How influential are comments?

[karina_jayde]

I've definitely never rewritten anything or changed course mid-series because of comments.

I have gotten some helpful feedback, to include readers mentioning my overuse of certain words ('smirk' in particular). I also had a reader comment on a recent series about how hot a double vaginal scene would be with a few characters. Those characters were going to all hook up anyway, but the comment did inspire me to take the threesome in that direction.

So comments may guide or inspire, but they never dictate or fully control what I write.

 

[happyyy_]

I’ve been here about 6 months now, so very much so still a newbie. I’m a post-as-you-write type, and I have found comments can be very insightful. I haven’t finished a series yet so no feedback on the endings, but I have gotten predictions and character-plot analyses so far. At first I found those kinds of comments a little intimidating, because I’m not used to people engaging deeply in my writing. But at the end of the day I have the plot planned, so it is fun to see people chat about what they expect and what they hope for. I am very greatful for reader engagement. And I am slowly growing that thicker skin everybody talks about haha.

As far as critical feedback goes I have gotten some off-lit feedback from a reader suggesting changes to the beginning of one of my stories. I think it’s because they didn’t see the chemistry between the main characters in their first interaction. I have ruminated on possible edits and I think if I do go back and edit I would tweak it/change the first scene some.

 

[Plathfan]

I’ve been here about 6 months now, so very much so still a newbie. I’m a post-as-you-write type, and I have found comments can be very insightful. I haven’t finished a series yet so no feedback on the endings, but I have gotten predictions and character-plot analyses so far. At first I found those kinds of comments a little intimidating, because I’m not used to people engaging deeply in my writing. But at the end of the day I have the plot planned, so it is fun to see people chat about what they expect and what they hope for. I am very greatful for reader engagement. And I am slowly growing that thicker skin everybody talks about haha.

As far as critical feedback goes I have gotten some off-lit feedback from a reader suggesting changes to the beginning of one of my stories. I think it’s because they didn’t see the chemistry between the main characters in their first interaction. I have ruminated on possible edits and I think if I do go back and edit I would tweak it/change the first scene some.

As social beings, we are bound to respond to feedback. No one can remain indifferent to flattery or disdain. If you try to please every reader, you'll end up revising your stories endlessly.

Your high scores reflect your skill, but also your drive to satisfy the majority.

There are very few whose opinions truly matter to me, but I’m aware that even they are human, and therefore biased. I take their feedback with a pinch of salt. Everyone has their own literary preferences, and that inevitably colors their critiques, no matter how objective they try to be.

I carefully review every suggestion but accept only those that resonate with me, primarily technical details such as contradictions, redundant or missing scenes, imbalanced descriptions, or rushed sections.

Suggestions to alter the skeleton of the work, such as changing character traits, roles, or perspective, are likely to be rejected. It's somewhat disrespectful to seek feedback before thoroughly considering the very core of the work.

My guiding principle is: "What serves the story best?" Before the reader, before the editor, even before me—the story always comes first. If not everyone likes it, so be it. There will always be those who do. I wouldn’t like myself otherwise.

 

[designatedvictim]

So, while I like the comments, and I have used good comments to help tweak the narrative a bit, I don't let them be too controlling. My most frequent commenter actually told me he liked the story better without the sex!

Wait...

You've been at this only three months and already have a 'frequent commenter'???

I'm jealous! -pouts-

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Wait...

You've been at this only three months and already have a 'frequent commenter'???

I'm jealous! -pouts-

LOL, he spent most of his early posts hating on the main character, then telling me they were all spending too much time having sex, but I think I've won him over.

 

[designatedvictim]

they were all spending too much time having sex

He makes that sound like a bad thing!

Once my characters start, that's basically all they do for a long weekend.

As my mom always said, "Strike while the iron's hot!"

 

[Comshaw]

I find myself in the process of rewriting the ending of a story I published recently due to an overwhelming theme in the comments. The readers that chose to share their opinion seem to be of the same vein; they like the story but think the ending sucks. The scores reflect this. These are not really negative comments. I get lots of those, too. These are people that liked the story and the way I told it. They just didn't like where I took it.
I intentionally let the story sit for a while, similarly letting the comments simmer. When I went back and read the story again, I discovered I agreed completely. My ending sucks.

