lukewarm take: fandom thrives off of interaction. regardless of why the author has published their work for others to read (though the end goal should not be searching for popularity) people do genuinely enjoy interaction. so even if you're scared to leave a comment, know that the authors behind pieces of literature that you enjoy will truly appreciate comments that express how much you enjoyed the passion they poured into writing.
it does make a difference. especially in the middle of the AI witch hunt crisis going on, letting real authors know that you appreciated their handmade creations goes a lot farther than you may think.
don't be scared. it means a lot.
