Comments

[hometownhack]

I’m a newbie writer on Literotica and have received a comment on one of my stories. How to I respond to that comment?

 

[StillStunned]

Congratulations! Comments are wonderful things, generally speaking. A reader read your story and it compelled them to reach out to you!

You can't respond directly, unfortunately. What I do is add a comment of my own to the story and @ the commenter. I always make sure to thank them - in my experience this encourages other readers to comment as well, because they see you appreciate it.

 

[ThatNewGuy]

What StillStunned said. If the person commenting has a username (rather than simply appearing as Anonymous), you can click that name and use the "Send feedback" link at the bottom of the account owner's page to send a private message via email. Welcome to Lit! Happy writing.

 

[BeechLeaf]

And note that your comments on your own stories go into moderation and appear a day or two later, just the same as if you're commenting on someone else's. But when they do appear, they're distinctly marked as the author's.

 

[TheLobster]

What I do is add a comment of my own to the story and @ the commenter. I always make sure to thank them - in my experience this encourages other readers to comment as well, because they see you appreciate it.

Just to clarify: this wouldn't actually be a reply, it's just a way to mention the original commenter. The site won't notify them when you do this; the only way to contact the commenter is to send a private feedback message.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

You can click on the commentator's name, then on the envelope icon. That too will get to them.

Congratulations! It's a good feeling, isn't it?

Drop by the AH Café, now under new management. Coffee's always on.

 

[StillStunned]

And note that your comments on your own stories go into moderation and appear a day or two later, just the same as if you're commenting on someone else's. But when they do appear, they're distinctly marked as the author's.

Example of how it appears on screen:

 

[metropolinational]

You can't respond directly, unfortunately.

Probably the most frustrating aspect of this otherwise amazing site. If I had one request for our benevolent overlords, would be to make it so that we can reply directly to comments, even if it's just with an emoji. Five emojis would suffice: a heart, a laughing face, a little mail me icon, a question mark, and a middle finger.

 

[TheLobster]

Probably the most frustrating aspect of this otherwise amazing site. If I had one request for our benevolent overlords, would be to make it so that we can reply directly to comments, even if it's just with an emoji. Five emojis would suffice: a heart, a laughing face, a little mail me icon, a question mark, and a middle finger.

It wouldn't change much without a reader-facing notification system, as the commenter would have no way to know their comment has been replied or reacted to.

 

[metropolinational]

It wouldn't change much without a reader-facing notification system, as the commenter would have no way to know their comment has been replied or reacted to.

yes! there could be a little red one at the top of your main page when there's been a reply, just like in the forum.

I've said, many times, why cant they just embed the forum in there? that would solve all the problems.

hmmmm....

anon would still be a problem of course. that's probably why they cant do that.

ugh.

 

[old_prof]

yes! there could be a little red one at the top of your main page when there's been a reply, just like in the forum.

I've said, many times, why cant they just embed the forum in there? that would solve all the problems.

hmmmm....

anon would still be a problem of course. that's probably why they cant do that.

ugh.

They could do it for any readers who have accounts, who are the ones most likely to want to engage with the authors anyway.
It's also another nudge for readers to create accounts, which ties the readers more to the site.

This is one of a handful of upgrades that would help the site, especially from the author's perspective that could really work in the context of the site. Many of the category or ratings changes people want would be incompatible with the back catalog of stories, which is one of the two big assets the site has.

But I would still rather see them fix the damned centering bug first.

 

[CalBishForNow]

People have already exhaustively covered what it's like posting your own comments, and if the commenters are anonymous, that's all you can do.

But if they aren't anonymous, or for some reason you want to have a private discussion, then you can click on their name to get to their own profile page, and click on the envelope on their profile page to send them a private message. This will generate an email to the address linked to their Lit account. For example, here's what it looks like on your own page.


Using it excessively would be creepy, but it's an option.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Probably the most frustrating aspect of this otherwise amazing site. If I had one request for our benevolent overlords, would be to make it so that we can reply directly to comments, even if it's just with an emoji. Five emojis would suffice: a heart, a laughing face, a little mail me icon, a question mark, and a middle finger.

You forgot a lightning bolt...

 

[metropolinational]

You forgot a lightning bolt...

I confess... I know what it is, of course, but I'm not sure I would know what that means as a response to a comment.
brilliant?
nail, meet hammer?
oh this will be controversial?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I confess... I know what it is, of course, but I'm not sure I would know what that means as a response to a comment.
brilliant?
nail, meet hammer?
oh this will be controversial?

I was more or less thinking of it as a step beyond the middle finger. E-Kanly, perhaps.

 

[anthrodisiac]

I confess... I know what it is, of course, but I'm not sure I would know what that means as a response to a comment.
brilliant?
nail, meet hammer?
oh this will be controversial?

Thor, smite mine foe.

