Getting Comments - what should I do?

[RacyWilde]

I'm new. Hi, everyone!

I've just published a first chapter of a novel length story. I'm starting to get comments and feedback. I'm inclined to contact the people or reply to comments to say 'thank you for reading and taking the time to comment/feedback'. Is this a thing to do on Literotica? So far I haven't seen any authors reach out to readers. (Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong stories?) And, if I am supposed to reach out, is it normal to do it publicly or in private?

Also, is it encouraged to develop a readership? Like, having minions...lol?

Any guidance is much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If comments aren't posted by anonymous I usually reply in a Private Message to them. For anon comments the only way to respond is via a comment and I hesitate to do that because anon usually won't be checking back.

 

[tomlitilia]

I rarely reply to individual public comments, but often write a collective thank you (publically) to praising and insightful feedback. It's nice to get comments so seems appropriate to acknowledge it. But at least one of my stories got more than 100 comments, so starting up a correspondence with each of them seems a bit tedious. I sometimes reply to private messages, but only if it's about something specific they are pointing out or wondering about.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I get no comments, because no one wants trouble from the AH Usual Subjects like ZEB CARTER who will pay you a visit to put sugar in your gas tank.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'll sometimes place a comment thanking readers if I get a run of comments to a story, and usually always reply to feedback received by email. It hardly ever leads to any on-going interchange. PMs to other writers can result in longer conversations. On the whole, the internet is a silent place.

But you are under no obligation to do anything - it's completely up to you.

 

[oggbashan]

Unless the comment is anonymous I try to acknowledge the comment by using the contact details of the individual. I don't always succeed, sometimes because I haven't noticed that I have a new comment.

Most comments deserve thanks. Some deserve a WTF? but I try to be polite.

 

[RacyWilde]

Thanks everyone for your relies.

I'll be sure to thank everyone who interacts with my story. Huh, that's one newb question out of the way

cheers

 

[Kimikimidoll]

I like to reply to the comments, bad or good. If they took the time to read it and type out their feelings, they deserve to get some kind of return back.

 

[MLClifton]

..........

 

[WatchingCloud]

I generally don't reply to comments, but I'm getting better about sending a thanks or other reply to direct email feedback. Unless they're just demanding another chapter... ☺

 

[sr71plt]

I reply to e-mails (if the addresses are genuine). I only rarely reply privately to comments posted directly to the stories.

 

[sr71plt]

I get no comments, because no one wants trouble from the AH Usual Subjects like ZEB CARTER who will pay you a visit to put sugar in your gas tank.

You have comments on the stories that you haven't turned commenting off on.

 

[pocketbooklover]

One piece of advice - set up a different email account for any correspondence between you and the readers of your story. This will help set a barrier between your Lit life and real life.

 

[sr71plt]

One piece of advice - set up a different email account for any correspondence between you and the readers of your story. This will help set a barrier between your Lit life and real life.

Wouldn't you have already done that when you set up a Literotica account?

 

[GoldenCojones]

I reply to all emails that have a valid address. I usually stay out of the comments and don't respond to them even if they are not anonymous. After reading this thread I think maybe I should start responding to non-anonymous comments.

Hmmm.

 

[TxRad]

I reply to all emails that have a valid address. I usually stay out of the comments and don't respond to them even if they are not anonymous. After reading this thread I think maybe I should start responding to non-anonymous comments.

Hmmm.

I stay out of the comments unless there is something I need to say. If i want to replied to an individual, I use the e-mail system or a PM but with a PM I check and see what their posting history is. If they don't have much of one then the odds of them seeing the PM are slim to none.

 

[ChloeTzang]

.............

 

[RacyWilde]

Great, thanks everyone, this has been really helpful.

So... this is what I understand:
It's best to use the feedback when replying/thanking commenters as it sends a direct email to the person. PM's are usually only used by people active in the forums, (? I haven't got/sent a PM yet so I'm not sure of the process). And, readers don't really go back to a chapter to see if the author has replied to them. (But I do wonder if replying to comments is good for potential readers to see that the author is grateful/approachable, etc???) Got it!

Cheers

 

[sr71plt]

And, readers don't really go back to a chapter to see if the author has replied to them.

I don't know how anyone could claim to know that this is true--or to what extent it's true.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't know how anyone could claim to know that this is true--or to what extent it's true.

I have experience of anonymous leaving an abusive comment to which I have replied - in a comment - and anonymous has returned to attack me again.

But I consider that pattern as an example of an individual's campaign against me, not normal behaviour. I would expect most people leaving a comment NOT to return to see if the author has responded.

If I respond with another comment I intend it for other readers, not for the person who commented.

For example I changed the destination of the characters in Christmas on Duty and people pointed out that they couldn't get where they were going by that route. My response was that I would get the destination and route to match - after the contest had ended.

 

[DwellerDark]

I'll sometimes place a comment thanking readers if I get a run of comments to a story, and usually always reply to feedback received by email.

This.

 

[ChloeTzang]

.........

 

[TxRad]

Just to clarify, when somebody uses the feedback form, they can include their email or send as anonymous (no return email address).

If they send you an email address, you can email them back. Best to use a distinct email account for this (I use a gmail account set up ONLY for Lit related correspondence). As a female on LIT, you WILL get PM's and most of them will want to chat, indulge in cybersex and the like. Delete is your friend. I rarely get PM's that I reply too.

You'll also get the odd reader who sends you photo's of various appendages and practices. Some are amusing, most I delete, along with the emails. All very entertaining

I'd send you a picture of my 'foot' but i need a pedicure.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'd send you a picture of my 'foot' but i need a pedicure.

Now that would be a cure for my foot fetish

I had a woman send me a picture once with the message 'this is how I'd be for you' and for the life of me I could not figure out what exactly I was looking at, couple of bumps that looked smudged.

My wife cleaned the image up and it was her knees and they were dirty. I was like "Oh, okay!"

 

[ChloeTzang]

.........