How can I encourage comment engagement?

[Need_a_bedtime_story]

Here's a data point, for what it's worth.

My last two are both Milf stories in Mature. They're both shorter than my norm, but came out only a couple of days apart. On "So Wrong" I only mentioned voting at the end.

4.61, 322 votes, 27 favorites, 15.9k views, 6 comments.

Then a few days later, I mentioned comments as well as votes on "An Early Bird"

4.77, 436 votes, 35 favorites, 11.7k views, 17 comments.

Granted, the second one is longer, crossing into a second Lit page, and it's scoring higher, but the comments are more than double. The votes are only about 25% higher, and the favorites less than that. It's only a single data point, and other factors are certainly involved, but on the surface, asking for comments certainly seems to have produced results.

( Also an example of how short stuff doesn't do as well here. I would normally have double the vote total for something that crossed into a third Lit page, with a little more story foreplay, and a little more sexual foreplay. )

That is a huge difference! Thank you for the detailed explanation. Do you think it would make a difference if I did it at the start of a chapter under the disclaimer instead of the end of the story? I'm afraid asking for comments might break the tention and be bad since I have plot twists or huge revelations at the end of my chapters.

 

[RejectReality]

Here's a few more. Title, Category, Asked?, # of comments.

Classic Ride | Mature | Yes | 26
Curl & Figure | Mature | Yes | 19
Stuffed & Basted | Mature | Yes | 34
Side Hustle | Mature | Yes | 23
Pole Skills | Mature | No | 9
Overheard | Mature | No | 8
Silence is Goldwyn | Mature | Yes | 27

 

[RejectReality]

That is a huge difference! Thank you for the detailed explanation. Do you think it would make a difference if I did it at the start of a chapter under the disclaimer instead of the end of the story? I'm afraid asking for comments might break the tention and be bad since I have plot twists or huge revelations at the end of my chapters.

The voting and comment forms are at the end of the last page of the story/chapter. That's where you want to remind people to use them. If you have a tension point or cliffhanger, take a moment at the beginning of the note to talk about that, and potentially add little hype hints for the next installment.

 

[Need_a_bedtime_story]

The voting and comment forms are at the end of the last page of the story/chapter. That's where you want to remind people to use them. If you have a tension point or cliffhanger, take a moment at the beginning of the note to talk about that, and potentially add little hype hints for the next installment.

That is absolutely genius... It would also give something for readers to comment about!

Something like:
"Where do you think she escaped to? Will our hero make it out of his clutches or will he catch up to her plans? Let me know your thoughts and what you think of the story so far."

 

[RejectReality]

That is absolutely genius... It would also give something for readers to comment about!

Something like:
"Where do you think she escaped to? Will our hero make it out of his clutches or will he catch up to her plans? Let me know your thoughts and what you think of the story so far."

Exactly

 

[Need_a_bedtime_story]

Exactly

Thank you so much! You've been such a great help.

 

[Bassytian]

There is some helpful advice on this thread!

Most of my stories get fairly high ratings and have that red H, but I also have very few comments though I'm beginning to get more. That being said, I would love to know what thoughts readers have about my entries. I do encourage it in every story and get private feedback every once in a while. But I would still like to receive at least a few thoughts and constructive criticism so I can improve upon future entries.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

I just wish there was a way to reply to comments. I'd love to thank people and chat with some of my readers.

 

[TaniaTulle]

I just wish there was a way to reply to comments. I'd love to thank people and chat with some of my readers.

this. I get some lovely comments and I really which I could @ them with a reply. I tend to message them privately if the comment was particularly touching, and some have been really lovely, much more than I expected for my messy scribblings.

I'm such a comment whore (loved that line ShelbyDawn57 ) that I ask at the start and the end! Hopefully in a nice way though. I also try and reply to private feedback via direct message.

It really is so lovely to get a nice comment, absolutely makes my day when you know your tale has really worked with someone. And it can be helpful to know what the audience connects with as well. For example I can see a lot of my readers really like the romance angle, which was a surprise to me and something I'll make sure to include in future stories.

I've not got any analytics to share like RejectReality (that was super interesting btw), but 2 of my last 3 stories got over 20 comments. My last (which was a part 2 and only came online last week) has 9 at time of writing. All asked for some feedback at the end.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

I get some lovely comments and I really which I could @ them with a reply. I tend to message them privately if the comment was particularly touching, and some have been really lovely, much more than I expected for my messy scribblings.

I wondered about doing that, but never have. Maybe it's worth doing.

 

[Duleigh]

I try to build a sense of community. Anyone that sends me a direct comment I put their email address on a mailing list and send out weekly updates. That encourages a sense of community with your readers and they loosen up and respond to your emails and your stories.

 

[TaniaTulle]

I wondered about doing that, but never have. Maybe it's worth doing.

Some don't reply, but a few have and we've started some nice chats that way. Great way to get to know your readers.

 

[TaniaTulle]

I try to build a sense of community. Anyone that sends me a direct comment I put their email address on a mailing list and send out weekly updates. That encourages a sense of community with your readers and they loosen up and respond to your emails and your stories.

This is such a good idea!!! (so good I might steal it!)

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I've been making a conscious effort to reply to comments, and with a bit more than just "Thanks!" Preferably a little author insight in response to what the reader mentioned.

