What makes you leave public comments?

[Bedtime Storyteller]

I was looking back through my stories, and I've started to wonder why some stories generate public comments while others don't. It doesn't seem to matter in terms of votes or reads, and emailed feedback is the same either way.

So I ask you, dear readers, what compels you to leave a public comment about a story? What could prevent you from leaving one? (Aside from the obvious - the author hasn't enabled public commenting.)

 

[Ahh_lex_A]

Well....

I haven't left any public comments, although i've read some of them, i'm actually planning to leave some from other stories, may it be welcomed or not.
I take leaving comments sort of some compliment, be it negative or what.
It does matter to some that their stories where interesting enough to catch the attention of readers/commentators. =) Its motivating actually.

 

[J.Q. Hack]

Public Comments?

I like to leave public comments for several reasons. Primarily I see it as a way to support fellow Literotica authors so they know that their hard work is appreciated. I know what it's like to work on a story only for it to get one comment. I also tend to comment on the stories that had some impact on me whether it concerns the writing, descriptions, plot or characters ... I guess that goes along with the first reason. Finally, and this is a little selfish, I hope that when I comment the writers I responded to if they see a new story of mine will stop by and read it and leave a comment or some feedback. After all how are we supposed to get any better as writers if the only thing we have to judge our successes by is a number that appears after the story title.

J.Q.

 

[cloudy]

I like to leave public comments for several reasons. Primarily I see it as a way to support fellow Literotica authors so they know that their hard work is appreciated. I know what it's like to work on a story only for it to get one comment. I also tend to comment on the stories that had some impact on me whether it concerns the writing, descriptions, plot or characters ... I guess that goes along with the first reason. Finally, and this is a little selfish, I hope that when I comment the writers I responded to if they see a new story of mine will stop by and read it and leave a comment or some feedback. After all how are we supposed to get any better as writers if the only thing we have to judge our successes by is a number that appears after the story title.

J.Q.

Exactly.

I think it sort of one-sided for authors to expect feedback if they never offer it, but that's JMHO.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

If I leave a comment, it'll be public. I see no reason to hide because it's just my honest opinion of the story. If I ever run across a horribly written piece of trash, at the worse it'll get a vote rating of '2' and a tactful explanation why I felt that way. So far, the only stories I've commented on were ones which I thought deserved a '5' rating.

Stories that get comments from me stand out as being both well written and attention grabbing. The worse a story is, in either content or grammar, the less likely I am to leave feedback. I realize there are many people who want feedback, good or bad, but there are also authors out there that simply want their ego stroked. I have seen people get nasty over honest criticism, and for the most part, it's just not worth it to me to get chewed out for trying to help someone. I suppose if I read a story that had a few mistakes, and the writer specifically asked for feedback of any kind, I might point out what I thought was wrong if I liked it.

 

[Ken Nitsua]

Agreed...

So far, the only stories I've commented on were ones which I thought deserved a '5' rating.

Stories that get comments from me stand out as being both well written and attention grabbing. The worse a story is, in either content or grammar, the less likely I am to leave feedback. I realize there are many people who want feedback, good or bad, but there are also authors out there that simply want their ego stroked. I have seen people get nasty over honest criticism, and for the most part, it's just not worth it to me to get chewed out for trying to help someone.

I leave public comments quite frequently, but like the above comment they are almost always for stories I really liked, or stories that I liked but that I have a specific suggestion about. There's too much nastiness being flung around for me to want to add to it. I'm ashamed to say I've gotten into flame wars in the past elsewhere. I'm really trying to break that undesirable habit .

Best, Ken

 

[irxgbr]

Story Feedback

I tend to give "feedback" only when I really enjoy the read and usualy send it direct rather than in the public portal.

I think I am probably quilty of not giving praise often enough because I know how much I appreciate a bit of praise.

I suspose that I, like the vast majority of readers, just take this free and enjoyable resourse for granted but I do try to give praise when I like a story. I do not send comment on a poorly written/edited story, the author is presumably happy with their work so why knock it - it's free.

I also come across some activity in a story that I do not like, but to each his own, I have not got to read it.