In response, I'm fixing the ending and will be publishing an update. To be clear, I'm not as much trying to quiet the dissenters. I can handle bad comments as long as they're honest. I'm doing it because I believe the story they want will be better than the one I gave them.

I'm interested to hear about any stories you have rewritten part of and republished and why.

The above is an extreme example. Other comments have inspired new stories, caused me to change something in a story I was working on(yeah, that didn't work like I though it would. Probably shouldn't do it again), or strongly influenced following chapters of a series. They've also made me much more aware of things like shorter paragraphs, the correct placing of punctuation within quotes, and the, overuse, of, commas.

How do the comments on your stories influence you?

How do they influence me?

I follow a few simple rules. I was told by a writing teacher years ago, "If you get a lot of comments and they are all different, your story is on the right track. If on the other hand you get a lot of comments and they are all along the same vein, you'd better pay attention because something is wrong with it."

I've followed that bit of advice for years and it hasn't let me down.

To go along with it I found this quote from Mark Twain: "The public is the only critic whose judgment is worth anything at all."

As a writer, we need to pay attention to our main critic.


Comshaw

 

[ElectricBlue]

I follow a few simple rules. I was told by a writing teacher years ago, "If you get a lot of comments and they are all different, your story is on the right track. If on the other hand you get a lot of comments and they are all along the same vein, you'd better pay attention because something is wrong with it."

Absolutely this. Write really well (both content-wise and technically) and readers will comment; write really badly, they'll do the same. If you're competent and capable, there can be silence, but that's not a negative thing. It just means you didn't move them enough to respond.

 

[Nicenashguy615]

I delete any comment that is not constructive. Rude idiots don’t get a voice in my comments area.

That said, I retain a negative comment if it’s thoughtful and constructive in some way. Even if I totally disagree.

But I ask for comments so I try to take them seriously.

The comments that aren’t particularly helpful are the ‘Loved it. Can’t wait for the next chapter!’ I’m thrilled they loved it but at the end of the day, my decision to write another chapter is based on the volume of reads combined with a decent rating.

I have a chapter 5 out with a 4.86 rating but the views are tiny. Like only a few thousand compared to 80k views on the first chapter. I’m actually torn on whether to continue.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

I have a chapter 5 out with a 4.86 rating but the views are tiny. Like only a few thousand compared to 80k views on the first chapter. I’m actually torn on whether to continue.

This is one of the hardest things, even harder than new comments for us new writers to deal with. I freely admit I am way too obsessed with the ratings. I get down when I am pretty happy with a chapter that gets hit with low ratings out of the gate and that can sometimes dampen my desire to write more. I’ve noticed a pattern, at least in the interracial section, where most stories instantly get lower reviews than on other sections, and I tend to chalk it up to folks just disliking the subject area and voting things down without reading them. Still. after spending solid time on a good story and then waking up to see a 3.4, it can get you down absolutely. Or seeing one story with 5k views and then next parts with barely 1k.

Then I remind myself that I am doing this mainly for myself, as a hobby and a way to express myself without forcing all my friends to read my nonsense and I can let it go.

Please, don’t get discouraged and stop writing.

 

[designatedvictim]

The comments that aren’t particularly helpful are the ‘Loved it. Can’t wait for the next chapter!’ I’m thrilled they loved it but at the end of the day, my decision to write another chapter is based on the volume of reads combined with a decent rating.

I, too, was hoping to get more comments. More substantial, but those 'Loved it!'-types of messages will probably be the bulk of any responses.

Roughly one comment (useful or not) per thousand views, on average.

I have a chapter 5 out with a 4.86 rating but the views are tiny. Like only a few thousand compared to 80k views on the first chapter. I’m actually torn on whether to continue.

The most recent chunk of my work has (500-ish views) an eighth of the views the first got (4200-ish). Only one really worthwhile critical comment and he was right to point out what he saw.