It's too early to say, but Red Hot is getting more comments than I'm used to, and before that While She Watches Them as well.

I know others that do this. Since there's no feedback notification on comments, I have to wonder, how do they know you commented on their comment?

 

[NuclearFairy]

From my observations as a reader, putting up a request for comments does nothing.

The stories that got comments are those that were exceptionally good, exceptionally bad, had some sort of twist that actually had people wanting to voice their opinions, or had an authors note at the end actually asking a question.

There are a lot of good stories out there with no comments however, it's just, they were good, but not that good. Or they were good, but the reader was embarrassed to comment on this set of fetishes. It just is, what it is.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

From my observations as a reader, putting up a request for comments does nothing.

The stories that got comments are those that were exceptionally good, exceptionally bad, had some sort of twist that actually had people wanting to voice their opinions, or had an authors note at the end actually asking a question.

There are a lot of good stories out there with no comments however, it's just, they were good, but not that good. Or they were good, but the reader was embarrassed to comment on this set of fetishes. It just is, what it is.

AS a writer, and a self avowed comment whore, I find the opposite to be true. My politely requesting comments seems to make a significant impact on the number I receive. Of course, as with everything else YMMV...

 

[StillStunned]

I know others that do this. Since there's no feedback notification on comments, I have to wonder, how do they know you commented on their comment?

I can't be sure they do. But other readers see me replying, so hopefully they're more likely to comment. I've also had a few notes from readers saying that they like that I make an effort to reply.

And it puts me in the "Recent comments" list twice as often, which draws more eyes to the story as well.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I'm wondering if I asked specifically for critique in my author's note, I'd get more responses. I'd really like to know what people didn't like if they felt my story deserved a four or less. It might be useful info.

 

[NotWise]

I decided some time ago to leave the readers alone. They don't come here to fulfill my expectations, and I think it's an intrusion to ask them for anything. I'm happy enough if they're willing to offer a vote or a favorite.

From my experience, I think very few readers are critics. Their thoughts are often not well-formed and many don't express themselves well in writing. If you influence more readers into commenting, then the chances are good that the additional comments won't be useful.

 

[PrimalDual]

I'm happy enough if they're willing to offer a vote or a favorite.

There is much wisdom in what you wrote there. Nonetheless, you put your finger on why I'm not happy (enough) - with the time-to-benefit ratio of publishing here - when the votes are nil and the favoriting is seemingly by bots.

Sprinkled through this thread is the phrase "comment whore." Guess it makes me a "comment incel." And since no one likes listening to incels (of any stripe) complain, indeed it just isolates the incel further, I know what I need to do about it.

 

[yowser]

I am a frequent commenter and will make this observation. If you leave a note, either in the story or in your bio, that you want comments, make sure you are clear about what you are willing to accept. At this point I won't make any non-positive comment unless the author indicates they can take critical responses. Even then, I have taken some authors at their word 'I'd love comments, positive or negative!' only to find out they don't really want the second and get seriously bent out of shape. (In my case it is never the 'gotcha!' on typos or other trivial issues, but substantive critique.) I urge honesty.

Also, for those seeking more than the casual response (and hoping to improve by feedback) I invite you to post to the feedback forum if you haven't discovered it already.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

I can't be sure they do. But other readers see me replying, so hopefully they're more likely to comment. I've also had a few notes from readers saying that they like that I make an effort to reply.

And it puts me in the "Recent comments" list twice as often, which draws more eyes to the story as well.

As a reader (of one of your stories even), I do appreciate the response from an author. Helps me feel like the time I invested was appreciated and acknowledged.

Some have sent private feedback thanking me for reading their story, which is also nice.

 

[StillStunned]

As a reader (of one of your stories even), I do appreciate the response from an author. Helps me feel like the time I invested was appreciated and acknowledged.

And a very nice comment it was too!

 

[NotWise]

There is much wisdom in what you wrote there. Nonetheless, you put your finger on why I'm not happy (enough) - with the time-to-benefit ratio of publishing here - when the votes are nil and the favoriting is seemingly by bots.

Sprinkled through this thread is the phrase "comment whore." Guess it makes me a "comment incel." And since no one likes listening to incels (of any stripe) complain, indeed it just isolates the incel further, I know what I need to do about it.

Lit is a menage a trois. Laurel and Manu benefit from the reader traffic that writers bring in. Writers provide material for readers to enjoy, and readers give the feedback that motivates writers.

The menage doesn't work for every writer. If your motivation needs more than the readers provide or if you need something different, then the menage may not be working for you. As in a lot of things, the more internal motivation you bring to the relationship, the more likely it is to work.

 

[PrimalDual]

Lit is a menage a trois. Laurel and Manu benefit from the reader traffic that writers bring in. Writers provide material for readers to enjoy, and readers give the feedback that motivates writers.

The menage doesn't work for every writer. If your motivation needs more than the readers provide or if you need something different, then the menage may not be working for you. As in a lot of things, the more internal motivation you bring to the relationship, the more likely it is to work.

I've floated in and out of Lit for more than two decades. Succeeded at getting something published and have got about four dozen short stories in various forms by now. I think I'm bringing plenty of internal motivation to the table. You may have misunderstood what I meant when I said I know what I need to do: it's STFU instead of whining like a little Incel. I'm capable of that.