If I am the same as the majority of readers the stats for my last three chapter submission must mean that only a very small percentage of readers liked it, although all three have the red "H"

Total Reads: 62,000 .. total votes 300 .. total comment (public) 26, plus a slightly higher number direct to me.

That is only 1 in 200 that vote and about 1 in 1000 that comment, not a lot but I appreciate the ones that bother

 

[Darkniciad]

I tend to vote only when I really like the story, so the lowest vote I ever submit is a 4. I don't see any need to drive down a story I'm not fond of, pushing it "out of sight" for people who just might enjoy it.

As to comments, most of the time I will leave a public comment. I prefer public comments, so it would be rather selfish not to leave them myself. The only time I vote and do not comment is when I look up half-asleep and realize I should already be in bed. I always go back and send some feedback anyway, because everything I vote on, I offer feedback on.

Sometimes I will send private feedback if I have any constructive criticism to offer, and such has been requested by the author. I don't feel the need to point out story flow/grammar issues in public except when requested here on the forum.

Most people who will read this thread and respond are probably the type who like public feedback and do so themselves, so the responses are likely to be a bit skewed that direction.

 

[Winemaster]

the same way

I don't like to leave any bad votes. I comment on the story when I find something that has intrigues me. something that helps me sense how the characters feel. I usually leave comments when it "hits me" that it was a good story.

 

[Harrowborg]

Some stories I have written without putting to much thought into it, well, the wrong type of thought maybe lol and don't really expect comments on these stories, although it is kinda funny when I do get feedback.

Some stories I have written I have put a lot of thought into, one story in particular being a semi-biographal account of my first time with a fella so when I recieve feedback on this it means a lot to me.

In terms of leaving feedback, I follow the same chain of thought. If it seems that the story is just another by the number sex story, I don't feel inclined to leave comments or feedback because it just seems the author wrote it with a hard on, not in a mind for praise. However if it comes across they have put a lot of thought or effort in, I will usually leave comments for the author.

Thats my 2 cents.

 

[YANKEE DAN]

When the story really stands out to me as something I liked alot, or when it's so awful I must insult it.

 

[MzDeviancy]

I tend to leave them when they:
-are so good they absolutely must have a comment,
-when they're not so great but it's clear the author has potential (not that I'm some sort of literary guru, but I can point out the need for a more thorough spellcheck),
-when something in the story really pisses me off (ie. racism that doesn't aid in character development at all and seems to jump out and proclaim that it's just a cowardly author expressing an opinion he'd be too chickenshit to say in real life),
or finally,
-when someone else makes a totally unjustified comment (like when people had a shitfit about McKenna using the clan name Tavish in a nonconsent story, claiming it insulted them - what a load of argumentative bull)

 

[The Mystery Valiant]

Feedback the only source

I like to leave public comments because I truly believe it is an interaction between any and all writer's and depending on its reception can be a useful critique of needed lessons and possible lights of insight that other's have that your own personal experiences may never encounter. All it is, remains that we are sharing ourselves and our experience. What we have to help increase the creation of wonderous marvels, whether our own, or someone elses who we have conversed with. It all makes the universe chuckle. And I don't know about you, but I like it when the universe chuckles.

 

[CynMarie]

The last time I was on here, they didn't have public comments. I just enabled them, but my stuff is pretty old so don't get a lot of traffic. I submitted 2 new stories on... I think Wednesday, but they are not approved yet.

I have been reading a few stories, and added one to my "favorite". THat feature wasn't available before either, lol. I like it. I left comments on a couple I think. Mostly because I really specifically liked it a lot or something about it was more than the usual. A lot of stories on here are good, just, well, the usual. Know what I mean? I always rate a story though.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I was looking back through my stories, and I've started to wonder why some stories generate public comments while others don't. It doesn't seem to matter in terms of votes or reads, and emailed feedback is the same either way.

So I ask you, dear readers, what compels you to leave a public comment about a story? What could prevent you from leaving one? (Aside from the obvious - the author hasn't enabled public commenting.)