I have to admit that the end of the current chapter of mine is kind of languishing due, partially, to the lack of comments (yes, I want pretzels with my beer).

I know what the scene is and what will happen in it, just trying to find the motivation write it. I already had issues deciding on narrator viewpoint.

I should have finished the piece before starting to submit, but I was too eager to get on with it.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

How do they influence me?

I follow a few simple rules. I was told by a writing teacher years ago, "If you get a lot of comments and they are all different, your story is on the right track. If on the other hand you get a lot of comments and they are all along the same vein, you'd better pay attention because something is wrong with it."

I've followed that bit of advice for years and it hasn't let me down.

To go along with it I found this quote from Mark Twain: "The public is the only critic whose judgment is worth anything at all."

As a writer, we need to pay attention to our main critic.


Comshaw

100% My most vitriolic negative comments have been because I betrayed a readers perception of a character they liked. If they're that pissed, then I reached them. Kudos to me.

 

[Plathfan]

There’s superficiality, not to say insincerity, in overly brief yet effusive comments. “10*!”, “Wow!”, “Masterpiece!” The worst offender is “What they said.”

Was it truly that good that you were left speechless? Is it so difficult to offer a few words explaining what you enjoyed? This inconsistency is even more glaring when someone leaves a detailed, enthusiastic comment but doesn’t favor the work or become a follower.

If it was really that impressive, why wasn’t it added to your favorites? Many writers, I believe, would value a follow and a favorite far more than generic praise.

Like criticism, praise should be taken with a grain of salt. Some people were raised to lavish compliments even when they don’t fully mean them. These are not my kind of people.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I think it depends on who is doing the commenting. I have one reader who loves to go everything I write with a fine tooth comb, so he can pounce and leave 'gotcha comments.' Though I strive to be accurate, I don't worry too much about what he thinks, or any tiny detail he might point out. Although I have decided to add some changes in ongoing chapters, if I think a reader's suggestion might enhance a story.

 

[JaxonHill]

I've definitely never rewritten anything or changed course mid-series because of comments.

I have gotten some helpful feedback, to include readers mentioning my overuse of certain words ('smirk' in particular). I also had a reader comment on a recent series about how hot a double vaginal scene would be with a few characters. Those characters were going to all hook up anyway, but the comment did inspire me to take the threesome in that direction.

So comments may guide or inspire, but they never dictate or fully control what I write.

Comments are like assholes, everyone has one, but only some choose to share them.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I have a chapter 5 out with a 4.86 rating but the views are tiny. Like only a few thousand compared to 80k views on the first chapter. I’m actually torn on whether to continue.

This is a tell tale sign (a dead giveaway actually) that one is writing primarily for accolades and applause over ideas and storytelling.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, but so many people do this (including the vast majority of the serial writers) yet deny that they are pandering or looking for approval.

 

[JaxonHill]

This is a tell tale sign (a dead giveaway actually) that one is writing primarily for accolades and applause over ideas and storytelling.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, but so many people do this (including the vast majority of the serial writers) yet deny that they are pandering or looking for approval.

Yep. I crave the attention/approval. No reason to deny it! Like my work and give me the love my parents denied me!

Please, and thank you.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

This is a tell tale sign (a dead giveaway actually) that one is writing primarily for accolades and applause over ideas and storytelling.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, but so many people do this (including the vast majority of the serial writers) yet deny that they are pandering or looking for approval.

Not sure where you are pulling this conclusion from. It's common for later chapters to get considerably fewer views than the first one. Many people will click on the first chapter if only to check out the tags and take a glimpse. It will still register as a view even if they abandon the story right away. If there is something that is catchy in the title or in the description, many will click on it out of sheer curiosity.
This is typical behavior that holds for literally every chaptered story out there. Everybody is pandering?

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Not sure where you are pulling this conclusion from. It's common for later chapters to get considerably fewer views than the first one. Many people will click on the first chapter if only to check out the tags and take a glimpse. It will still register as a view even if they abandon the story right away. If there is something that is catchy in the title or in the description, many will click on it out of sheer curiosity.
This is typical behavior that holds for literally every chaptered story out there. Everybody is pandering?

