Maeg´s guide to leaving feedback
Given the amount of questions and concerns raised in the comments of my previous post, I thought it was time for a guide to leaving feedback. Feel free to pimp it, link to it, frame it and hang it on your wall, or to happily ignore it. ;-)
Comments and additions are most welcome, as always.
Maeg's guide to leaving feedback
Feedback is - or should be - a large part of a fandom. But unfortunately there are a lot of misconceptions about feedback, which keeps readers from giving it. Let's clear up a few of these:
- Every author loves getting feedback, no matter if she's new or an established name in fandom.
- It also doesn't matter if an author posts a small drabble or an epic, multi-chapter fic. As soon as they upload something to the net they love seeing their readers' responses.
- Feedback doesn't necessarily equal a six-page essay on a fic. Feedback can range from one simple line to as many paragraphs as you want to write.
- Authors enjoy getting feedback of all sorts: one-liners ("I liked your story") and essays alike.
- There is nothing more discouraging for an author than getting little to no response for a story they've posted. It can even discourage new writers to such a degree, that they quit writing fanfiction altogether.
This guide offers three steps to giving feedback, with an additional fourth step for those who want to offer critique - which is by no means something you have to do if you feel uncomfortable about it.
Besides that, this guide offers Feedback FAQs and additional tips for reviewers and authors.
Leaving feedback isn't always the easiest thing in the world, for several reasons. The three steps described in here will guide you, the reader, through the techniques of becoming an excellent reviewer of the stories you've enjoyed.
My personal key to decide if I want to leave feedback or not, is simple: If I make it through a story, that means that I've enjoyed at least most of it, and thus it deserves feedback. Because when I don't enjoy a story, I don't finish it. And you don't have to enjoy every single piece of fanfiction out there. We are all individuals, with our own tastes and preferences.
But if you do make it through a story and enjoyed reading it, there's no excuse why you shouldn't let the author know that you did. Especially not with all the automated archives and livejournals out there, where leaving feedback is only one click of a button away.
Step 1: The One-Liner
One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of fanfiction, is that writers don't appreciate one-liners. You could not be more wrong. The one-liner tells the writer exactly what they want to know: that someone read and enjoyed their fic.
For this reason, the one-liner is the first step in leaving feedback. If you have never left feedback before, or if you are uncomfortable about leaving feedback, this is the best place to start.
The one-liner is simple, and won't take up much of your time. But it will tell the writer that you read their fic and liked it, and that is exactly what writers like to hear.
A few examples of one-liners:
I really liked this story.
I loved this fic!
I enjoyed this story a lot.
There are tons of variations in one-liners, but they all come down to one thing: a short comment in which you tell they author that you read and enjoyed their fic.
Please don't think that an author won't appreciate it, because they will. Any and all feedback is welcome.
Here's what you do: leave one-liners for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. No excuses. Just hit that button, and tell the author in one sentence that you liked their fic.
The authors will be very grateful that you take the time to tell them just that.
Step 2: The Two-Liner
When you have left one-liners to at least ten different stories, you are ready for the next step. The two-liner.
This is a bit more difficult than the one-liner, but still shouldn't take up too much of your time.
What's different between the one-liner and the two-liner, is that with the two-liner, you give at least one specific reason why you liked a story.
It's still simple, and it still won't take you long to comment, but it will give the author a little more insight as to why you enjoyed their fic. Plus, it's good for the reader themselves to figure out what they like about a story.
Here are a few examples of two-liners:
I really liked this story. I especially liked how you wrote Snape.
This was a great story. I really liked how you wrote the sex between Harry and Draco.
I loved this fic. I thought the dialogue between Sirius and Remus was fabulous.
The two-liner should become every reader's standard way of leaving feedback. It's the perfect middle course: it won't take up much of the reader's time and it still tells the author just a bit more than the average one-liner.
And please don't think that whatever argument you have for liking a fic is weird, would perhaps insult the author, or won't be appreciated.
If your argument is: I really liked how you described Ron's feet, then that is what you liked, and any author will be very pleased to hear just that.
Here is what you do: leave two-liners for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. Again, no excuses. Pick one thing you especially liked about a story, and leave that in a comment.
The authors will be very happy to learn just what you liked about their story.
Step 3: The Paragraph
When you have left two-liners to at least ten different fics, you're ready for the big work: The paragraph.
For an author, the paragraph is the best kind of feedback to get, but it is a lot more time-consuming for the reader than a simple one or two-liner. Still, I believe it is essential that every reader tries to leave paragraphs as often as they can.
The paragraph is nothing more than the reader telling the author exactly what they liked about a fic, why they liked it and any other comments they may have.
Here are a few examples of paragraphs:
This was an amazing fic. I really love Harry/Lucius, but so often Lucius is portrayed out of character, and personally I'm a fan of canon!Lucius. I think your characterization of Lucius was spot on, and I really enjoyed how he manipulated Harry into doing all those things for him. I also loved how you wrote the sex: it had such great intimacy, without getting too sweet or fluffy. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Oh man...this fic really got to me. I did not see that ending coming. What an amazing twist. Your Snape was awesome and so was your Sirius. I loved how you had the hatred going between them, but still had them understanding each other to a certain degree. It was cruel. It was harsh. It was utterly delicious. I really hope you will write this pairing more often, because I enjoyed this fic immensely.
Holy hell, woman! You should put a warning on this fic: do not read when unable to find a private spot within ten minutes after finishing this fic. This just pushed all my buttons. The chains, the wandplay, the coercion. Brilliant. The pace was excellent, as was Harry's inner-dialogue. And Voldemort! Gah, Voldemort was so brilliantly evil without going over the top. I think I'll be rereading this fic many times. Loved it!