I wonder the same thing too, at times. For me, it is if it provokes or stimulates such a strong reaction that I don't mind people seeing my opinion. Usually, however, I only leave good PCs. Bad feedback I save for private e-mail.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I have noticed that if I get feedback comments, it tends to happen with the first chapter in a series and falls off to nothing or very low with successive chapters. I'm guessing if a person provides feedback comments for a story and the series continues they may decide they've already commented. Although with my most recent RIPPLES ON A POND series I noticed (in retrospect) one reader submitted comments for all the chapters so far AND sent me a feedback letter as well (the feedback letter clued me in). And I send my thanks to that person, as I have also via e-mail.

As for solo stories, it's hit and miss. I've had up to 10 for some and 0 for others. I guess it's how the story strikes them. ???? There doesn't seem to be any relationship between point scoring and feedback, by and by, as far as I can tell.

 

[S-Des]

How to get comments

I was just trying to figure this out with my new story. It's had 5500 reads, but 250 votes and 27 comments. By contrast, my first story had 45,000 reads, 125 votes and 18 comments. I think the most important thing is that the new one is much better, so people want to say something. My second one was the big comment winner with 40 or more per chapter. It's funny, but they were equally divided between people who wanted to tell me they hated me and people who said I was wonderful. I thought I was going nuts watching them swing wildly from day to day.

I think it's partially the quality of he story, and partially the level of controversy you generate. My 2nd one dealt with a husband forgiving his wife for cheating (which always goes over well) and also had a painful scene with him throwing her out in front of his daughter (she was the step-mom). I got an unbelievable amount of hate for both things (both in comments and by email).

I know that I submit comments on stories that move me. Because I don't like to use the Anonymous dodge, I will usually skip commenting on stories I hate (for the most part) because none of us needs the headache of a pissed off author/stalker. That's probably bad because some of the most helpful comments I've received were from people beating the crap out of me. Don't worry, other people don't have the same reluctance.

Anyway, if you really want comments, write stuff that will make people have an emotional response (good or bad). If you are just writing a stroke story, you won't hear back as much. Also, if you write really long stories, a lot of people will give up before the end.

....S-Des

 

[Worker11811]

If I start to read read a story and find I don't really care for it for some reason I don't do anything at all. I just move on to the next.

If I read a story all the way through I usually vote on it. Being interested enough to read it all the way through to the last page gets a "3".

If I read a story to the end and I like it I'll vote a "4".

If I read a story and it really makes my boat float I give it a "5" and a comment. Sometimes it's just a simple "I like..." kind of comment. Sometimes it's a detailed comment. It depends on my mood and how high the story makes my boat float. (Stories about fur really float my boat!)

If I see a link to a story from somebody who asks for comment I'll check out the link. If I like the story at all I'll vote a "4" and give comment. If I didn't like the story I'll just pass it over.

If I see a bunch of public comments and I agree with what a lot of them say I will be more likely to comment, myself. Comments beget more comments.

 

[Darkest Lord]

Giving feedback

As I have read through the various stories on Literotica, I find that I enjoy giving feedback to an author whose story I have enjoyed reading. I do so, because it makes me feel good to let the author know that I enjoyed it. However, one of the things that I do not do, is to be negative or hateful in any way shape or form. I always prefer to not comment on a story that I did not like, rather than do like some have done and be needlessly cruel or hurtful.

For example, I know that Jessy19 will not accept feedback from readers due to the ignorance and stupidity of some out there who seemingly get off on writing vicious and cruel remarks to her stories. I do not know why people have done this, since I have found that her stories are perhaps among the best that I have read. She is without a doubt a very, very talented writer.

Let's be realistic, if you do not have something nice or positive to say, then say nothing. It takes a lot of guts to put ones work out for others to see and critique, but one does not need to be a fucking horses ass to an author just because they may not have liked their work.

I really enjoy giving positive feedback to an author. If I find something that needs to be corrected in a story, I will tell them privately and always offer encouragement.

It always makes me feel like I am a better person by being kind and courteous in my comments. If I have made someone elses day by being saying a kind word, then I feel as though I have done something good in my life.

That is just my opinion, I could very well be wrong.

