What makes you comment?

I'm a "deity", but a minor one (3.8 to 1). I had never thought of the concept of an author's V/C ratio, but I see mine is 47.2 to 1, and that's just depressing.

But then I see that even Flopsy's is 26.2 to 1 and I don't feel so bad.

My comments tend to be more of observations on the plot and characters rather than the writing, but if there is something that strikes me as particularly clever, I usually will say something about it. On series, I might comment on individual chapters because sometimes I like some chapters more than others.

And I find there are some authors who write stories with plotlines that would greatly appeal to me, but I just can't stand the way they write. So I tend to avoid reading their offerings; however every once in a while I will take a chance on one of their new works but usually their style hasn't changed to suit my liking. Of course, I fully recognize that personal preferences aren't something you can really debate so I've never seen the point of making a comment like "I can't stand when you have your character say/do X", as I can't imagine it would be terribly well received. After all, I think most of us here who write do so primarily for our own enjoyment; if others enjoy reading what we write, that's just an added bonus. But I wouldn't write in a different way in response to someone's comment unless I was making some sort of gross technical mistake.

I have read every one of the comments in this thread with interest. ( have the same items read /items commented upon ratio as 'Thepreacherswife' (3.8 /1) and tend to try to positively comment on most things I read. I do however comment where I feel that despite a story being enjoyable and well-written there is an unfairness or excessively brutal punishment.
I love reading series, which I prefer to read from start to finish, and will not always comment on each part.
With a series I tend to comment on either the first and or last part and will also do the same with favouriting
(I have read so many fine stories that I am frequently having to review my list to keep within the 400 permitted. When I do this in addition to rereading some I tend to retain stories where there are only 1 or 2 other favourites and ensure that if I remove a favourite I add a comment to show my appreciation where I have not already done so).
The viewings-to-comments ratio of my own stories is a rather disappointing 75/1 but I do realise that I tend to write a particular type of lengthy series and genres that are not to everyone's taste.
I am assuming that many are being kind in just choosing not to comment rather than criticise.
I really do appreciate each and every comment that I receive and do try to respond to those I receive, especially where suggestions and assessments of various aspects and preferences have been included.

As to why I comment, it is largely just to say thankyou to all who make this wonderful library what it is.

Another commenting diety here, 4.4:1.

I started to comment more after I submitted my first story here and discovered how amazing reader comments make you feel :D
In addition, I often make use of comments from other readers to decide on what to read, so I hope comments from me might serve that same purpose to other readers.

I don't comment on everything. Sometimes I only pic the last part of a series to leave a comment on the series as a whole. Sometimes I don't like the reader's writing style or the content, but I know that's on me and not on the author, so I then prefer to say nothing rather than leave something like "I do not like your writing style", which doesn't serve a purpose to anybody.

And sometimes, I want to take more time writing a comment to properly set out my thoughts on 'paper'. I frequently read on my phone while in bed or during a short break at work. Writing a more elaborate comment on my phone is a bit of a pain, so then I decide to get back to it later on the computer.
You know where this is going, right? More often than not, I forget


Another big thank you to Alef for being my top commenter, too!
I like comments best, of course, but it also makes me happy to see a reader read one of my stories, and then come back to read more. And some people prefer to favourite stories, which is something I never do for some reason.


I don't think anybody writes to everyone's taste. Your lower ratio could rather be a result of a larger number of long series. Many readers choose to only comment on the first or last part of a series rather than on each individual part. I tend to do that as well, but I'm trying to up my commenting on series when I like to point out something in an individual part (as you have noticed ).

I must admit that a I mainly read short, stand-alone stories. It's not because I don't like longer stories (I did, after all, grow up on a diet of Victorian classics), but because of time constraints. I mainly read on the bus, during short breaks, or late at night when I'm too tired to do something more useful, and under those circumstances a 9000 thousand word story or a serial with 13 installments seem quite daunting. Perhaps I'll catch up when I retire!

I agree with Diana above. There is nothing quite so gratifying as having someone read your story, then go on to read others you've posted. I receive that as the ultimate compliment, whether comments are left or not.

I also need to acknowledge Alef, my top commenter as well, and a kind supporter since I first posted here in the LSF.

Just in case there are members who still haven't figured out what is going on here, I have advised my favorite authors that they may want to pay me a little tribute in this thread if they ever want to receive another comment from me. I see that there are still some who haven't paid their dues...

Alef

You're only my 9th top commenter, so I'm not paying you anything. Of course with a mere 6 more comments you can move up to #6, and maybe then we can talk.

I'll see what I can do about that ....

@Alef

Im here again, this time to offer tributes of praise to the most magnificent and beneficent commenting deity, Alef, for all the wonderful comments he has provided to this (not quite so) humble author. His recent commenting generosity places him in elite company within my own commenting deity pantheon (albeit still only number 6).

Thank you for your generosity! (I'm hoping that by "tribute" you weren't expecting anything monetary).

Sorry I'm late to this very interesting thread. As a writer, I greatly appreciate not only every comment but every view. In the mainstream world (in which I struggle most of the time), you're extremely fortunate to get read at all, let alone receive any comments (positive or otherwise). Now, having said that, Alef, I acknowledge that you are one of my top ten commenters, and I always appreciate your comments.