Basically, a paragraph can be as short or as long as you want it to be. Anything that's longer than a two-liner and contains more than one reason why you enjoyed a story is a paragraph and will be highly appreciated by the author.
There are many variations to the paragraph. You can also include questions to the author:
Do you have your fics posted to a specific archive or website? I'd love to read more of your work.
Will there be a sequel to this story? I'd love to read more in this universe.
May I archive/link to this story on my website?
Anything that comes to your mind can be included in a paragraph. Do you want to quote a few of your favorite parts of the story and explain in detail why you loved those part, go right ahead. The author will be thrilled to see what exactly you liked about their fic.
Don't be afraid to say what you liked about a fic. No one will think any less of you if you like something others don't mention. And don't think that just because someone else already mentioned a specific point, you shouldn't mention it. It's your feedback, after all, and you can point out whatever you liked about a fic. Paragraphs are invaluable to authors, because they usually tell the author what worked in a specific story, and no author will ever tire of hearing that.
As I said before, a paragraph can be quite time-consuming, and it's perfectly understandable that you won't always have the time or energy to leave the writer a whole paragraph. In those cases, just take one step back, and leave a two-liner. That way the author still knows you enjoyed their story, and you won't have to miss your dentist appointment or be late for school/work, just because you wanted to leave feedback.
Here's what you do: Leave a paragraph for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. No excuses, unless your house is on fire and you really can't stay behind your pc. Give the story some thought and sum up what you enjoyed about it.
Have you left paragraphs to at least ten different stories? Congratulations! You are now a treasured reviewer and every author you leave feedback will love you to bits for it.
You now know the key to leaving good feedback. Paragraphs are the best, but don't worry if you lack the time to leave one. Just go for a two-liner and you will still make any author's day.
There is one more step in leaving feedback, but this step is by no means something a reader has to take if they don't want to.
Have you ever read a fic that you really enjoyed save for that one thing? And you really wanted to point that error out to the author? Then you might want to take a look at this:
Step 4: Constructive Criticism.
This step is only for those who feel comfortable with it. If you rather stick with two-liners and paragraphs, then by all means, ignore this part.
Constructive criticism is tricky for several reasons.
The first reason: not all authors appreciate it. As an author, I adore con-crit, but there are enough writers out there who only want to hear what worked in their fic, and not the things that could be improved.
Yes, even authors who state in the header of their fic that con-crit is welcome, sometimes really don't want to hear it. As a reader, it's therefore essential that you find out if the authors really want to receive con-crit.
When in doubt, email the author. Send them a short paragraph with a question: I really enjoyed this fic. I loved how you wrote Draco. I do have a few points I think could be approved. Would you like to hear those, or would you rather not receive constructive criticism?
That way, the author who does appreciate con-crit, will let you know, and the author who doesn't, can happily tell you no, or ignore your email, and you will know exactly how welcome any and all well-meant advice is.
The second reason: not everyone understands con-crit. When you have the go-ahead of an author to send them con-crit, other readers of the fic might still mistake it for insults, and flame your trousers off for sending it.
That's why it's always a good idea to send con-crit privately. That way you won't risk embarrassing the author in public or initiating a flame-war on a forum or egroup.
The third reason: some criticism is debatable. Therefore it is necessary to divide criticism into two groups:
The factual errors and the non-factual errors.
Factual errors are things like canon errors (misspellings of canon names, mixing up of time lines, etc), and spelling and/or grammar errors.
Usually, any author really likes to hear when they made a factual error, because those errors are oft overlooked but easily fixed, and do improve a story when corrected.
Pointing out a factual error is easy. Just paste it in your paragraph:
I really enjoyed this story. It's not often that you see this pairing, but I must say that I love Lucius/Walden. Just one thing I'd like to point out is that it's spelled Macnair, not McNair. I really liked how you wrote the powerplay between them. That was very well done.
When a story has a substantial amount of spelling/grammar/punctuation errors, it might be a better idea to suggest to the author to use a beta-reader, than to sum up every error. If you think the author is new to writing fanfiction, it's also a good idea to explain what a beta-reader is and what they do. No, this isn't silly. You'd be surprised by the amounts of new writers who have no idea what a beta-reader is.
If the author already has a beta-reader (often mentioned in their author's notes), but the fic still contains a lot of factual errors, it's still a good idea to politely point out that perhaps the author should get a second beta-reader who has a better grasp of the English language.
This doesn't mean that you should point out every typo and every punctuation error to a writer. Every writer makes an occasional mistake, and those mistakes aren't always caught by their beta-readers.
My personal key to leaving factual constructive criticism is that when I start to notice the errors to such a degree that it pulls me out of the fic, I'll point them out to the author. If it's just an occasional typo, I'll let it go.
The non-factual errors are a lot harder to criticize, simply because they are opinions. And everyone has their own opinions. That doesn't mean that you cannot voice your opinion, but that does mean that you shouldn't expect others to agree with you.
Characterization is one of those non-factual errors that can cause a lot of unease with both the reader and the writer when criticized.
When you decide to criticize a non-factual error, it's a very good idea to point out that this is your opinion, and that you don't expect the writer or anyone else to agree with you. They can be pasted into a paragraph as well.
Examples of pointing out non-factual errors:
Personally, I like Snape just a bit more snarky than how you portrayed him, but I do like how you wrote his interaction with Dumbledore.
