
Comments
from my readers allow me to connect with my audience and know that what I am writing is accomplishing what I intended for my story. I enjoy interacting with those who follow my story and replying personally to each and everyone who takes the time to give feed back.
As for commenting on other stories. You will find none at this point. It's not because I am lazy, or I don't like other's writing, or that I just don't care. I am simply engrossed in my own writing at the moment, and have purposely put a hold on absorbing any other content right now. I want my story to flow freely from my mind to my keyboard, and do not want any other influence. As I wrap up the first season of Angel, I will take a little break where I look forward to getting to know the characters and worlds of the other wonderful writers this site has to offer, and I will take the time to comment.
Thank you everyone for your support, whether you have commented, gave a kudo, or just read the story, I appreciate you.
Mega Hugs,
Megan
People say, "You don't know what you had until it's gone." Very true, but also equally true is, "You don't know what you've been missing until is arrives."