What do you want to hear in the comments?

[TheLobster]

One comment per 500 views is a crazy high ratio. Mine is something like a tenth of that, if not less.

 

[MelissaBaby]

In the kinds of cases I was referring to, the answer would be "the Macquarie Dictionary". I've had no doubt well-meaning folk attempt to tell me that "loosed" isn't a word, that "deplaned" is an American monstrosity that mustn't be used in Australian or British English, and various other things that are equally incorrect.

You seem to have made some poor assumptions about what kinds of "corrections" I was discussing.



Seems like another assumption there, and also potentially missing the point: storytelling isn't just about conveying a plot in the most efficient manner possible.

There's more that could be said here, but something in your style is reminding me of a certain fellow who has a history of getting banned and then popping up again with a new account soon after, so I'm going to leave it and see whether you continue to remind me of that guy before I decide whether to engage further.

I was put in mind of the comment that ball point pens were not available in the U.S. in late 1945 or that no one in the 1950s knew who Sonia Henie was.

I research my ass off, of course I was right.

(I am currently learning more than I ever thought I would about silent movies…)

 

[Writer61]

One comment per 500 views is a crazy high ratio. Mine is something like a tenth of that, if not less.

If that comment is in response to me then you may have to join Nynah on the American step.

 

[MillieDynamite]

To answer the original question, here's what I'd love to see in the comments.

You're an excellent writer and lovely person. Your beauty is far deeper and more profound than skin deep!

To date, I've seen that exactly 0 times.

 

[HordHolm]

I was put in mind of the comment that ball point pens were not available in the U.S. in late 1945 or that no one in the 1950s knew who Sonia Henie was.

I research my ass off, of course I was right.

(I am currently learning more than I ever thought I would about silent movies…)

One of my favourite things, research. I spent far too much time last year researching all about the Hindenburg. I could give you a floor plan of it from memory.

 

[Nynah]

It does, but I was dividing it by the number of views (which I can see by downloading stats), not the number of stories.

I don't wish to belabor the point but to me your original post reads as if you are saying "I have three thousand three hundred seventy five comments on one hundred twelve thousand views." I'm getting tripped up on where 3,375 is coming from and why it reads as if you are stating you have that many comments. I have not read your body of work but I am assuming that you do not have north of 3000 comments across all of your stories.

 

[iwatchus]

OK, it's just under 3% when I said 'about 2.5%', which is hardly 'way higher'.

I am enough of a nerd to have almost complained about that math.

I am working on letting things go. They tell me I will live longer that way -- my spouse won't murder me.

 

[Writer61]

I don't wish to belabor the point but to me your original post reads as if you are saying "I have three thousand three hundred seventy five comments on one hundred twelve thousand views." I'm getting tripped up on where 3,375 is coming from and why it reads as if you are stating you have that many comments. I have not read your body of work but I am assuming that you do not have north of 3000 comments across all of your stories.

Aargh, the horror!!!

I misread my own spreadsheet. It is 3.375 comments per story, which is 1,443 in total.

 

[StillStunned]

Aargh, the horror!!!

I misread my own spreadsheet. It is 3.375 comments per story, which is 1,443 in total.

A glance at your author page shows 19 comments on 16 stories. Am I missing something?

 

[TheLobster]

Let us hope that stories and plots that @Writer61 writes are less confusing than his use of math

 

[Writer61]

Let us hope that stories and plots that @Writer61 writes are less confusing than his use of math

The maths was fine; but garbage in, garbage out applies.

 

[MelissaBaby]

One of my favourite things, research. I spent far too much time last year researching all about the Hindenburg. I could give you a floor plan of it from memory.

If you ever go back in time to Philadelphia on Christmas Eve in 1945, I can tell which station to go to get a train to Chicago, and how many stops it makes on the way.

 

[Omenainen]

I really like comments, but then I’m spoiled because mine have mostly been lovely. I like the numbers too, but try as I might, I can’t get as excited over numbers as I do over a good comment. And by good I mean more than “loved it” or “hated it”, though I appreciate those too over just a vote, and a vote more than just a view, and a view over not getting a view.

 

[StillStunned]

This might just be a coincidence, but since I started replying to every comment, they seem to have become more meaningful.

I try to give my reply a bit more substance than just "thanks for reading!" too. If a reader mentions something that they liked, or that was confusing, or where they thought I could do better, I try to provide a bit of background, or answer their question, or whatever.

Even if the commenter never checks back, other readers will see my reply and they seem to appreciate the engagement.

 

[Omenainen]

This might just be a coincidence, but since I started replying to every comment, they seem to have become more meaningful.

I try to give my reply a bit more substance than just "thanks for reading!" too. If a reader mentions something that they liked, or that was confusing, or where they thought I could do better, I try to provide a bit of background, or answer their question, or whatever.

Even if the commenter never checks back, other readers will see my reply and they seem to appreciate the engagement.

I’m sure it helps. I’ve also noticed many people will send private message back thanking when I comment on their stories. I’m being pretty (Finnish) hypocritical with hoping for nice comments and never acknowledging that I’ve seen them …I don’t know, it just doesn’t come naturally for me. And not very many commentators ask anything. But sure, increasing my engagement level is on my to-do list.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

If they liked it, I don't care what they write. If they didn't, then it'd better be something actually valid, and not just "HeR NamE iS SpElLeD BaBaLon," no it's fucking not.

 

[Bramblethorn]

To answer the original question, here's what I'd love to see in the comments.

You're an excellent writer and lovely person. Your beauty is far deeper and more profound than skin deep!

"Mum, stop commenting on my stories, it's weird!"

 

[Nynah]

"Mum, stop commenting on my stories, it's weird!"

I don't go there but I'm fairly sure this is an Incest/Taboo prompt waiting to be fleshed out.

 

[SmokingFap]

I don't go there but I'm fairly sure this is an Incest/Taboo prompt waiting to be fleshed out.

Hehe. You said fleshed out.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

This.

I also appreciate when people enjoy certain characters, plot twists, or scenes and take time to point them out.

Don't you keep comments and voting turned off?

 

[Bramblethorn]

I don't go there but I'm fairly sure this is an Incest/Taboo prompt waiting to be fleshed out.

Free to a good home!

...or a bad one, honestly.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

My next story is gonna be about a really nice, smart guy who does my taxes for free while his wife teaches me how to cook.

Your next story better be a sequel of your first one! I gotta know what happens at the next tourney!

 

[AchtungNight]

Don't you keep comments and voting turned off?

Voting, yes. Not comments. I have full control over which of those to keep.

 

[SimonDoom]

The types of comments I appreciate:

1. Loved your story.
2. Here's what I loved about your story (and why).
3. I didn't like your story/something about your story (and here, with examples, is why).
4. Your story made me come.

The types of comments I don't appreciate:

1. Your story sucks.
2. You suck.

Comments that make me go, "Hmmmm."

1. Your story (especially if it's an incest story) brings back great memories.

 

[ChloeTzang]

LOL. I'll take any comment I get, good, bad or indifferent. It means somebody's read the story and been interested enough to comment. THAT is a reward in itself