I think Harry would be more upset with Sirius' death. This was his godfather after all, and one of his last remaining connections to his parents, so I thought it was odd he forgot all about Sirius so quickly when Draco showed interest in him.
I really don't think Remus would get over rape so easily. It was quite a traumatic experience, so I had a hard time believing he would fall in love with Snape so quickly after Snape was forced to rape him.
As you can see, these comments are filled with things like: Personally, I like, I think, I believe, etc. This is to point out that it is your opinion and by no means something that is set in stone. If you are unsure that your comment might be taken as an insult, then add 'this is just my opinion' to it to make sure the author knows that's what it is.
Leaving non-factual critique, while it often just exists of your opinions, is usually appreciated by authors, because it will give them reason to think about certain aspects of their story. They might look back at their work and conclude that yes, Snape was a bit too soft, and they know that they'll have to work harder on his characterization in their next fic.
And even if they might not agree with your views on something, most authors won't mind hearing about them and exchanging thoughts with you about it. Anything that makes an author think about their work is usually a good thing, even if they don't necessarily agree with your ideas.
There is one more category, often mistaken for non-factual critique, that should be mentioned. Something I like to refer to as 'the squick/kink factor'.
The squick/kink factor is all about taste, and thus not debatable. I could think underage sex is the hottest thing on the planet and you could hate it more than anything and neither of us is wrong or right. It's all a matter of personal tastes.
And because it is all about personal taste, there is no reason to try to present the squick/kink factor as con-crit.
I liked this story, but I believe incest is wrong and I don't like it.
While this is presented as con-crit, there is nothing constructive about it. The author can't do anything with this comment besides rolling their eyes and thinking you should have read the warnings better before reading their fic.
You can, however, offer advice on warnings for a certain kink/squick if the author failed to mention it in the author's notes:
I noticed there isn't a warning for incest in the header of your story. You might want to ad one, since a lot of people aren't too comfortable with it.
Or, in case an author has managed to turn your squick into a kink, you can of course tell them that:
I used to think incest was not something I could ever enjoy, but your Lucius/Draco fic has convinced me otherwise. I really loved how you wrote them together.
Most authors will be grinning from ear to ear for at least half an hour if a reader tells them they lost a squick through something the author wrote.
But if you can't say anything positive about an author's personal kink, then stay far away from it while giving feedback.
Three important things to remember when giving con-crit are: use arguments, offer advice on how to improve it, and don't forget to point out the things you did like.
There isn't a thing more frustrating for an author to see a bit of critique without an argument.
I don't like how you wrote Snape.
This will have the author wondering why on earth not, and most authors will start to worry that their fic isn't any good.
I don't like how you wrote Snape, because personally, I don't like him portrayed as an evil Death Eater, but as someone who has joined the side of light because he is essentially a good guy.
This will tell the author that you merely disagree about Snape's characterization, and that their fic is by no means bad.
The same goes for offering advice and improvement.
You had quite a few punctuation errors.
This will leave the author wondering what on earth those errors where, and how they should fix them.
You had quite a few punctuation errors, especially in your use of commas. You might want to check out this site, which explains the use of commas, or you can go here, and look for a beta-reader who can help you fix them.
This tells the author that there were errors, but also offers a way for the author to fix the errors and improve their writing. Most authors will be very grateful for receiving advice like that.
And last but certainly not least: don't just leave con-crit, but point out what you liked about a fic. There's nothing more depressing for an author than only receiving critique.
A good way to offer critique is to squeeze it in the middle of your paragraph. Start by listing a few things you really liked, point out the error or two you spotted and offer advice, and finish by summing up another few things you liked. An example:
I couldn't put this fic down. It totally sucked me in, and wouldn't let me go until the very end. The interaction between Harry and Remus was amazing, and I loved the pace of the story, because it made their relationship so realistic.
I did notice that you mixed up then/than a few times. You might want to look at this site, or join this lj community, which offers great advice on anything that has to do with grammar and punctuation. And while I really loved the interaction between Harry and Sirius, I personally like Sirius a bit more feisty and less compliant, but that's just my preference.
I thought you really had a good grasp of Snape's characterization, he was deliciously snarky and spiteful, and your Dumbledore was just as I like him: a mingling old coot. I also really liked how you wrote the sex between Harry and Remus. It was harsh without being cruel and sweet without being fluffy. This was a very good story. Well done!
Again, if you feel uncomfortable about leaving con-crit, then just forget about it, and stick with your two-liners and paragraphs. Also, like I pointed out before, not all authors will appreciate your well-meant advice, and you might receive an angry email in return. If that happens, don't let it keep you from sending feedback. Just be more careful who you sent con-crit to the next time. Check with the author whether they want to receive con-crit or not if you are in doubt.
Just know that most serious writers really appreciate con-crit, because it is the ultimate feedback and offers the writers good ways to improve their writing.
Additional tips for leaving feedback:
Mention the title of the fic you're sending feedback for when you're sending the author a private email. Most authors have several stories posted on the net, and it's difficult for them to know what story you are sending feedback for when all you say is: 'I really liked your story. I particularly enjoyed how you write Snape and Harry together.'
Avoid netspeak. You'd be amazed by the amount of people who have trouble reading and understanding it. Try to use full words and sentences when leaving feedback.
State your name. Authors usually really like to know who left them feedback, and stating who you are makes feedback a lot more personal than just leaving an anonymous comment.
When you've found a particular story through a recommendation (either on a website/forum or a livejournal) it's a good idea to let the author know where you found it. Most authors love to hear that their story has been recced, but they often aren't aware of it.
