Don’t Like, Don’t Read

Fic Commenters: If you ever want to make a comment going on depth about a part of a fic that stood out to you, but think “does the author really want to read all this?” The answer is YES! YES WE DO WANT TO READ ALL THAT!!!!

Please, for the love of god, please don’t be this person. No matter how long it’s been since an update, no matter how many unfinished stories are sitting on their account, no matter what - do not be this person.

Not only is it insanely rude, but you also do more damage than you think be being such a self-entitled ass about something someone created for free and for fun. “This author” can see what you say.

I also got a glowing compliment on a fic and went into a flurry of writing, suddenly inspired, then by happenstance got a nasty, impatient comment on that same fic a few days and moved onto writing a different fic that didn’t have that associated annoyance.

Like. I am writing for fun. For me. I reread and enjoy my fics all the time because they’re exactly the story I want to read. I get the same enjoyment out of a fic wither or not anyone else ever sees it or knows it exists.

I’m sharing it for fun too.

I wish these rude ass readers would understand that this behaviour actually makes me take *longer* to post the next chapter because they suck all the fun out of it.

Transcript:

Reply #1

Hey, this is a really nice free story and all, but maybe you could write faster to keep with my personal schedule. I sure wouldn't want to have to wait any longer than 2 or three days for an update. so if you could do that, i'd really appreciate it. I know i could have filtered out WIPs, but then i thought, why not just be an asshole? That's way more fun. Ayway, fun story!

Reply #2

Also, you know what else I've been thinking. I'm not sure i like this setting. Do you think you could just change this whole thing to be more of a modern coffee shop AU? That would be great. Thanks, Nellie

Reply #3

Got a mean fic comment? Submit a post or send a message with the comment so we can shame it publicly.

Bad Comment Shaming is meant to be an outlet for those negative feelings that mean comments elicit. Let us encourage you, share the pain, and change collective commenting behavior.

A few rules:

1. Send (or link to) a screenshot. If you haven’t already, BCS will edit out the commenter’s name or any identifying info.

2. Don’t include anything that could identify the commenter. As much as we want to shame the comment, we don’t want to bring the full force of the internet down on the person making the comment. The punishment should fit the crime, and as crappy as leaving mean comments is, it doesn’t warrant the scorched earth approach.

Problem: I can’t leave kudos again.

Beginner: This is a second/third/fourth Kudos

Advanced: This is my second/third/fortieth time reading this, I still love it so much. Here are a few new things I noticed. I like the way you personally do x, y, z compared to other authors I’ve read (in this ship/genre/fandom).

Problem: I don’t know what to say :(

Beginner: Just list what you did to read this fic. “I stayed up late reading this”, “I read this on a crowded train”, “this kept me company while sick”. 

Advanced: X,Y,Z parts made me get butterflies, and I had a physical reaction to this part of the story, I squealed outloud when characters did x,y,z. I blushed at this part. I laughed out loud here. Whatever. 

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

Beginner: Short answer: you won’t EVER annoy the author (unless you’re needlessly mean) But to start, be generic, you don’t have to spill your soul in the comments section. “I liked this” “I enjoyed reading this” “nice fic”.

Advanced: This really meant a lot to me that you wrote this. This is something I feel like I’ve always wanted to read. This fic hit me in all the right places. Etc. 

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

It’s ok if your comment repeats something someone else says. You don’t need to be fresh or bring anything new to comments, we’re always just grateful to get them and love your genuine enthusiasm.

It’s ok if your comment is just ‘extra kudos’. We know you love us and want to give us extra love but might not feel up to commenting now.

It’s ok if your comment is in another language. We all have Google translate to get the gist. If you’re tired or overwhelmed or don’t feel confident in English we understand.

It’s ok if your comment is a keysmash or reaction gif. We’ll laugh and know you mean it as a compliment.

It’s ok if you promise a longer comment later and then never do. We all live busy lives and understand, no need to duck the next time we make metaphorical eye contact.

It’s ok if you write us the longest comment ever. We don’t think it’s a bother, it’s actually really, really amazing.

It’s ok if you’re too anxious to comment at all. Being social is hard and some of us feel just as anxious about being social on the internet as we do irl.

Whatever your commenting habits are just know that we love you and think you’re awesome for taking the time to read our fics.  Yes, we do love getting them, but not at the sake of causing you stress.

(God this answer is MONTHS late, i'm so sorry :( )

Yeah, with you on the first part. Even if some may not be aware of common reviewing etiquette, it comes off as crazy entitled to "demand" updates if you've never had any interaction with the writer. I'd try to ignore that.

In regards to the "locked" website feature... this doesn't sound like a good idea to me (even disregarding how hard it'd be to program on the technical level). Would it really bring readers to engage with the fanfic on a different level? Or would they be deterred by a social norm that makes them feel pressured? I genuinely doubt it'd have many benefits.

Listen, I'm a fic writer. I get it. Watching your hit count climb with no real engagement sucks.

But also, I'm a fic reader. I'm a fic reader who reviews . And that takes significant effort that I don't have the energy for all the time.

Writing fic is a lot of effort and labor, and I get that writers want to see some return on their efforts, something that makes it all worth it. But writing reviews also takes substantial effort, depending on the length and quality of the review in question. Creating barriers to reading fic based on review quality is just going to lead to fewer people reading fanfic. I know because when I read fic, a lot of the time I ask myself: "do I have the energy to review right now?". If the answer is no, I don't read.

(My go-to author's note nowadays is "I appreciate all comments, nevermind how short" and I hope it removes some of that pressure from my readers, at least.)

Urgh yes you're right that would suck so much, and it'd be a pretty unavoidable development.

Thanks for sharing your tips, anon!

The types of comments you get on fanfiction

Got a mean fic comment? Submit a post or send a message with the comment so we can shame it publicly.

Bad Comment Shaming is meant to be an outlet for those negative feelings that mean comments elicit. Let us encourage you, share the pain, and change collective commenting behavior.

A few rules:

1. Send (or link to) a screenshot. If you haven’t already, BCS will edit out the commenter’s name or any identifying info.

2. Don’t include anything that could identify the commenter. As much as we want to shame the comment, we don’t want to bring the full force of the internet down on the person making the comment. The punishment should fit the crime, and as crappy as leaving mean comments is, it doesn’t warrant the scorched earth approach.

When people tell writers to “write for yourself” it’s basically just shorthand. What they mean when they say that is some combination of the following:

don’t change your story to suit other people

be okay with not getting any feedback on your work

let yourself be a bad writer - you’ll learn from it (and maybe even enjoy it)

write that self-indulgent fic that only you want to read - you want to read it

don’t let comments or lack thereof affect your perception of your writing ability

So I strive to write and post for myself, for the way it makes me feel to put my words out there, and for the good interactions it might bring, but that I am not owed.

an incomplete list based on observations via this blog

enjoyed the fic but didn’t have anything to say

worried that a general “I love this!” wasn’t a good enough comment

not a native speaker of the author’s language

so overcome by emotions after reading that words were impossible

reading on a device where commenting is difficult

intended to come back later and didn’t

intends to come back later and hasn’t yet

doesn’t have an AO3 account (+ doesn’t know about the guest option or isn’t comfortable using it)

was going to say something but another reader already commented it

not enough mental/emotional energy to try to craft a ‘good enough’ comment

worry about bothering the author

shy / social anxiety

reading fic before bed and fall asleep

reading fic while sick and in a haze

interrupted while reading the fic and thought they finished it/commented but whoops!