so i just got stuck with a wave of fierce curiosity, and you’re one of the friendliest and most active authors i follow—question one, do you ever go back and read old comments? and if so, (question two) do you have specific favorite comments?, and if not, (alternate question two) what kinds of comments get you the most excited to see in your inbox?
also, unrelated, but the podfic reading of avots is REALLY REALLY GOOD and i wish i had a better mobile game to mindlessly play while listening to it.
of course i go back and read old comments, all the time! getting comments is not about getting a +1 to my stats (like, that's also a nice feeling, don't get me wrong, but i've got views and kudos for that), it's about actually discussing my story with people, first by seeing how they reacted to it (how are they feeling about it? which lines stood out to them? did they pick up everything i'd laid down? did they pick up stuff i hadn't consciously laid down? can they tell where it's going? is it too obvious or instead too cryptic?) and then by getting the chance to discuss my process with them. by rereading comments i'm reminded of good times, but also i can see how i was working/thinking at the time and if i've evolved since. if not for comments i'd definitely be a worse writer.
i don't have specific favorite comments, in the sense that i can't exclaim "oh yeah the third comment on the fifth chapter of my seventeeth fic was my favorite", but i do have favorite kinds of comments. generally speaking, the longer the better, but i love people who get analytic, people who quote every line they like and add their specific reaction to each one, people who just stream-of-consciousness their reaction at me, etc. all the ones that really get into the text are obviously my favorite because getting into the text is what i like best in the world (and if it's MY text we're getting into? oh boy!).
THE AVOTS PODFIC IS FUCKING AMAZING AND I STILL CANT BELIEVE IT EXISTS AND EVERYONE SHOULD GO LISTEN TO IT!!!! can you believe nonplussed is doing the AVOTS extras also????