Feedback FAQ's
Sometimes I just feel so intimidated by the author or their story I don't even know what to say.
In this case, try to remember that the author is just a person with a hobby, sitting behind their pc typing up stories. They don't bite. They don't think that something you have to say isn't worth their time. No matter how popular an author may be or how much a story might intimidate you, remember that the author is just like you and me, and would like nothing more than to hear from you that you read and enjoyed their story. And if you feel uncomfortable, start with a one or two liner. You can never go wrong with one of those.
Sometimes the fic just strikes me speechless.
Then tell the author that! Leave a one-liner: This fic was so good, I'm completely speechless.
Any author will love to hear that, because they will know their work has touched you in a good way.
I've already recced a fic on my lj/egroup/website. Should I still leave feedback?
Reccing a story is a very good thing. The problem is, however, that a lot of times, the author will miss the recs, because they might not be aware of your lj/egroup/website. So while you have expressed your feelings for the story by reccing it, the author still doesn't have a clue. A good way to get around that, is to send the author a two-liner or a short paragraph with an url to the rec, so the author can take a look for themselves, and will know you liked their fic enough to rec it.
The fic I read is too brilliant to be given only a one-liner, and it's also difficult to write the reviews those fics deserve.
No fic is too brilliant to be given a one or two-liner as feedback. And a fic only deserves whatever feedback you want to give it. If you find it hard to write a lengthy review, then don't. Just stick with a two-liner or a small paragraph. Every author will be very grateful for whatever feedback you want to or can leave them.
I am always afraid people might be annoyed by my comments, because they are useless (like the famous "I love this fic!").
No feedback is ever useless. Even a simple one or two-liner will tell the author exactly what they'd like to know: that you read and enjoyed their fic. Anything else you want to add to that is most welcome, but by no means mandatory.
I'm a little insecure about my English, I'm no native speaker, so I'm not a very good judge when it comes to language and such, so any feedback I give most of the time comes down to "I liked it".
The HP fandom, like most other fandoms, is a very international community. You are not the only non-English native reader and there are tons of writers out there who aren't English natives, like yours truly. If you feel insecure about your English, then tell the author that. No author will mind if you tell them that you are Dutch/German/Spanish/whatever, but that you still want to leave them feedback in English. And no author will hold it against you if your English isn't perfect.
Start with leaving one and two-liners, and slowly work your way to compiling paragraphs until you feel comfortable enough about summing up in English what you liked about a fic. The author will be most happy with whatever feedback you feel comfortable leaving them.
I am not a writer and as such, do not possess any sort of writing ability. I often do not feel that I am able to give any sort of constructive criticism to an author.
You don't have to be a writer to be able to point out factual mistakes, and you don't have to be a writer to have your own opinions about things like characterization. Some of the best reviews I've ever gotten were written by people who only read fanfiction. Don't let the fact that you only read keep you from sending insightful feedback. Remember: the author wants to hear from their readers. And that's exactly what you are.
The author already knows I like their stories, I don't need to send feedback again for a new fic.
While you might believe the author already knows that, in most cases the author doesn't. Authors don't see their entire work as one and the same thing. Every new fic is a new experiment for them. They might have put extra energy in portraying one of the characters in a different way or they might have touched upon a subject they find difficult to write.
Every author loves to get feedback for every fic they write. If an author is particularly prolific, and you lack the time to leave lengthy feedback for each and everyone of their fics, then stick with a two-liner. That way the author still knows you read and enjoyed that particular fic.
I'm afraid that the author totally reads my feedback the wrong way.
If you feel uncomfortable about leaving feedback, stick to the steps. Start with one-liners, then try a few two-liners, and eventually leave a small paragraph. If you're still doubtful, show your paragraph to a friend, and ask what they make of it. And if you are particularly worried about con-crit, then don't give it.
Remember, you can never go wrong with a two-liner.
Do I have to comment on every chapter of a WIP?
WIPs are tricky things, because technically they are one story, but to the author it still feels like posting many short stories every time they add a new chapter. If you don't feel up to leaving lengthy paragraphs for every chapter, then don't. But leaving a two-liner for every new chapter is always appreciated by the author, since they'd really like to know if their readers are still reading and enjoying their fic.
I'm often too tired to leave feedback, and tell myself to write to the author the next day. Then I often forget to do so.
This is something I hear quite often. In this case, stick to two-liners. That won't take up too much of your time and energy, and still tell the author you read and enjoyed their fic. And while you might have more to say the next day, if you forget to leave feedback the next day, sending a two-liner directly after reading the fic is still a lot better than leaving no feedback at all.
'BNF authors' already get enough feedback. Why should I bother with sending them feedback. It's no more than a drop in the bucket.
Yes, and if every reader thinks like this, even the 'BNF authors' won't receive any feedback at all.
Just because a certain fic or author seems popular, it doesn't mean that the author doesn't appreciate receiving feedback. Even a simple two-liner is something every author enjoys getting.
I've sent polite feedback but the author responded by sending me something that resembles a flame.
Sadly, this sometimes happens. And while there's no telling why that particular author responded that way, it's best not to take it personal, and not to let it keep you from sending feedback to authors who do appreciate it. Just remember that particular author's name, and don't bother with sending them anymore feedback. Use your energy to tell authors who like receiving feedback what you thought of their fics.
If I send feedback to an author for more than one or two of their stories, won't they think I'm stalking them?
No, they won't. Unless you ask them for their phone number, their home address, or send them a serious marriage proposal. When all you do is leave them feedback for their stories, you have nothing to worry about.
