Question about responding to comments

[RachelPost]

I see sometimes authors respond in the comment section to specific comments. I know they are visible to everyone but does the original commenter see them? If not, why do it? I have responded in conversation to those who leave a name. Should I do it in the comments as well?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Currently, the original commenter only sees them if they go back to look at the comments section. I think there might be plans to institute notification for replies at some point in the future.

If they leave a name, using the feedback portal is a more reliable way to make sure they see your reply. It depends in part on whether your reply is intended only for them, or to be seen by other readers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I see sometimes authors respond in the comment section to specific comments. I know they are visible to everyone but does the original commenter see them? If not, why do it? I have responded in conversation to those who leave a name. Should I do it in the comments as well?

There's no way of knowing if a commenter comes back to see a comment response - the system only notifies the story author that there is a comment.

If there's a direct question, it's likely that they will return to a story's comments to see if you provide one. I'll always respond to a direct question, and occasionally respond to a comment that doesn't ask a question but is worth responding to.

 

[gordo12]

I see sometimes authors respond in the comment section to specific comments. I know they are visible to everyone but does the original commenter see them? If not, why do it? I have responded in conversation to those who leave a name. Should I do it in the comments as well?

It really doesn't matter. Often other readers have the same thought or question so you're answering them too. I've tried writing registered members to respond but seldom ever hear back. I suspect a lot of them are throwaway email addresses and they never see the response. Still, it tells the readers that do see it that you are responsive.

 

[Trionyx]

I’ve been burned using the feedback (contact button by the writer’s name) portal. I recently had quite a few nice comments so I wrote a generic two-line thank you note and sent it to many of the commenters. Suddenly I couldn’t do it anymore and a note popped up every time I tried (even on a test run to myself) saying “sorry, cannot send mail to xyz”. I believe I triggered a numerical limit that made the site’s computer think I was spamming or doing commercial activities. I have tried to contact Laurel using the conversations function with no success. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Grendelpuppy]

Don't reply to the Burn The Bitch trolls that infest LOVING WIVES.

They really need their own section:

HATEFUL HUSBSNDS.

 

[Comshaw]

It really doesn't matter. Often other readers have the same thought or question so you're answering them too. I've tried writing registered members to respond but seldom ever hear back. I suspect a lot of them are throwaway email addresses and they never see the response. Still, it tells the readers that do see it that you are responsive.

Exactly. I've only posted a comment to a comment two or three times. Each time it was to clarify a situation in my story that had been questioned so that future readers would be aware. The one that comes to mind is a comment I received about the mistakes I had made about backpacking/hiking the back country. Since I have hiked and backpacked the wilderness here for 35-40 years, I explained that everything I had said in the story about that particular thing was drawn from my experience and were things I had actually done. Beyond that I can't see any reason to address a comment.


Comshaw

 

[Jay142]

If someone contacts me through the message portal, I will respond. I don't respond to the comments at the end of the story. It seems pointless not knowing if they will see them. I don't want to get into a back and forth either.

 

[Djmac1031]

I've replied to comments several times; usually to answer a question or clear something.

I also had one story in particular where, despite editing the thing several times, I mistyped a characters name with a different characters in the middle of a conversation, ( I think auto fill screwed me) causing some confusion as to who was speaking to who.

A reader caught it, and since going back to edit is impossible here, I responded with acknowledgment of the error and clarification on who it was supposed to be for future readers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

A reader caught it, and since going back to edit is impossible here, I responded with acknowledgment of the error and clarification on who it was supposed to be for future readers.

Not true. If you have a diabolical goof like that, resubmit a corrected text, same title plus the word EDIT, add a Note to the Editor, and Laurel will replace the old text with your new version.

Takes about a week or so (longer than new stories), and all scores and comments are preserved.

 

[Djmac1031]

Not true. If you have a diabolical goof like that, resubmit a corrected text, same title plus the word EDIT, add a Note to the Editor, and Laurel will replace the old text with your new version.

Takes about a week or so (longer than new stories), and all scores and comments are preserved.

I do remember reading that now. Thanks for the refresher. Perhaps I'll go back and edit that when I get a chance.

 

[peterheer51]

I just delete the negative comments.

