On the Subject of Feedback

[keiramarcos]

I was... pondering (ruminating, thinking, considering, etc) the matter of reader feedback.

I like feedback as much as the next writer BUT I'm also just as satisfied by the statistics on my site. Numbers! Let me share them with you :-)

My first novella in the Ring of Fire series garnered 200 comments and 18,610 views. Which means that roughly 1% of the people who visited that page to read left comments. I'm thrilled with both numbers and I'm not at all pissy about the 99% who didn't leave feedback. In fact, I know that I lot of are repeat readers. My stats counts each visitor once a day but I know some people come back and read when they are in the mood for it. I certainly don't expect them to comment with each new read though it's amusing when they do.

Feedback is well, kind of grand when it it's well-meaning and thoughtful. It can be really fucking annoying or insulting. Some people have left comments on my site that I would never approve in a million fucking years because I don't believe in spreading ignorance or stupidity.

I read a lot and there are various reason I don't leave feedback. I'll even be excessively honest about it:

1. I enjoyed it but I don't know what to say beyond "Good job" and I feel like an idiot.
2. I enjoyed it but I don't feel comfortable leaving feedback because at the time I really wasn't all that ready to admit that I was really digging the idea of Dr. Watson is a pair of blue silk knickers.
3. I'm lazy.
4. I was in a bitchy mood and I had nothing really nice to say about the fic even though I read the whole thing and enjoyed it so I didn't say anything to avoid looking like a complete and total cunt. (What? We all have our days!)
5. I read it. I didn't like it. I don't want to leave positive feedback because it would be insincere and a big fat fucking lie.

So... why don't YOU leave feedback?

Comments

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

So... why don't YOU leave feedback?

Because I am a lazy so & so and I can't think of anything other than: "NICE!"

Besides, you get a LOT of my feedback well before you post. So, yeah.

~L

[camshaft22.livejournal.com]

I try to leave feedback on every story I read. It's the nice thing to do and I am a junky for feedback myself. There are times I feel silly for just saying 'That's awesome!' or 'Excellent work!' but I really do just love it.

I suppose I could quote my favorite parts and I have, but at the same time, I feel embarrassed doing that. So I get to the point. It was awesome.

[merliness.livejournal.com]

For me? It's mostly reason #1 and #5. Though more often reason #1, as I tend to close the window/tab/fic rather than read the whole thing if stumble upon something I don't like. But my tolerance level for things I don't like goes up when the fic in question is from an author I like.

[ravenmoonart.livejournal.com]

Most common reason for me: I tend to read other people comments first, and only rarely feel like I have anything new to add. I hate sounding like I'm parroting other feedback.

Another reason is I don't tend to trust my own ability to write coherent or useful feedback... what if I'm misunderstood? What if the writer feels insulted when I intended a compliment? Aack!

Ditto on the "lazy" too, I"m sorry to say.

So... why don't YOU leave feedback?

[mamfa88.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have a clue what to say :S other than awesome, wonderful lol.
But I would never leave negative feedback either, especially if it's down to my own personal tastes. Oh and reason #3 as well haha :D

[rothesis.livejournal.com]

Usually 1, 3, or 5. Occasionally 2 or 4.

Another reason that seems to occur with your writing is: "6. I really, really liked this. But everything I want to comment about has been mentioned multiple times by other people who have already commented. I dislike repetition, so I'm not going to repeat the well deserved praise you have already received."

Not applicable to your writing there is also: "7. I mildly enjoyed it, but it was so short that I can't say I felt engaged enough to comment."

I admit, I reread your stoies often enough to owe you royalties.

[janae-twilight.livejournal.com]

I usually don't leave feedback because I haven't a clue what to say most of the time, whether I liked it or not.Laziness does play a part, but it's rude to say that sucked so much ass and you should never write again, or it was so terrible it made my eyes bleed and my IQ drop. Saying that was great, awesome or nice is just as bad unless you really mean it and make sure the author knows you mean it.

lack of feedback

[telmeigh.livejournal.com]

1. Because there are only so many ways that I can say that I am a gleeful and fervent member of your cult and that I love each and every thing you write.

2. Because typically everything I wanted to say has been commented on by others and it is foolish and annoyingly redundant to spew forth...I will only comment when I have something new/personal to say about what I read.