When someone says, "My later chapters aren't getting the response that my first chapters had so I'm not feeling inspired/motivated," what other conclusion is there? If one was inspired enough to start but not enough to finish, then where is one's motivation? (psst: the answer is in the applause)

 

[ElectricBlue]

This is typical behavior that holds for literally every chaptered story out there. Everybody is pandering?

80k views on the first chapter down to a couple thousand on the fifth isn't typical though, that's a huge drop.

"Typical" is more like a 50% drop on chapter two, another 50% drop on the third chapter (relative to chapter two), then a steady state/slow decline to the last chapter. I'd expect a fifth chapter to be holding on to 15k views, thereabouts. Those numbers are telling the author something, I reckon, and it's not the affirmation they're after...

 

[AwkwardlySet]

When someone says, "My later chapters aren't getting the response that my first chapters had so I'm not feeling inspired/motivated," what other conclusion is there? If one was inspired enough to start but not enough to finish, then where is one's motivation? (psst: the answer is in the applause)

Ah, I didn't realize what you meant at first. Well, it's still nothing out of the ordinary. It's normal for new authors to desire approval and positive feedback from readers. I think most of us were insecure about our ability to write when we first started publishing here. Positive feedback helps to build up the confidence.
But even beyond that, it's still quite normal for an author to want some kind of response from readers, to feel appreciated for the effort required to write the stories he's giving away for free. Frankly, I don't see the difference between writing the story and keeping it on your own PC, and publishing that story, if you don't care at all about the impact and reception of your story.

Even though I too dislike pandering, I doubt that there is any story here that gets remotely enough feedback for any author to start pandering to it. I mean, you get say, 20-30 comments on a story that has 10k views. I don't understand how fulfilling the wishes of a commenter or two would make sense. They are hardly representative of all the people who read the story, and there are so many different tastes and kinks. You could easily achieve the opposite.
For those who have Patreon and such, yeah, pandering is a thing for sure. It's even mandatory for the commercial success of that model.
But for the rest? I would say that most pandering happens not due to the feedback we personally get on our stories but from the stories that serve as successful examples in the sense of views/scores/comments/top-lists. I've seen plenty of authors simply copying such stories, sometimes shamelessly so.
Sure, there are those who just want to write their take on the theme of that story, but I bet many copycats do it hoping to get the views, scores, and followers because it feeds their ego. There are such cases for sure, maybe even many of them. But chaptered stories are hardly that kind of example.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

80k views on the first chapter down to a couple thousand on the fifth isn't typical though, that's a huge drop.

"Typical" is more like a 50% drop on chapter two, another 50% drop on the third chapter (relative to chapter two), then a steady state/slow decline to the last chapter. I'd expect a fifth chapter to be holding on to 15k views, thereabouts. Those numbers are telling the author something, I reckon, and it's not the affirmation they're after...

Well, the guy who made that post is either an alt or he is just making stuff up as he doesn't have a single story published here. I would take his words with a grain of salt.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Well, the guy who made that post is either an alt or he is just making stuff up as he doesn't have a single story published here. I would take his words with a grain of salt.

Ha ha! Bags of salt, then

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Comments are like assholes, everyone has one, but only some choose to share them.

Yeah, there’s a category for that.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Ah, I didn't realize what you meant at first. Well, it's still nothing out of the ordinary. It's normal for new authors to desire approval and positive feedback from readers. I think most of us were insecure about our ability to write when we first started publishing here. Positive feedback helps to build up the confidence.

It's certainly not out of the ordinary, but it is still grossly misunderstood, so misunderstood that people get upset and angry if you try to show them the truth about it.

But even beyond that, it's still quite normal for an author to want some kind of response from readers, to feel appreciated for the effort required to write the stories he's giving away for free. Frankly, I don't see the difference between writing the story and keeping it on your own PC, and publishing that story, if you don't care at all about the impact and reception of your story.

