Commenting fanfiction is the easiest thing in the world once you start doing it. 

I leave a comment on every single fic I read. Sometimes when I read published books I go and leave a comment somewhere the author can find it. Granted, I literally majored in ‘leaving comments on fics’ (English Education), but once you start doing it it just becomes second nature. Now you’re gonna go to the Ozymandias school of leaving comments: 

Problem: I can’t leave kudos again.

Problem: I don’t know what to say :(

Problem: I’m embarrassed to leave a comment (what if I annoy the author?)

Problem: I don’t know how to express myself/my experience 

This? This is an amazing post. This is the Captain Awkward of commenting posts—it addresses all your fears directly and gives you actionable scripts for each one.

doing this will make authors / writers love you forever.

Even a “thank you for sharing!” is a great comment. You could hate everything about the fic and have a red pen ready if they ever wanted a beta but can also be 100% genuine in being grateful that someone put themselves out there and shared a story for other people to read. 

Leaving heart emojis is also a valid beginner comment!!

We need to talk about comments, y’all. 

Today I got this comment on a fic I wrote and posted last year. 

It was a fic that a lot of readers dislike. This is not nearly the worst thing said in the comment section of this fic. What really stands out about this one is it’s the fourth comment left over several months on the same fic by the same reader. It was left in response to my own comment when the reader asked me to clarify and edit/expound on a few (major) plot points within the story: 

I want to be SUPER FUCKING CLEAR here about the sequence of events: 

I wrote a fic that’s 35k+. I spent my free time writing a story I like and shared it with fandom because I’m nice like that. And a reader requested I change it. Then demanded I change it. Then insulted me when I said no. 

That’s like getting pissy when someone won’t take back and buy you a different gift. That’s what fic writers are. That’s what we do. Artists and authors are giving gifts to the fandom.  

Unless you’re writing for a commission–to date something I’ve never done–you aren’t hired for this. Unless it’s a fill for a charity auction–this was not–or a reverse bang–this was not–no one else gets a say in the story process. 

Lemme repeat that: 

No one else gets a say in the story process. 

You don’t like a fic, don’t fucking read it. I don’t care if you don’t read my stories. I write them for me and hope that other folk like them but at the end of the day, I’m gonna write them either way. 

So why is this kind of shitty comment so fucking annoying, arei? 

I am so fucking glad you asked!

Because if asshat reader is saying that to one fic writer–they’re saying it to others. And me? I’ve got a thick skin. I don’t care what people say about my stories or my characterization or if they want me to explain XYZ and change a huge plot point. 

But a baby fic writer who just published their first piece and gets this commentary? That person cares. 

The seasoned fic writer who is mentally exhausted and running on comments/kudos and coffee and hoping for a pick me up? That person cares. 

The fic author who is convinced no one reads (Because let’s be honest, comments are hard to garner these days), who is thrilled because hey COMMENT? That person cares. 

And maybe this kind of asshole comment is why they quit. 

This is the kind of shit that makes fandom creators stop creating. It’s entitled and it’s rude and it needs to fucking stop. 

We write for ourselves and we’re happy to share, but check your entitlement, dear readers, because that’s not cool at all. You are owed exactly nothing in fandom. Everything you find from artists and authors? Is a gift. Treat it like one. 

i think someone didn’t like my fic!

for those of you counting, yes, that is TEN comments from one person, seven of which are identical, one of which tells me to die, and one of which is….emojis.

if anyone ever wants to know why i think top/bottom discourse is absolutely regressive and toxic, you can go ahead and refer back to this post.

What the fuck is with this twat weasel? They need to go crawl back in their hole, if they can fit up there with their head, that is.

Idk how many times we have to tell y'all, but:

If you don't like it, don't read!

There's a back button for a reason.

As you can see, Harry here is quite perturbed..

I'm sorry @bonesliketambourines that you got these awful messages!٩(๑•◡-๑)۶ⒽⓤⒼ❤

Also just FYI the fic in question, written for Kinktober 2020 is absolutely fantastic and deserves all the love. And even if you aren't into that kink, it's definitely still worth a look-see because you might change your mind! (⁎⁍̴ڡ⁍̴⁎)

This is distressing to read and I want to reiterate that the writer who responded in that way was being incredibly rude.  I don’t know if they meant it that way or somehow did not realize how entitled and ungrateful it came across, but either way.  

From the notes this has gathered, I think it’s fairly clear that for writers, we’re really pleased to have any interaction with readers, from kudos to the longest comments and anything in between (barring abuse, which I hope doesn’t have to be said).

It would disingenuous for me to claim I don’t miss regular commenters when I don’t see them on a chapter BUT, that being said, it is entirely their prerogative whether or not to engage and they could be silent for any number of reasons.  When this happens, I put on my reader hat and just remember all those times I loved a chapter or fic but didn’t comment because I was tired that day, or didn’t know what to say, or was feeling particularly awkward.  I always try to separate between what I, as an author, would love to get (valid!) vs what I have a right to expect from other people (other than a certain amount of respect amounting to the usual YKINMKATO-related stuff, I don’t believe we have the right to expect anything).

And even if it’s because they didn’t love this chapter, that is entirely valid!!!  

So, to any readers of mine who may stumble across this, please know that I want you to enjoy your experience with my fic in whatever way is most comfortable and enjoyable for you.  On my end, I would love to hear from you and have your thoughts on my fics, but do not feel obliged if you don’t feel like it for whatever reason.

And, to the point of this ask, do not feel obliged to consistently interact in a particular way (leaving comments on every fic/chapter, only leaving long thoughtful comments, etc.).  Your past comments are not Supreme Court precedents – they are not binding!  

Commenting fanfiction is the easiest thing in the world once you start doing it. 

I leave a comment on every single fic I read. Sometimes when I read published books I go and leave a comment somewhere the author can find it. Granted, I literally majored in ‘leaving comments on fics’ (English Education), but once you start doing it it just becomes second nature. Now you’re gonna go to the Ozymandias school of leaving comments: 

Problem: I can’t leave kudos again.

Problem: I don’t know what to say :(

Problem: I’m embarrassed to leave a comment (what if I annoy the author?)

Problem: I don’t know how to express myself/my experience 

This? This is an amazing post. This is the Captain Awkward of commenting posts—it addresses all your fears directly and gives you actionable scripts for each one.