Authors see all their fics as individual stories, and really enjoy receiving feedback for each and everyone of them.
I print the fics I want to read, and then read them away from a pc. That way, I often forget to send feedback when I'm behind my pc again. Or when I'm behind a pc I don't have much time to sit down and think of what to say to the author.
A way to get around this, is by using the good old ballpoint pen. When you've finished reading a fic, write the feedback you want to send the author down in the margin or on the back of the paper. Then make yourself a nice 'to feedback' pile, and when you have pc time again, all you have to do is type down the feedback you've already composed in an email and send it off to the author. That way you will save a lot of time, and the author will still get the feedback they so much appreciate.
I'm new in the fandom, and I've seen a lot of classical fics recced on several sites that I want to read. Wouldn't it be odd if I send those authors feedback for a story they posted a long time ago?
Nope, that wouldn't be odd at all. Fandom is a very dynamic place. Everyday new people discover it and read stories that were published way before their time. The author, however, hasn't forgotten about their stories, even if they sometimes posted them years ago. Receiving feedback for an old story is something any author appreciates. Feedback never gets out of date.
And if you feel a bit uncomfortable about it, just add a small line to your feedback: 'I only just found this story, and I really liked...'
I just read a really long fic which I enjoyed. Isn't it weird to leave a short comment for it? Doesn't the author expect a long review because she wrote a long fic?
No, an author doesn't necessarily expect a six-page review for a longer fic. Any author will be quite happy with whatever feedback you will give them. Of course, a longer fic often gives you more things to sum up in a paragraph should you want to leave a paragraph, but you shouldn't worry that leaving a two-liner or a short paragraph for a long fic is weird or won't be appreciated by the author.
I want to leave feedback for a story I've read on an egroup/forum, but one-liners and other short posts aren't allowed there.
Some egroups/forums have the rule that short posts should be sent to the author privately. This so one-liners won't clog up people's inboxes. You can imagine that when you send a short post to the author on an egroup that has 2000 members, you will have one very happy author, but also 1999 other members who will have one more email that has no use for them filling up their inbox.
In cases of egroups and forums, it's always a good idea to check their rules before posting feedback. If they don't allow it, simply send your feedback to the author privately. Even if it's just a one or two-liner. No author will object to receiving feedback off-list.
I found some really good fanart. Should I leave the artists feedback for it?
Artists love getting feedback, just like authors. Everything mentioned in this guide applies to artists as well as writers, so if you come across a piece of fanart that you like, don't be afraid to tell the artist and leave them a few lines of feedback.
Some tips for the authors:
Make sure your penname and contact information is available on the same page as your story, or at least a clearly visible url to the contact information. There's nothing more frustrating for a reader than wanting to leave feedback, but not being able to find the author's email address.
When someone takes the time to send you feedback by private email, be it a one-liner or a lengthy review, replying to that email is a polite thing to do. A simple: 'thank you, your feedback is much appreciated' will let the reader know you received their feedback (and it didn't get lost in cyberspace) and that you do appreciate them taking the time to leave you a note on your story.
Don't use techniques like threatening to withhold a new chapter if you don't receive an x amount of reviews. Please, be more mature than that. It's okay to ask for feedback, and the best place to do it is in the header of your fic. An few examples:
Feedback: yes, please. I'd really like to know what you think of my fic. Con-crit is most welcome. Send it to me at: myemailaddy @ internet.com
Feedback: on or off list. Raving reviews and con-crit are most appreciated. Flames will be happily ignored. myemailaddy @ internet.com
When posting your stories to a website or private archive, make sure the formatting of the story is simple yet efficient, and most importantly, is pleasant for the reader to look at. Use hard returns between paragraphs, use at least a 12pt font (fonts like Arial and Times New Roman are usually easiest to read) and stay away from bright colors. Dark text on a light background is often the most pleasant way to read a story. You'd be amazed by how many readers are put off by bad formatting and will pass a story that's not formatted correctly.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, send them to me at: maeglin.yedi @ lycos.nl
On behalf of all the fanfiction writers out there, thank you for reading this.
Maeglin Yedi
Comments and additions are most welcome, as always.
Maeg's guide to leaving feedback
Feedback is - or should be - a large part of a fandom. But unfortunately there are a lot of misconceptions about feedback, which keeps readers from giving it. Let's clear up a few of these:
- Every author loves getting feedback, no matter if she's new or an established name in fandom.
- It also doesn't matter if an author posts a small drabble or an epic, multi-chapter fic. As soon as they upload something to the net they love seeing their readers' responses.
- Feedback doesn't necessarily equal a six-page essay on a fic. Feedback can range from one simple line to as many paragraphs as you want to write.
- Authors enjoy getting feedback of all sorts: one-liners ("I liked your story") and essays alike.
- There is nothing more discouraging for an author than getting little to no response for a story they've posted. It can even discourage new writers to such a degree, that they quit writing fanfiction altogether.
This guide offers three steps to giving feedback, with an additional fourth step for those who want to offer critique - which is by no means something you have to do if you feel uncomfortable about it.
Besides that, this guide offers Feedback FAQs and additional tips for reviewers and authors.
Leaving feedback isn't always the easiest thing in the world, for several reasons. The three steps described in here will guide you, the reader, through the techniques of becoming an excellent reviewer of the stories you've enjoyed.
My personal key to decide if I want to leave feedback or not, is simple: If I make it through a story, that means that I've enjoyed at least most of it, and thus it deserves feedback. Because when I don't enjoy a story, I don't finish it. And you don't have to enjoy every single piece of fanfiction out there. We are all individuals, with our own tastes and preferences.