Providing a reading experience and/or making a connection, and seeking applause and affirmation are two very separate things. However, they are related. Writing to share that connection, to offer that experience, is writing from the heart. Writing for the external affirmation is writing from the ego. It can be very difficult to tell the difference. In fact most people can't. And if you try to explain this to them, they become offended, "Ohhh, you say I write with ego, well fuck you! Who do you think you are?" which is really the ego getting pissed off and confirming that they are writing from ego. And the answer is, "whether you realize it or not, well yes, you are writing from your ego." It's just the truth. And I'm not saying that anyone is wrong for writing from the ego but I am saying that one would be wise to recognize when they are or aren't so that they do not kid themselves about their own writing. You are not wrong to write from your ego, but you are wrong to believe that you are not when you actually are. Because unless you can maintain the attention of readers like silkstocking does, writing primarily from the ego will probably eventually kill your writing. It will certainly limit your inspiration in the long run.

Writing from the heart and writing from the ego is a spectrum. One cannot write 100% from the heart and also a little bit for the ego. It's not possible. Personally I always strive to write 100% storytelling from the heart. Am I doing it? Difficult to measure. Maybe I am 96% heart 4% ego, or maybe 92/8 or 99/1 or something, and certainly a little different on each story. But there are many writers here that are obviously more than 50% ego (some way more) and less than 50% heart, and only maybe 1 or 2 will actually admit it. It's super easy to tell by the way that they talk about their scores and feedback and sometimes even their literal motivations.

Even though I too dislike pandering, I doubt that there is any story here that gets remotely enough feedback for any author to start pandering to it.

Are you kidding? Look how many people live and die on comments and scores?

There are such cases for sure, maybe even many of them. But chaptered stories are hardly that kind of example.

Chaptered stories are usually the biggest examples. The vast majority of chaptered stories are written one chapter at a time, and the following chapters are influenced and inspired by the positive feedback and external affirmations of the previous chapters. It's a plague of meandering soap operas that more often than not have no end. Why? Because the writer is addicted to the affirmation and when it dwindles and stops, the writing dwindles and stops. It's super easy to spot.

My personal opinion on the nature of the phenomenon:

1 ~ someone gets the idea to write a story, a genuine inspiration to create something. They are writing from the heart (or largely or very close to 100% heart).

2 ~ They publish and get lots of positive feedback, probably unexpectedly good or strong. It's a pleasant surprise and they want more.

3 ~ They feel the high of the external affirmation which pulls their motivation/inspiration more towards the ego, maybe 80% heart 20% ego).

4 ~ They publish the next chapter and it gets less feedback but still positive.

5 ~ They feel less of a high but think that it's just variance and that they can get the original high back again with chapter 3. The motivation/inspiration moves to 50/50 heart/ego to chase that external affirmation high.

6 ~ They publish chapter 3 and the feedback is less, partly due to fickle readership who have lost their excitement in general and partly due to the lack of genuine inspiration from the writer. The high is even less.

7 ~ The cycle repeats and after chapter 5 or 6 (or 11 or 15 etc) the inspiration moves to 20% heart 80% ego, the feedback trickles, the high is gone and the writer quits writing due to lack of motivation (can't get the high anymore).

Notice that the cycle repeats. It's an addiction. It's a downward spiral of diminishing return of energy. It's a dead giveaway that someone has been writing primarily from the ego and no longer from the heart, whether or not they realize it themselves. I don't need to make any assumptions nor read anyone's mind (as I often angrily get accused of). I can see it in plain sight (and you can too if you know what to look for).

It's exactly like an addiction. The writer is chasing an external energy source (smokes, drinks, drugs, sex, etc) and the more that they turn towards it, the bigger dose they need to stay high, and when they reach the point where it is impossible to maintain the high, they overdose and die - or in the case of the writer, they quit writing (writing death).

And remember, most of the readers are addicted too, usually to their kinks. When a writer gives them something that hits their kinky fantasy and everything works out the way that they want, the reader gets an external high. That's why they give 5s and ask for "more!" The writer feeds the addiction. How many readers on lit read this way? 60%? 70%? 80%? (shrug)