3. And this is probably the most important...every time I go to comment, I get this insane urge to yell "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO UPDATE?" I know this upsets and annoys you so, harkening back to being a faithful and ever worshipful member of your cult, I do not comment for fear of giving into this urge and thus potentially making you less likely to update any time soon.

Re: lack of feedback

[strangefen.livejournal.com]

Ditto. Seriously, seriously dittoed.

[rivkaesque.livejournal.com]

Various reasons.
1) I am lazy.
2) I like it, but not that much
3) I liked it, but my inner editor will do something unacceptable if I comment. (sidenote: lose=cannot find or do not have hold of. loose=slack or unrestrained. "I was so afraid I would loose you" makes the protagonist sound like a crazy person or a kidnapping stalker, and "I was so loosed" makes No.Fucking.Sense. From a pretty good fic I just read)
4)I am grumpy, whether or not I liked it.
5)I am starting feel vaguely stalkerish with all the obsessive commenting.
6) I did not like it (Usually, I use the click away method of reviewing these)
7) In the last little while, because I am in a good bit of pain/doped to the point where I might break off and randomly ramble about the likely sociological impact and concomittant likely folk lore if squibs and muggleborns are of approximately equal numbers in each generation. On which topic I have a fascinating (to me) rant, but usually know enough to keep my big trap shut.

[bellalaine.livejournal.com]

If you knew how many times I have read and reread TTB you would think me insane.

I tend to leave feedback if something really struck me. I have, in fact, drooled all over you when it comes to TTB, but I try not to go overboard. If I don't like something I just move along. Maybe that sucks but at the same time if something was REALLY BAD its not my place to call someone out on it. At least, that's what I think.

[belvella.livejournal.com]

For me I say its 1; 3 and 4.
Thou I do sometimes try to give feedback I wil admit it is few and far between.

[temiskou.livejournal.com]

Extreme shyness. I lurk most of the internet, because I feel so uncomfortably embarrassed about speaking up and telling the author I found their work amazing/moving/meaningful/smoking hot. The few exceptions are when I'm up until 5am reading their work for several days in a row and I'm basically punch drunk. *L*

[silverbrow.livejournal.com]

ditto

I'm much more comfortable lurking >_>

[kiananic.livejournal.com]

Why don't I leave feedback on ypur stories? Well frankly it's because if I said:

"I fucking loved this, I can't get over how skillfully you weave your stories. Because of you SGA/The Sentinel/Star Trek/Sherlock/ DH4/Harry Potter ( and trust me I never expected the last one) is now my new OTP. "

On all your stories I think I would come off as a bit of a tool, and hey I don't wannna seem like a tool.

.
..
...

Oh fuck. I just did, didn't I?

[anneruane.livejournal.com]

I rarely leave feedback because my first creative writing class way back in high school instilled in me a hatred of the general sentiment "It's good, I liked it, it flowed." For me, that requires significant thought and multiple readings, and I don't really have the time to engage that deeply with most of the fan fiction that I read. It takes me long enough to get through the stuff I need to read for my writer's group every month.

But, given how much I've reread your stuff, I'll probably be ready to comment soon. ;o)

[chris-king-2005.livejournal.com]

All of the above?

Um, and also, like ladyholder, you have the dubious delight of reading my umptykajillion comments early.

I also tend to re-read stuff... often, so saying the same 'I enjoyed this! Again!' may be a bit intrusive.

But often, it's because I'm too damned lazy and I'm chasing the next tag or rec or chapter like a cat on the trail of a catnip mousie.

[bkfqueer.livejournal.com]

Nr. 1 and 6 for the most part.
I tend to read the comments and most of the time everything I want to say has been said in a better way by some other people. I lack the ability to truly express my admiration for your art.
Also I'm rereading your work every week, so it would be like
"Read it for the 15th time still love it and found new details every time."
Would be true but I don't feel comfortable to do so.

[wushu76.livejournal.com]

Number 3 is a huge part of why I don't... and some of number 1. I don't see the point in giving FB if I can't really say something that means more than 'I liked it' and more of the time I can't be bothered to type up something I think is worth telling them.