But if you do make it through a story and enjoyed reading it, there's no excuse why you shouldn't let the author know that you did. Especially not with all the automated archives and livejournals out there, where leaving feedback is only one click of a button away.
Step 1: The One-Liner
One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of fanfiction, is that writers don't appreciate one-liners. You could not be more wrong. The one-liner tells the writer exactly what they want to know: that someone read and enjoyed their fic.
For this reason, the one-liner is the first step in leaving feedback. If you have never left feedback before, or if you are uncomfortable about leaving feedback, this is the best place to start.
The one-liner is simple, and won't take up much of your time. But it will tell the writer that you read their fic and liked it, and that is exactly what writers like to hear.
A few examples of one-liners:
I really liked this story.
I loved this fic!
I enjoyed this story a lot.
There are tons of variations in one-liners, but they all come down to one thing: a short comment in which you tell they author that you read and enjoyed their fic.
Please don't think that an author won't appreciate it, because they will. Any and all feedback is welcome.
Here's what you do: leave one-liners for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. No excuses. Just hit that button, and tell the author in one sentence that you liked their fic.
The authors will be very grateful that you take the time to tell them just that.
Step 2: The Two-Liner
When you have left one-liners to at least ten different stories, you are ready for the next step. The two-liner.
This is a bit more difficult than the one-liner, but still shouldn't take up too much of your time.
What's different between the one-liner and the two-liner, is that with the two-liner, you give at least one specific reason why you liked a story.
It's still simple, and it still won't take you long to comment, but it will give the author a little more insight as to why you enjoyed their fic. Plus, it's good for the reader themselves to figure out what they like about a story.
Here are a few examples of two-liners:
I really liked this story. I especially liked how you wrote Snape.
This was a great story. I really liked how you wrote the sex between Harry and Draco.
I loved this fic. I thought the dialogue between Sirius and Remus was fabulous.
The two-liner should become every reader's standard way of leaving feedback. It's the perfect middle course: it won't take up much of the reader's time and it still tells the author just a bit more than the average one-liner.
And please don't think that whatever argument you have for liking a fic is weird, would perhaps insult the author, or won't be appreciated.
If your argument is: I really liked how you described Ron's feet, then that is what you liked, and any author will be very pleased to hear just that.
Here is what you do: leave two-liners for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. Again, no excuses. Pick one thing you especially liked about a story, and leave that in a comment.
The authors will be very happy to learn just what you liked about their story.
Step 3: The Paragraph
When you have left two-liners to at least ten different fics, you're ready for the big work: The paragraph.
For an author, the paragraph is the best kind of feedback to get, but it is a lot more time-consuming for the reader than a simple one or two-liner. Still, I believe it is essential that every reader tries to leave paragraphs as often as they can.
The paragraph is nothing more than the reader telling the author exactly what they liked about a fic, why they liked it and any other comments they may have.
Here are a few examples of paragraphs:
This was an amazing fic. I really love Harry/Lucius, but so often Lucius is portrayed out of character, and personally I'm a fan of canon!Lucius. I think your characterization of Lucius was spot on, and I really enjoyed how he manipulated Harry into doing all those things for him. I also loved how you wrote the sex: it had such great intimacy, without getting too sweet or fluffy. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Oh man...this fic really got to me. I did not see that ending coming. What an amazing twist. Your Snape was awesome and so was your Sirius. I loved how you had the hatred going between them, but still had them understanding each other to a certain degree. It was cruel. It was harsh. It was utterly delicious. I really hope you will write this pairing more often, because I enjoyed this fic immensely.
Holy hell, woman! You should put a warning on this fic: do not read when unable to find a private spot within ten minutes after finishing this fic. This just pushed all my buttons. The chains, the wandplay, the coercion. Brilliant. The pace was excellent, as was Harry's inner-dialogue. And Voldemort! Gah, Voldemort was so brilliantly evil without going over the top. I think I'll be rereading this fic many times. Loved it!
Basically, a paragraph can be as short or as long as you want it to be. Anything that's longer than a two-liner and contains more than one reason why you enjoyed a story is a paragraph and will be highly appreciated by the author.
There are many variations to the paragraph. You can also include questions to the author:
Do you have your fics posted to a specific archive or website? I'd love to read more of your work.
Will there be a sequel to this story? I'd love to read more in this universe.
May I archive/link to this story on my website?
Anything that comes to your mind can be included in a paragraph. Do you want to quote a few of your favorite parts of the story and explain in detail why you loved those part, go right ahead. The author will be thrilled to see what exactly you liked about their fic.
Don't be afraid to say what you liked about a fic. No one will think any less of you if you like something others don't mention. And don't think that just because someone else already mentioned a specific point, you shouldn't mention it. It's your feedback, after all, and you can point out whatever you liked about a fic. Paragraphs are invaluable to authors, because they usually tell the author what worked in a specific story, and no author will ever tire of hearing that.
As I said before, a paragraph can be quite time-consuming, and it's perfectly understandable that you won't always have the time or energy to leave the writer a whole paragraph. In those cases, just take one step back, and leave a two-liner. That way the author still knows you enjoyed their story, and you won't have to miss your dentist appointment or be late for school/work, just because you wanted to leave feedback.
Here's what you do: Leave a paragraph for the next ten stories you read and enjoy. No excuses, unless your house is on fire and you really can't stay behind your pc. Give the story some thought and sum up what you enjoyed about it.
