Publically responding to comments

[sideshowlepke]

I want to publicly respond to comments on my stories, I've seen other authors do so by creating a comment themselves on thier, I mean their own stories, but I'm reluctant to do this because it would increase the comment count on the story, and implies greater interest from readers. Is there a better way? I dont', I mean don't want to send out private spam either, even if it's only to show gratitude.

Readers that comment, and I mean any comment are like God to me.

I'm sure this has been covered, but I couldn't find it!

 

[29wordsforsnow]

I want to publicly respond to comments on my stories, I've seen other authors do so by creating a comment themselves on thier, I mean their own stories, but I'm reluctant to do this because it would increase the comment count on the story, and implies greater interest from readers. Is there a better way? I dont', I mean don't want to send out private spam either, even if it's only to show gratitude.

Readers that comment, and I mean any comment are like God to me.

I'm sure this has been covered, but I couldn't find it!

Well, it's the most direct way to thank or give feedback to those who commented this particular story. And from my perspective as a part-time reader it's always a pleasure to see how the author thinks about certain comments.

If your too concerned about the comment count, just wait one or two weeks after your story has been published and the big wave of enthusiastic comments has calmed and thank all of them at once.

Another way would be to issue an edit, and add thanks your commenters this way. But I don't really like this way, as it causes work for the Admin and will effect the work of other authors...

 

[UsuallyPresent]

As long as you're not commenting anonymously, anyone with 1/2 a brain will see that the author's replying. I don't see the problem.

FWIW, I try to reply to most comments or notes on my tales. I'm small enough potatoes I can do that, unlike some of these others....

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

I respond to all of them, and I can't recommend it highly enough. I recently got a comment that included the following line: "Really appreciate that you respond back and I enjoy reading your others responses."

I think that when you respond to comments, you get more meaningful comments. A good percentage of the comments are several paragraphs long, and sometimes they're specific enough to be very helpful. I think if we're asking readers to take the time to comment, it makes sense to take the time to thank them, at the very minimum.

I don't see any reason why you should worry about doubling the number of comments. It's not like things are ranked by comment or anything like that. I don't think it's even on the line of information readers see when they're choosing stories. Besides, what's more important? An artificially high number of comments on a story, or staying engaged with your readers?

I suggest you go for it.

 

[SimonDoom]

I agree with EoN. There's no reason at all to be concerned about increasing the total number of comments. So what? There's no comment total contest. The upside outweighs the downside. Comment away.

 

[AlinaX]

I respond to almost all comments. I doubt anyone is counting comments, but I am sad when a story gets none.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'll always respond to a direct question in a comment with a comment of my own, on the basis that that person might come back to see if there's an answer, and for the benefit of other readers going through the comments.

If I get an especially detailed comment where someone has clearly taken their time to respond, I'll often send them a PM as a personal thanks (if they have PMs turned on).

Comments are rare, I encourage them.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

I'll always respond to a direct question in a comment with a comment of my own, on the basis that that person might come back to see if there's an answer, and for the benefit of other readers going through the comments.

If I get an especially detailed comment where someone has clearly taken their time to respond, I'll often send them a PM as a personal thanks (if they have PMs turned on).

Comments are rare, I encourage them.

My regular readers know I respond (there's sort of an ongoing conversation between chapters), but I started leaving a note at the end of the chapter saying that I respond to comments. That way, they'll know to come back if they want to see a response.

Even some of the ones who comment anonymously use a specific tagline to identify themselves as the anonymous from before, so I know it matters to them. There are still anonymouses (anonymi?), um, anonymous commenters with no tag line, but most of them are pretty recognizable. Like the one who keeps swearing she won't read the next chapter, then does, and lets me know that for real she won't read the next, 'cause the story sucks so bad.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

I never respond to comments on my stories. The main reason is that there's no way to ensure that the OP will see it.

If someone makes an especially insightful, complimentary, or inquisitive comment, I will send them an email through their profile.

I have had several nice discussions with readers, and one lady sent me several nudes and we had a great but short-lived chat.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

I respond to almost all comments. I doubt anyone is counting comments, but I am sad when a story gets none.

I got my first really nasty one recently, and I was kind of excited. I'm a sick puppy. I want at least one comment, even if it isn't nice. You could try putting a note at the end saying you respond. Maybe that'll help.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

Wasn't Anonymouse that notorious rodent hacker group that wreaked havoc on the global cheese industry?

Yeah, but they were bought off with one million cheeses. (That line would be funnier if you could see me doing my Dr. Evil impression, a la Austin Powers.)

 

[Voboy]

I don't. I don't want it to turn into a message board, and I doubt most people come back to revisit the story anyway.

I always figure I've already made my comment: the story. So, provided the readers' comments are on topic, my views are already represented. And if they're off topic, I just delete them.

 

[PennameWombat]

I agree with EoN. There's no reason at all to be concerned about increasing the total number of comments. So what? There's no comment total contest. The upside outweighs the downside. Comment away.

