I don't think you're obligated to respond to reviews at all. I never even thought about it, to be quite honest. I generally leave a review and move on (and in quite a lot of times, particularly with your stories, come back and reread and reread much later. =P) and don't think about it anymore (well I suppose if someone does respond and I get the comment notification I do think about it again, but that's not the point), so I was quite shocked to see someone was hurt by not receiving a response.
Anyways, point is, keep doing what you're doing. You're awesome. =)
LOL that's what I do: leave a comment and move on. Unless I've asked a question (like "where'd you get that icon it's so AWESOME" or "was this scene inspired by...?") I don't come back and look to see if there's been a reply. (You reread my stuff? *is blushing* Whee that's awesome!) I actually don't even GET comment notifications; I come onto LJ and check by Manage Comments and then scroll down to the bottom to where I've posted things. But apparently this meant a lot to her to say what she did; I was pretty surprised too.
Hee, thank you sweetie! Your comments do mean a lot to me, btw; always make me smile. ^_^
I don't think that you've done anything wrong. It's nice once in a while to get feedback as a writer or a reader, but to me it's not the end all.
I know that I've written it here on your LJ but on FF.net I tend to be a one semi-sentence girl by reviewing 'this is great' and I know an author who told me and others off in general for replying to her stories like that and honestly it's turned me a little off from her stories because who is she to comment on how I chose to review stuff? especially when I can't edit spelling mistakes, etc?
Don't take it to heart, I'm finding out recently that people are too sensitive (myself included) at the moment. :/
I can't believe she said that to you! One sentence isn't a bad thing. If anything, the fact that you clicked the button to tell her that you liked it and were still reading is a great thing. Tons of people wouldn't even do that. *hugs* I'm so sorry sweetie.
And hey, people are allowed to be sensitive; her comment has made me exceedingly worried and sensitive at the moment. So I'm very grateful for all these pretty thoughts that no, it's not the norm. I'm happy, but still sensitive, lol.
*hugs back* I'm doing okay, worried aside. I have to order most of my books for school from Amazon...which makes me more worried and nervous, since last time it took them four weeks out of the promised 4-14 days, and I almost didn't have it in time. And I'm leaving for a trip which'll make it even harder. >_< And Essi leaves tomorrow so I'm sad there, but otherwise than that I'm shiny! ROFL How are you sweetpea?
yeah, well it's her opinion so *shrugs* that's why I love reviewing on LJ because I have the edit option which I use all the time ;) I should clear this up now- yes, I have you on author alert on FF.net but I review/read your fics here on LJ- I just find it so much more comfortable and intimate here on LJ
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From my limited experience, LJ authors tend to reply to feedback more often than archive sites. But, I read a lot more LJ stories, so that may be why I've found that to be the case. As a reader, it's nice to get a reply to feedback, but I don't think it's necessary. I think a great way to acknowledge feedback when you don't have time to reply to each individual comment is to make a blanket statement when you post your next update that you really enjoyed everyone's comments, etc. Hope this helps!
I have noticed that also; I try to reply for the most part, but sometimes time doesn't allow. Which makes me really sad.
I like the blanket statement idea: this way, they know that they've been read and appreciated. Thank you! I'mma definitely do that from here on out. ^_^
I think the big thing is that the reader just wants to know you read them. So, if you would make a note that you read and love every comment but probably won't have time to comment, that should make the reader happy.
Almost all of the people I read, reply to reviews, and that's nice but I understand that some people don't have the time. For those authors, I usually only review the last chapter on ffnet or here.
I will say that one of my favorite writers barely gets reviews on ffnet and I wonder if it is because she doesn't normally reply to them?
In the end though, girl you're a wonderful writer and I wouldn't really worry about it! :0) Gidget
I like that idea about the blanket statement note stating that hey, you guys are loved and I do read them all and thanks for them. ^_^ You guys are so smart and awesome; thank you sweetie!
Hey, that's totally cool to only reply to the last chapter! I love it when people do that, because whenever I do a multi-chaptered fic, I wait for the final chapter and then BAM, lotsa comments. It makes me so happy. ^_^
Thank you sweetie, for all the help and thoughts, and for just being you. ^_______^
I tend to reply to comment. I like that interaction with readers. But then again, I really only post on my LJ which makes that process easier. I know there are a few big name fic writers that don't seem to reply to comment very often, but then they're getting a huge volume of feedback, so I never let the lack of a reply bother me, I'm just too busy enjoying their creativity.
So really it's a personal thing, love. I really wouldn't let it bother you. The important thing is that you are putting your writing out there and folk are enjoying it. If you have the time to have a conversation with your reader, that's a bonus, but it's definitely not mandatory.
I do love that interaction with readers when I can; I've met and made a lot of friends that way. ^_^ But time constraints/writing fics just don't let me do that all the time, which makes me sad. But I'm glad it's not a bad thing by the readers all the time if I can't reply.
Thank you sweetie; I'm really glad that it doesn't need to be done to enjoy a fic. I really didn't want her to be hurt over it, but it's not something I can do all the time. But it is fun when I can here, I definitely agree! ^_^
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Anyways, point is, keep doing what you're doing. You're awesome. =)
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Hee, thank you sweetie! Your comments do mean a lot to me, btw; always make me smile. ^_^
~Nebula
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I know that I've written it here on your LJ but on FF.net I tend to be a one semi-sentence girl by reviewing 'this is great' and I know an author who told me and others off in general for replying to her stories like that and honestly it's turned me a little off from her stories because who is she to comment on how I chose to review stuff? especially when I can't edit spelling mistakes, etc?
Don't take it to heart, I'm finding out recently that people are too sensitive (myself included) at the moment. :/
*hugs* how are you doing?
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And hey, people are allowed to be sensitive; her comment has made me exceedingly worried and sensitive at the moment. So I'm very grateful for all these pretty thoughts that no, it's not the norm. I'm happy, but still sensitive, lol.
*hugs back* I'm doing okay, worried aside. I have to order most of my books for school from Amazon...which makes me more worried and nervous, since last time it took them four weeks out of the promised 4-14 days, and I almost didn't have it in time. And I'm leaving for a trip which'll make it even harder. >_< And Essi leaves tomorrow so I'm sad there, but otherwise than that I'm shiny! ROFL How are you sweetpea?
~Nebula
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I like the blanket statement idea: this way, they know that they've been read and appreciated. Thank you! I'mma definitely do that from here on out. ^_^
*hugs*
~Nebula
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Almost all of the people I read, reply to reviews, and that's nice but I understand that some people don't have the time. For those authors, I usually only review the last chapter on ffnet or here.
I will say that one of my favorite writers barely gets reviews on ffnet and I wonder if it is because she doesn't normally reply to them?
In the end though, girl you're a wonderful writer and I wouldn't really worry about it! :0) Gidget
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Hey, that's totally cool to only reply to the last chapter! I love it when people do that, because whenever I do a multi-chaptered fic, I wait for the final chapter and then BAM, lotsa comments. It makes me so happy. ^_^
Thank you sweetie, for all the help and thoughts, and for just being you. ^_______^
~Nebula
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So really it's a personal thing, love. I really wouldn't let it bother you. The important thing is that you are putting your writing out there and folk are enjoying it. If you have the time to have a conversation with your reader, that's a bonus, but it's definitely not mandatory.
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Thank you sweetie; I'm really glad that it doesn't need to be done to enjoy a fic. I really didn't want her to be hurt over it, but it's not something I can do all the time. But it is fun when I can here, I definitely agree! ^_^
*smishes*
~Nebula
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