Have you left paragraphs to at least ten different stories? Congratulations! You are now a treasured reviewer and every author you leave feedback will love you to bits for it.
You now know the key to leaving good feedback. Paragraphs are the best, but don't worry if you lack the time to leave one. Just go for a two-liner and you will still make any author's day.
There is one more step in leaving feedback, but this step is by no means something a reader has to take if they don't want to.
Have you ever read a fic that you really enjoyed save for that one thing? And you really wanted to point that error out to the author? Then you might want to take a look at this:
Step 4: Constructive Criticism.
This step is only for those who feel comfortable with it. If you rather stick with two-liners and paragraphs, then by all means, ignore this part.
Constructive criticism is tricky for several reasons.
The first reason: not all authors appreciate it. As an author, I adore con-crit, but there are enough writers out there who only want to hear what worked in their fic, and not the things that could be improved.
Yes, even authors who state in the header of their fic that con-crit is welcome, sometimes really don't want to hear it. As a reader, it's therefore essential that you find out if the authors really want to receive con-crit.
When in doubt, email the author. Send them a short paragraph with a question: I really enjoyed this fic. I loved how you wrote Draco. I do have a few points I think could be approved. Would you like to hear those, or would you rather not receive constructive criticism?
That way, the author who does appreciate con-crit, will let you know, and the author who doesn't, can happily tell you no, or ignore your email, and you will know exactly how welcome any and all well-meant advice is.
The second reason: not everyone understands con-crit. When you have the go-ahead of an author to send them con-crit, other readers of the fic might still mistake it for insults, and flame your trousers off for sending it.
That's why it's always a good idea to send con-crit privately. That way you won't risk embarrassing the author in public or initiating a flame-war on a forum or egroup.
The third reason: some criticism is debatable. Therefore it is necessary to divide criticism into two groups:
The factual errors and the non-factual errors.
Factual errors are things like canon errors (misspellings of canon names, mixing up of time lines, etc), and spelling and/or grammar errors.
Usually, any author really likes to hear when they made a factual error, because those errors are oft overlooked but easily fixed, and do improve a story when corrected.
Pointing out a factual error is easy. Just paste it in your paragraph:
I really enjoyed this story. It's not often that you see this pairing, but I must say that I love Lucius/Walden. Just one thing I'd like to point out is that it's spelled Macnair, not McNair. I really liked how you wrote the powerplay between them. That was very well done.
When a story has a substantial amount of spelling/grammar/punctuation errors, it might be a better idea to suggest to the author to use a beta-reader, than to sum up every error. If you think the author is new to writing fanfiction, it's also a good idea to explain what a beta-reader is and what they do. No, this isn't silly. You'd be surprised by the amounts of new writers who have no idea what a beta-reader is.
If the author already has a beta-reader (often mentioned in their author's notes), but the fic still contains a lot of factual errors, it's still a good idea to politely point out that perhaps the author should get a second beta-reader who has a better grasp of the English language.
This doesn't mean that you should point out every typo and every punctuation error to a writer. Every writer makes an occasional mistake, and those mistakes aren't always caught by their beta-readers.
My personal key to leaving factual constructive criticism is that when I start to notice the errors to such a degree that it pulls me out of the fic, I'll point them out to the author. If it's just an occasional typo, I'll let it go.
The non-factual errors are a lot harder to criticize, simply because they are opinions. And everyone has their own opinions. That doesn't mean that you cannot voice your opinion, but that does mean that you shouldn't expect others to agree with you.
Characterization is one of those non-factual errors that can cause a lot of unease with both the reader and the writer when criticized.
When you decide to criticize a non-factual error, it's a very good idea to point out that this is your opinion, and that you don't expect the writer or anyone else to agree with you. They can be pasted into a paragraph as well.
Examples of pointing out non-factual errors:
Personally, I like Snape just a bit more snarky than how you portrayed him, but I do like how you wrote his interaction with Dumbledore.
I think Harry would be more upset with Sirius' death. This was his godfather after all, and one of his last remaining connections to his parents, so I thought it was odd he forgot all about Sirius so quickly when Draco showed interest in him.
I really don't think Remus would get over rape so easily. It was quite a traumatic experience, so I had a hard time believing he would fall in love with Snape so quickly after Snape was forced to rape him.
As you can see, these comments are filled with things like: Personally, I like, I think, I believe, etc. This is to point out that it is your opinion and by no means something that is set in stone. If you are unsure that your comment might be taken as an insult, then add 'this is just my opinion' to it to make sure the author knows that's what it is.
Leaving non-factual critique, while it often just exists of your opinions, is usually appreciated by authors, because it will give them reason to think about certain aspects of their story. They might look back at their work and conclude that yes, Snape was a bit too soft, and they know that they'll have to work harder on his characterization in their next fic.
And even if they might not agree with your views on something, most authors won't mind hearing about them and exchanging thoughts with you about it. Anything that makes an author think about their work is usually a good thing, even if they don't necessarily agree with your ideas.
There is one more category, often mistaken for non-factual critique, that should be mentioned. Something I like to refer to as 'the squick/kink factor'.
The squick/kink factor is all about taste, and thus not debatable. I could think underage sex is the hottest thing on the planet and you could hate it more than anything and neither of us is wrong or right. It's all a matter of personal tastes.
And because it is all about personal taste, there is no reason to try to present the squick/kink factor as con-crit.
I liked this story, but I believe incest is wrong and I don't like it.
While this is presented as con-crit, there is nothing constructive about it. The author can't do anything with this comment besides rolling their eyes and thinking you should have read the warnings better before reading their fic.
