I cultivated the habit of leaving comments on everything.
When I dont have the brain space, just a little short âI liked thisâ is all it takes to make someoneâs day. I know comments make authors smile and I wanna spread some sunshine and be a force of positivity.
I get that it is hard, and I get people have anxiety about interactions - but I know authors are equally as anxious for feedback. Weâve all done the hopeful refresh looking for new comments, eh?
But motivation isnât endless. Just writing for yourself only takes most people so far.
When I was younger, I was super anxious about leaving comments. I didnât want to seem too keen and often I only felt like I had a keymash of excitement in me.
But when I loved a fic, I loooooved it, would reread it constantly, print it out and carry it around with me, loved it.
And one day the fic I looooooved just stopped and there was this sad little authors note at the end that due to lack of feedback the motivation train had died. She had it all planned and had chapter skeletons, but she wasnt going to write anymore. The engine was Kaput. All creative momentum was gone cause this poor girl, who was an amazing writer, felt like no one cared what she had to say.
And we all came out of the woodwork then, leaving lots of lovely comments about how great it was and how we wanted her to keep writing, but she couldnât.
Sometimes when motivation dies it cant be revived. Fanfic is for fun, and part of the fun is in the comments and interaction. If an author stops having fun, or isnt getting the interaction and validation they are seeking- well no one is paying them and itâs their free time.
But it sucked never getting the end of that story cause I bet it was so awesome in her head and all she needed was a couple more âI liked this!âs and âgood work"s.
Anyway, Iâve been an anxious commenter and a âoh god is this new chapter even any good?!!â author, and I see both sides.
I dunno, I think we have to build each other up. Spread some sunshine because everyone is a bit anxious here, I think. And if you are anxious about interactions but wanting to practise getting better at them, believe me a simple little comment like âI really liked xâ is a great place to start. Youâll make someone feel really good - and thats a nice feeling, knowing you made someoneâs day better.
