Hi! Sorry to bother but, lately, I've been feeling like sht bc, even tho my fics get a ton of hits and fair amount of kudos, they never get more than 5 comments. And that's when they're multichapter-ed. When they do get comments, it's always something like "update", "write more" or "why are you taking so long to continue this?" and it's making me frustrated. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to comment on my fics but I'd appreciate some more feedback. Otherwise it's like talking to a wall.
Never a bother! Apologies if this reply is late.
I'm sorry you're not getting more positive comments. It is really frustrating to work hard on something, only to feel like people don't appreciate it. And comments bothering you to update can be especially stressful.
First, a reminder that comments, kudos, etc aren't really a reflection of how good your writing is. Sometimes less well-written things get a lot of engagement, sometimes really great things don't get much at all. It depends on a lot of factors, and one of them is honestly luck. I'm sure you already know this, but it bears repeating.
Second, I know it feels hard to do when you're already not getting many comments, but remember you can always delete comments that are rude or stress-inducing. It doesn't necessarily stop people from leaving them, but it encourages them not to since they're clearly not being received well, and keeps you from having to see them whenever you go in to add a new chapter.
Thirdly, if you have any friends, online or off, who are into the fandom(s) you write for, try sharing your fic with them! Friends are frankly often a much better and more reliable source of positive feedback than random people on the internet. Or, if you don't have any friends in the relevant fandoms, make some! See if you can find a group chat or discord or something to join and start talking to people there, and try linking a fic once you're comfortable. So much of the positive feedback I've gotten on my own writing has been from friends and acquaintances I shared my work with. Also, if you're comfortable doing so, you can always try sharing/linking to your fics on tumblr or your other social media of choice. Engagement is often higher on actual social media, and just like with any other online content, more promotion usually leads to more engagement.
And finally, remember that if you're feeling really frustrated and writing is losing its fun, it's also ok to take a break for a while. You don't owe anyone content - you're writing for your own enjoyment. And if you're not enjoying it, sometimes you need to take a break for a bit and come back to it later.
I hope this was helpful in some way, and that you start getting more positive feedback soon. ❤