You can, however, offer advice on warnings for a certain kink/squick if the author failed to mention it in the author's notes:
I noticed there isn't a warning for incest in the header of your story. You might want to ad one, since a lot of people aren't too comfortable with it.
Or, in case an author has managed to turn your squick into a kink, you can of course tell them that:
I used to think incest was not something I could ever enjoy, but your Lucius/Draco fic has convinced me otherwise. I really loved how you wrote them together.
Most authors will be grinning from ear to ear for at least half an hour if a reader tells them they lost a squick through something the author wrote.
But if you can't say anything positive about an author's personal kink, then stay far away from it while giving feedback.
Three important things to remember when giving con-crit are: use arguments, offer advice on how to improve it, and don't forget to point out the things you did like.
There isn't a thing more frustrating for an author to see a bit of critique without an argument.
I don't like how you wrote Snape.
This will have the author wondering why on earth not, and most authors will start to worry that their fic isn't any good.
I don't like how you wrote Snape, because personally, I don't like him portrayed as an evil Death Eater, but as someone who has joined the side of light because he is essentially a good guy.
This will tell the author that you merely disagree about Snape's characterization, and that their fic is by no means bad.
The same goes for offering advice and improvement.
You had quite a few punctuation errors.
This will leave the author wondering what on earth those errors where, and how they should fix them.
You had quite a few punctuation errors, especially in your use of commas. You might want to check out this site, which explains the use of commas, or you can go here, and look for a beta-reader who can help you fix them.
This tells the author that there were errors, but also offers a way for the author to fix the errors and improve their writing. Most authors will be very grateful for receiving advice like that.
And last but certainly not least: don't just leave con-crit, but point out what you liked about a fic. There's nothing more depressing for an author than only receiving critique.
A good way to offer critique is to squeeze it in the middle of your paragraph. Start by listing a few things you really liked, point out the error or two you spotted and offer advice, and finish by summing up another few things you liked. An example:
I couldn't put this fic down. It totally sucked me in, and wouldn't let me go until the very end. The interaction between Harry and Remus was amazing, and I loved the pace of the story, because it made their relationship so realistic.
I did notice that you mixed up then/than a few times. You might want to look at this site, or join this lj community, which offers great advice on anything that has to do with grammar and punctuation. And while I really loved the interaction between Harry and Sirius, I personally like Sirius a bit more feisty and less compliant, but that's just my preference.
I thought you really had a good grasp of Snape's characterization, he was deliciously snarky and spiteful, and your Dumbledore was just as I like him: a mingling old coot. I also really liked how you wrote the sex between Harry and Remus. It was harsh without being cruel and sweet without being fluffy. This was a very good story. Well done!
Again, if you feel uncomfortable about leaving con-crit, then just forget about it, and stick with your two-liners and paragraphs. Also, like I pointed out before, not all authors will appreciate your well-meant advice, and you might receive an angry email in return. If that happens, don't let it keep you from sending feedback. Just be more careful who you sent con-crit to the next time. Check with the author whether they want to receive con-crit or not if you are in doubt.
Just know that most serious writers really appreciate con-crit, because it is the ultimate feedback and offers the writers good ways to improve their writing.
Additional tips for leaving feedback:
Mention the title of the fic you're sending feedback for when you're sending the author a private email. Most authors have several stories posted on the net, and it's difficult for them to know what story you are sending feedback for when all you say is: 'I really liked your story. I particularly enjoyed how you write Snape and Harry together.'
Avoid netspeak. You'd be amazed by the amount of people who have trouble reading and understanding it. Try to use full words and sentences when leaving feedback.
State your name. Authors usually really like to know who left them feedback, and stating who you are makes feedback a lot more personal than just leaving an anonymous comment.
When you've found a particular story through a recommendation (either on a website/forum or a livejournal) it's a good idea to let the author know where you found it. Most authors love to hear that their story has been recced, but they often aren't aware of it.
Feedback FAQ's
Sometimes I just feel so intimidated by the author or their story I don't even know what to say.
In this case, try to remember that the author is just a person with a hobby, sitting behind their pc typing up stories. They don't bite. They don't think that something you have to say isn't worth their time. No matter how popular an author may be or how much a story might intimidate you, remember that the author is just like you and me, and would like nothing more than to hear from you that you read and enjoyed their story. And if you feel uncomfortable, start with a one or two liner. You can never go wrong with one of those.
Sometimes the fic just strikes me speechless.
Then tell the author that! Leave a one-liner: This fic was so good, I'm completely speechless.
Any author will love to hear that, because they will know their work has touched you in a good way.
I've already recced a fic on my lj/egroup/website. Should I still leave feedback?
Reccing a story is a very good thing. The problem is, however, that a lot of times, the author will miss the recs, because they might not be aware of your lj/egroup/website. So while you have expressed your feelings for the story by reccing it, the author still doesn't have a clue. A good way to get around that, is to send the author a two-liner or a short paragraph with an url to the rec, so the author can take a look for themselves, and will know you liked their fic enough to rec it.
The fic I read is too brilliant to be given only a one-liner, and it's also difficult to write the reviews those fics deserve.
No fic is too brilliant to be given a one or two-liner as feedback. And a fic only deserves whatever feedback you want to give it. If you find it hard to write a lengthy review, then don't. Just stick with a two-liner or a small paragraph. Every author will be very grateful for whatever feedback you want to or can leave them.
I am always afraid people might be annoyed by my comments, because they are useless (like the famous "I love this fic!").
No feedback is ever useless. