As kind of a follow up to last week's inquiry into how you leave feedback, it seems fitting to also ask: how do you reply to feedback that's left for you
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I have the same tendency as isis2015 - I babble about what I was thinking during the writing process - I'm never sure whether it's a good habit or a bad one. But I do always reply (or stupidly hit "new comment" instead, by accident) - even if it's just "Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it," to a comment along the lines of "I liked this fic!" (Of course, I've not yet gotten, "OMG, i h8ted this fic u hoor!," but I think I'd say, "Um, thanks! Bye now!" Or something similarly inane.)
You raise another interesting point -- anything resembling criticism has kind of died off. I know it's because people feel reluctant to say critical things out in a public arena. And "I hate this you whore" is kinda obviously a troll, not that it's not upsetting on the rare occasions when it happens.
I try to respond to feedback, but I always end up missing things too.
I will usually at least try to thank people for leaving feedback. I want them to know that I appreciate the few seconds they took to even let me know they read the story.
I totally get what you're saying about it feeling bland. At that point, it's kind of like, "What else do I say?" I can say thanks, but if the person didn't leave a more specific comment or question, the conversation kind of ends there.
Absolutely, if the comment is short or simple -- an "I liked it," which is always welcome -- there's not much to say beyond thanks, because it is appreciated that someone took the time to read and to say they liked it.
But with longer comments, sometimes all I can think to say is "thanks" as well, and somehow it doesn't feel like enough.
100 years ago when I used to write fic, I would tend to babble, as some others have said, when responding to comments, especially if the comment itself was longish. It was just so nice to have someone give feedback and appreciate (or critique) my work.
As more of a reader now, I do appreciate it when an author says thanks in reply to my comment. Because otherwise you wonder if they're reading your comments, and whether it's worth the time to write one. If someone has a ton of replies, however, I understand that they can't answer every one.
But I think a "thanks for your comment!" is totally appropriate, and even a bland reply is better than none at all. But to each his or her own!
You've been posting some interesting questions lately, and I just wanted to say that I've really been enjoying reading them and reading the replies. :)
Thank you so much for saying the questions I've been asking lately are interesting! That makes me happy, and I've been thrilled by the replies.
I am always grateful that someone's taken the time to read and respond, to a story or to a post, for that matter. It's just hard to convey that. And sometimes, more with posts than with stories, it almost feels like replying to comments is an exercise in trying to have the last word. Though maybe I'm the only one who feels that way.
*hugs you* (because I thought I was the only one who had trouble with this)
When it's people I don't know, or don't know very well, I find it hard to respond to fb - I want them to know I appreciate the time it took to read and then comment on my fic, but am always afraid it comes off sounding either very dull or just completely rote, when what I *want* is to sound friendly and chatty. Useless, right? :( *is sorry*
Oh, you're definitely not the only one! Now I'm glad I posted, if only to have put it out there. Sounds like you have the exact same issues as me. We're not alone! *clings*
How do I respond? Like you do--thanks and glad you liked and discussion of concrete comments.
It's weird that you say you're impressed with talky feedback. I always feel like all my typing must annoy people, even when I'm addressing specific comments (like a good feedbacker), much less when I get into confessional rambles about process (which I usually don't dump on anyone but other writers) or sudden bursts of fangirling squee about a character or pet problem/plot/whatever that I see/know we have in common.
As for doing better with responding to feedback, I don't know...unless you for some reason want to learn to be as rambly as me. And then my advice is treat the reply like a conversation and don't be afraid to squee.
It's funny. I like rambly, but I'm not. And the talky repliers seem to think they're burdens or something. Is this another case of always wanting what we don't have?
But your inability to be "talky" is just...you. A one-sentence reply to one of my stories from you is often as good as a whole paragraph from someone else, because 1) I know that's how you are and 2) you pack a lot into it. The same goes for your replies to comments. :)
Can I just echo what Kate said? (as well as post my own babbly comment ;) ). Even if your fb is short, you usually pack a lot into it, and I learn stuff about my own writing from it. I take it as being a function of you being my beta, but you do it for everybody, and that's wonderful.
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I will usually at least try to thank people for leaving feedback. I want them to know that I appreciate the few seconds they took to even let me know they read the story.
I totally get what you're saying about it feeling bland. At that point, it's kind of like, "What else do I say?" I can say thanks, but if the person didn't leave a more specific comment or question, the conversation kind of ends there.
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But with longer comments, sometimes all I can think to say is "thanks" as well, and somehow it doesn't feel like enough.
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As more of a reader now, I do appreciate it when an author says thanks in reply to my comment. Because otherwise you wonder if they're reading your comments, and whether it's worth the time to write one. If someone has a ton of replies, however, I understand that they can't answer every one.
But I think a "thanks for your comment!" is totally appropriate, and even a bland reply is better than none at all. But to each his or her own!
You've been posting some interesting questions lately, and I just wanted to say that I've really been enjoying reading them and reading the replies. :)
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I am always grateful that someone's taken the time to read and respond, to a story or to a post, for that matter. It's just hard to convey that. And sometimes, more with posts than with stories, it almost feels like replying to comments is an exercise in trying to have the last word. Though maybe I'm the only one who feels that way.
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When it's people I don't know, or don't know very well, I find it hard to respond to fb - I want them to know I appreciate the time it took to read and then comment on my fic, but am always afraid it comes off sounding either very dull or just completely rote, when what I *want* is to sound friendly and chatty. Useless, right? :( *is sorry*
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It's weird that you say you're impressed with talky feedback. I always feel like all my typing must annoy people, even when I'm addressing specific comments (like a good feedbacker), much less when I get into confessional rambles about process (which I usually don't dump on anyone but other writers) or sudden bursts of fangirling squee about a character or pet problem/plot/whatever that I see/know we have in common.
As for doing better with responding to feedback, I don't know...unless you for some reason want to learn to be as rambly as me. And then my advice is treat the reply like a conversation and don't be afraid to squee.
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