 

[BladeSeanchai]

As a very new author, having posted just two stories so far, I look forward to getting a comment, or even votes. Or I face the fact that my writing isn't interesting enough for votes/comments. I guess I am bewildered by 2,600 reads and only 34 votes or the 427 reads and 4 votes.

Any recommendations?

 

[TheLobster]

As a very new author, having posted just two stories so far, I look forward to getting a comment, or even votes. Or I face the fact that my writing isn't interesting enough for votes/comments. I guess I am bewildered by 2,600 reads and only 34 votes or the 427 reads and 4 votes.

Any recommendations?

View attachment 2600917

What you call ‘reads’ are actually just views, i.e., clicks on the story that don’t necessarily go beyond the first page. People view stories to check how long they are, the tags (you should use more), and sometimes read the first few paragraphs before bouncing.

Also, EC is a fickle category. Many stories are published there every day, and if yours happen to land below the fold on the new story list for this category — so, 11th places or further — it drastically reduces the exposure. Getting the HOT badge early helps a lot, but its a bit of a chicken and egg problem as you need 10 votes for that.

Keep writing and gain more followers who can push you over this initial hump. Consider diversifying your categories. If all else fails, write incest

 

[BladeSeanchai]

What you call ‘reads’ are actually just views, i.e., clicks on the story that don’t necessarily go beyond the first page. People view stories to check how long they are, the tags (you should use more), and sometimes read the first few paragraphs before bouncing.

Also, EC is a fickle category. Many stories are published there every day, and if yours happen to land below the fold on the new story list for this category — so, 11th places or further — it drastically reduces the exposure. Getting the HOT badge early helps a lot, but its a bit of a chicken and egg problem as you need 10 votes for that.

Keep writing and gain more followers who can push you over this initial hump. Consider diversifying your categories. If all else fails, write incest

Thank you!

 

[ElectricBlue]

As a very new author, having posted just two stories so far, I look forward to getting a comment, or even votes. Or I face the fact that my writing isn't interesting enough for votes/comments. I guess I am bewildered by 2,600 reads and only 34 votes or the 427 reads and 4 votes.

Any recommendations?

My rules of thumb: 1 Vote per 100 Views, 1 Comment per 1000 Views.

On that basis, those results are typical.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

As a very new author, having posted just two stories so far, I look forward to getting a comment, or even votes. Or I face the fact that my writing isn't interesting enough for votes/comments. I guess I am bewildered by 2,600 reads and only 34 votes or the 427 reads and 4 votes.

Any recommendations?

View attachment 2600917

I am a firm believer that:

1. A writer needs to look at ALL stats in order to properly gauge reader engagement with any story.
2. A writer should take a long-term perspective on their stories. How does it stand the test of time?

I frequently throw this story of mine out as an example:


After three years, it has less than 2,000 views, but the number of those views that resulted in votes is off the charts. It also has an impressive number of favorites and the feedback through comments is above average. Oh, and the rating has always been good too.

My point is, don't get discouraged too early in the game. There are many factors that influence readers finding a story and then possibly reacting to it. The quality of the writing is far down that list of factors.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

People have already exhaustively covered what it's like posting your own comments, and if the commenters are anonymous, that's all you can do.

But if they aren't anonymous, or for some reason you want to have a private discussion, then you can click on their name to get to their own profile page, and click on the envelope on their profile page to send them a private message. This will generate an email to the address linked to their Lit account. For example, here's what it looks like on your own page.
View attachment 2600717

Using it excessively would be creepy, but it's an option.

It should be pointed out that e-mailing a reader from their profile will reveal your e-mail address to them.

 

[anthrodisiac]

As a very new author, having posted just two stories so far, I look forward to getting a comment, or even votes. Or I face the fact that my writing isn't interesting enough for votes/comments. I guess I am bewildered by 2,600 reads and only 34 votes or the 427 reads and 4 votes.

Any recommendations?

View attachment 2600917

Also should be noted that chaptered works tend to have fewer views once you get past the first one or two chapters, since most people will want to read the first chapter before jumping into the second.

 

[ThatNewGuy]

It should be pointed out that e-mailing a reader from their profile will reveal your e-mail address to them.

I don't believe this is correct. Using the feedback form this way submits an email to the author from "Feedback@literotica.com". I double checked this by looking at the emails I've received from readers.

You do have the option to provide an email address when filling out the feedback form (if you would like a response from the writer). But unless you manually fill out that field, the recipient has no idea what your email address is.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I don't believe this is correct. Using the feedback form this way submits an email to the author from "Feedback@literotica.com". I double checked this by looking at the emails I've received from readers.

You do have the option to provide an email address when filling out the feedback form (if you would like a response from the writer). But unless you manually fill out that field, the recipient has no idea what your email address is.

You're right. It is when you reply to that feedback via e-mail that your e-mail address would become known.