I always appreciate a comment, especially complimentary or constructive ones. But my stories just get very few. Although, I've had vanishingly few truly rude ones, I differentiate those from critical ones that actually address a story aspect, because these allow me to think. But again, my base assumption upon any story release is I'll get no comments on it.

I respond to almost all comments. I doubt anyone is counting comments, but I am sad when a story gets none.

If I had this attitude I'd be driven into a deep depression...

It might be the categories I post in but I can't think of any of my stories with more than a handful (fewer than five) comments, including when I did reply, and many have none at all.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I tend to reply to critique more often than to other types of comments. Praise is nice and being asked for more can feel good (unless it's an obviously finished story). I get the most out of criticism, even if someone gets parts of the story wrong and I have to set them straight, like that person who complained about "Express Delivery" being a series of "deus ex machina" moments - which it most certainly is not! Everything happens for a reason and my protag was deliberately written as an everyman who slowly grows, both as a person and hero.

 

[SisterJezabel]

I started replying to comments, but now usually leave it. I have sent PMs to some of the people who seem to comment on every story. I do appreciate when other readers reply to comments for me, especially anon commenters who obviously don't get something. I can be very sarcastic at times and I know this is off putting to some people so often just leave the comments alone, unless someone has asked a legitimate question.

 

[Emirus]

I never respond to comments on my stories. The main reason is that there's no way to ensure that the OP will see it.

I don’t respond to the comments such as “best story I’ve ever read” or “biggest load of crap” because I feel there’s nothing you can say. But the more detailed comments, good or bad, I will give a proper response to because although the reader whose commented might never return to read it they might. It also, I believe, shows them and subsequent readers I am interested in their opinion.

Stories on which I have left a comment I always return to to see if the writer has responded.

 

[jaF0]

I turned comments off a couple of years ago.

Most of them seemed to be from idiots and I read enough of that on the GB.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I'll respond with a personal message to somebody who's posted a particularly nice comment and sometimes I will put up a public response, especially if there have been a lot of comments. It's no big thing one way or the other and, pace OP, it's certainly not something I worry about re bumping my comment total.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

I don't. I don't want it to turn into a message board, and I doubt most people come back to revisit the story anyway.

I always figure I've already made my comment: the story. So, provided the readers' comments are on topic, my views are already represented. And if they're off topic, I just delete them.

I don't delete comments unless they're spam. I have heard stories from other authors that trolls will check to see if their comments remain and if they were deleted, they will one bomb all your stories and leave multiple nasty comments.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I respond to all of them, and I can't recommend it highly enough. I recently got a comment that included the following line: "Really appreciate that you respond back and I enjoy reading your others responses."

I think that when you respond to comments, you get more meaningful comments. A good percentage of the comments are several paragraphs long, and sometimes they're specific enough to be very helpful. I think if we're asking readers to take the time to comment, it makes sense to take the time to thank them, at the very minimum.

I don't see any reason why you should worry about doubling the number of comments. It's not like things are ranked by comment or anything like that. I don't think it's even on the line of information readers see when they're choosing stories. Besides, what's more important? An artificially high number of comments on a story, or staying engaged with your readers?

I suggest you go for it.

Always respond to positive comments, at least to say thank you. Putting your comments with the others below the text is fine. The most I ever had was thirty-one, including my own. A PM would be nice, but I rarely do that. Sometimes I get an incoming PM, and I always respond to those.

Respond to criticism if you think you have a plausible rebuttal. Don't expect to get a counter-comment back, however. The only times when I haven't responded to criticism was when it seemed to be somebody "stalking" me. I couldn't verify that, but he seemed to go away after that. It may appear that a criticism is just a ploy to irk you or get attention. It's a judgment call on those.

I never delete any comments except for one a long time ago that appeared to be completely irrelevant.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

See also this - threaded comments & eventually comment subscription incoming.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

See also this - threaded comments & eventually comment subscription incoming.

As well as tagging people in comments. That will be nice.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

As well as tagging people in comments. That will be nice.

It may encourage more readers to comment, too.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I don't delete comments unless they're spam. I have heard stories from other authors that trolls will check to see if their comments remain and if they were deleted, they will one bomb all your stories and leave multiple nasty comments.

Well, I won't say it hasn't happened, but IMHO, if they're leaving really nasty comments, they've already one-bombed you. That generally gets cleared away in the sweeps anyway. It's your call, but I see no real reason to leave übernasty comments up, any more than I see reason to leave four-letter graffiti up on my fence. (Come to think of it, I suspect the same psychological motivation applies in each case.)

 

[WoodmanStark]

Well, I won't say it hasn't happened, but IMHO, if they're leaving really nasty comments, they've already one-bombed you. That generally gets cleared away in the sweeps anyway. It's your call, but I see no real reason to leave übernasty comments up, any more than I see reason to leave four-letter graffiti up on my fence. (Come to think of it, I suspect the same psychological motivation applies in each case.)

I get sort of a weird pleasure out of my very first comment being an anonymous "Complete and utter shit!". Especially since all other comments have been at least vaguely positive. I'm keeping it.