 

[BlackSnake]

I get a great deal of positive feedback in spite of the 1's I get for various other reasons.

I don't do negative feedback. Ever. "This sucks" is not feedback. Its usually the authors voice that compells me, and the hard-on factor, of course. That's right, cause a hard-on and get good feedback.

 

[Darkest Lord]

I don't do negative feedback. Ever. "This sucks" is not feedback. Its usually the authors voice that compells me, and the hard-on factor, of course. That's right, cause a hard-on and get good feedback

That is the way it should be.

 

[M-Y-Erotica]

Yeah, me too

I tend to leave them when they:
-are so good they absolutely must have a comment,
-when they're not so great but it's clear the author has potential (not that I'm some sort of literary guru, but I can point out the need for a more thorough spellcheck),

These are the main two reasons I comment as well. I comment if I really, really like it. I also find myself commenting if I really like the story and then suddenly feel it falls down somewhere. For instance, I was reading a story recently that had elements of exhibitionism and a woman feeling super sexy about herself. I was really enjoying it, thinking it was a lot of fun. Then there was this turn from female empowerment almost to essentially non-consent stuff, which I personally don't like. I just felt compelled to write the author saying how much I enjoyed the story, but that I thought it turned at the end in a way that jarred with what happened before.

I did my best to explain that this was mostly just my own likes and dislikes, since it's not his fault that NonConsent turns me off as it turns others on, but I did try to offer some constructive criticism. If I really feel like the story could have been great, but didn't quite make it, I also offer to be a volunteer editor for them if they are interested, though I haven't had any time lately for that. I never, ever send anything critical anonymously, because if I don't have enough courage to put even a pseudonym behind my words, then I probably shouldn't be saying them.

Basically, I feel compelled to write whenever I like something, or I like something and it falls down for me. Usually now however, if I have anything like criticism, even if sent with the best intentions, I keep it private and don't make it a public comment.

Update: I should say that my "criticism" is always intended to be something that can be fixed or changed. It has to be some particular thing that I think didn't work so that they can learn and improve. I would never send something like "your story sucked." That's just mean and has no point. It's exactly because I LIKED it that I am writing with my annoying comments. I want them to be better because I want to read more of their writing. But I confess that I very rarely hear back from these sorts of comments, and while I occasionally still fall, usually I just keep my mouth shut now.

 

[CynMarie]

I was just trying to figure this out with my new story. It's had 5500 reads, but 250 votes and 27 comments. By contrast, my first story had 45,000 reads, 125 votes and 18 comments.
....S-Des

How do you even get that much feedback? I've had 5291 reads, 16 votes and 1 comment on one, and 2593 reads, 8 votes, and 1 comment on the other. Those are my new submissions.

My old ones were submitted before feeback, and have 14148 reads with 56 votes and 13010 reads with 25 votes respectively.

 

[Darkniciad]

How do you even get that much feedback? I've had 5291 reads, 16 votes and 1 comment on one, and 2593 reads, 8 votes, and 1 comment on the other. Those are my new submissions.

My old ones were submitted before feeback, and have 14148 reads with 56 votes and 13010 reads with 25 votes respectively.

Some cats generate a lot more responses than others. For instance, brave the dangeorus waters of Loving Wives. You'll probably get plenty of comments. Look at the public feedback portal some time and you'll see that. You'll also see that a large majority of the comments trend to the dark side. Incest also generates a lot of reads and a lot of votes.

Not to take anything away from the author, though. The story could just be damn good, that'll generate the votes and reads too regardless of cat.

Luck the day your story goes live can also help. If your story comes up in the New stories on the right day, it will get more readers and more votes. That in turn will generate more reads and more votes, especially if the story is getting high marks and nice comments.

 

[CynMarie]

You'll also see that a large majority of the comments trend to the dark side.

One of my stories (that got a lovely H- woo!), is in fetish. I got one comment on that. One of my older stories is in non-human (one of my fav. categories), but not very many votes. I'm not necessarily concerned with not having comments, but it seems odd to me to have so many reads without votes at all. It doesn't take time, energy, or posting your name to vote.