But also, some writers have really turned me off about leaving FB because of the "I won't post the next part until I get X number of comments" and the others that seem to... boast about how many they get. Before I go further, I don’t mean you. I don't mean the 'OMG wow, I can't believe how much FB I got' But some... just come across as ... I want to say smug, but I think it's more that they feel entitled.

That’s what I’m trying to say. Some writers seem to feel if I post it, you HAVE to give me FB. I’ve posted a couple of stories in my time, FB is lovely, but it’s not something anyone is obligated to give.

[syberjade.livejournal.com]

Just number1, I guess I'm lazy.

icon adoration

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

Most spot on political commentary I've seen in awhile. ;)

[gnome781.livejournal.com]

So... why don't YOU leave feedback?

Ah, I’m very much guilty of rarely leaving feedback. I never know what to say and generally feel dumb (even though I’m always thrilled with even just a good job on my own stuff) I worry that I won’t say the right thing or the author will think I’m an Idiot. I’m seriously insecure like that.

The only time I feel pretty confident is when I genuinely feel like I have something to give back to them in appreciation for their time, for instance : I give you a drawing You inspired (http://gnome781.livejournal.com/61887.html#cutid1) as a thank you for all the hours of happy reading you’ve provided me :)

I actually posted this sometime ago and sent you a copy with two others in an e-mail around the time you broke your foot, so I don’t think you ever got them (or you didn’t like them and were being tactful) I never posted the one I sent you of Miko Vs The Queen from you Sentinels of Atlantis AU but I can if you’d like to see it (or I can try sending it again if you prefer) I Hope you enjoy either way!

drawing of WMHB John

[ravenmoonart.livejournal.com]

I love the drawing you did...you caught his "sexy slouch" thing perfectly!

[deegeeak.livejournal.com]

A lot of time I don't have anything to say beyond "Good Job" and that just feels cheesy to say. I've been trying to leave feedback, but it comes across as more of a review then any sort of feedback when I do. Catch 22 suppose.

[tlyna.livejournal.com]

When I find new stories in my fandoms I save them rapidly to my hard drive as Word docs so that I don't lose them if they are removed from the web before I have a chance to read them. I will then have times when I do nothing but read. If I liked them I save them for rereading (some like yours more often than others), if not I delete and go one to the next. If a story really strikes me I try to send feedback. I often want to send feedback for many stories but I hate to give just generic comments. Sometimes I am just too tired. It is now 5:30 am my time and I have been on the computer saving and reading stories since around 1 pm yesterday and I am not sure I am making much sense since I am so tired I can hardly see straight. Oddly enough I have frequent marathon sessions like this. If the grammar and spelling is bad or some other errors but they have a good plot and characterizations I will often edit the hell out of the story as I go through it then read it again after to see if I actually do like it. If I do I keep it but tend not to send feedback. I never send negative feedback because I don't bother to finish a story I don't like.

[lostarieldarrow.livejournal.com]

I don't often leave feedback mostly because of #1. One of the other reason is that I'm French and sometimes I simply don't know how to say what I want and that's really frustrating...
Even with French fanfiction I often leave feedback only when there is too many errors since I hate that. It can really put me off a fic even if the plot is good.

[jgroovydaisy.livejournal.com]

I have the same issues as everyone else. I feel guilty that I can read and reread something over and over again and not leave feedback so if I really want an author to keep writing (yes it is all about me) or if I really, really am wowed I try to leave something. Of course it always ends up something like "loved the story" which seems a bit lacking.

Of course with your stories I am like the people above who 1)probably owe you money for how many times I've reread your stories and 2) fear being judged insane if it were known how many times I read your stories.

[jacina-n.livejournal.com]

number 1 ... lol ... what can i possibly say to someone who has spent a vast amount of time and energy to create a fantastic piece of writing... good job seems so inane.

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Online I'm catching up on my reading (about 2 weeks behind... that has caught up, at a time I was 6 weeks behind - usually I get distracted by epics by my favourite authors / re-reads which jump the queue) and then may not leave feedback for people I don't regularly read or are on my friends list and whom I accessed via a comm - that means you get feedback from me, even if it's only two words if I liked it and I've interacted with you - unless it's really dire I don't leave feedback because I don't want to come across as bitchy
- see your point 5
for that reason: YOU get feedback :D

Also, I save my creativity for my stories, not comments - hence they are usually short!