 

[dmallord]

I’ve been burned using the feedback (contact button by the writer’s name) portal. I recently had quite a few nice comments so I wrote a generic two-line thank you note and sent it to many of the commenters. Suddenly I couldn’t do it anymore and a note popped up every time I tried (even on a test run to myself) saying “sorry, cannot send mail to xyz”. I believe I triggered a numerical limit that made the site’s computer think I was spamming or doing commercial activities. I have tried to contact Laurel using the conversations function with no success. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I make a point to respond to the users in comments of my stories and on notifications of followers who have bookmarked a story. I've done dozens of those recently and have not had a problem, well, just once. I tried to send a message but received a notice that the person did not accept messages in the personal settings from 'the autobot.' I sent two PMs just an hour ago. No strange responses from the Lit server. Perhaps, it is something in those new changes.

As Comshaw mentioned, I have sent many PMs but have only received two replies in all of those sent!

 

[dmallord]

I do remember reading that now. Thanks for the refresher. Perhaps I'll go back and edit that when I get a chance.

I 'plead guilty your honor!' Having made a 'mistake' or two like that. I cleared my conscious by following Electriblue66's EDIT submission process and had my stories corrected in about a week. I feel 'cleansed' now that little bit of 'sloppiness in my writing' has been repaired for new readers! Also followed some advice from one commenter that I needed help and found a nice, thoughtful editor and now realize 'I really needed some help!' with that!

 

[dmallord]

I see sometimes authors respond in the comment section to specific comments. I know they are visible to everyone but does the original commenter see them? If not, why do it? I have responded in conversation to those who leave a name. Should I do it in the comments as well?

As other have noted, making a comment for clarification purposes will help others who have similar questions; although they will not see your comment unless they return to your story as a follow up. Few would do that, I suspect.

Just a note on comments. Your statistical data keeps track of the number of comments to your stories. I look at the number as a sign of how interested the readers are in the story; similar to the number of votes. If you treat the comments portion with your personal replies to each one, those are part of that tracking as well of the comments. [Makes the comments look inflated the way I look at it, since they include your own remarks.] Nothing wrong with doing that by the way! Should the remarks be negative...best to ignore them rather than fall into a 'troll trap' ... they just look for someone to take the bait and off they go on tearing down your self-esteem. Sadly they exist here...and you will find one or two if you read some of these other threads.

For my $.02, I use the PM feature for the most part. Although the responses to those are about as frequent as trips to the nearest star system!

 

[Athalia]

Currently, the original commenter only sees them if they go back to look at the comments section. I think there might be plans to institute notification for replies at some point in the future.

I'll do an experiment to test this. I can comment on one of Jehoram's stories and send him a PM to see if he received the notification.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I'll do an experiment to test this. I can comment on one of Jehoram's stories and send him a PM to see if he received the notification.

The author of the story does get notified of comments - question would be if you commented on one of Jehoram's, and he posted a reply to that, whether you then get a notification. Currently I don't think you would.

 

[BiscuitHammer]

If I want to respond to a comment, I PM the person, rather than on my wall. Keeps it from getting messy. That, and I've turned off Anonymous comments, so that the incels and trolls don't have a platform. 99% of the time, my responses are simply thank you's for kindly comments or genuine constructive criticisms. Occasionally, a person asks if I'm ever getting around to continuing a series, and I'll PM them about that.

I tend to stay off me wall...

 

[GinnyPPC]

I’ve been burned using the feedback (contact button by the writer’s name) portal. I recently had quite a few nice comments so I wrote a generic two-line thank you note and sent it to many of the commenters. Suddenly I couldn’t do it anymore and a note popped up every time I tried (even on a test run to myself) saying “sorry, cannot send mail to xyz”. I believe I triggered a numerical limit that made the site’s computer think I was spamming or doing commercial activities. I have tried to contact Laurel using the conversations function with no success. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I was doing the same thing Trionyx when I first started posting. Then I got the same message you did. I kept trying for quite some time but was never able to send any communication out. Then, after replacing my old laptop a few months ago, I was able to start sending feedback again. Since then, I've only sent a couple pieces of feedback out. Hopefully I can stay off Laurel's naughty list. Even though I was only thanking people for reading my work.

 

[jehoram]

The author of the story does get notified of comments - question would be if you commented on one of Jehoram's, and he posted a reply to that, whether you then get a notification. Currently I don't think you would.

I just posted a comment on the comment. We'll see if Athalia gets a notification. But we'll have to wait a while, since she will be AFK.

 

[Lovecraft_Lore]

I prefer to respond back to their comment on my story in a comment on one of their stories.

 

[autoplot]

I like to leave a nice thank-you to the anonymous accounts that leave nasty comments, for spending their one wild and precious life slagging off a story I wrote for free.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I don't waste time replying to comments.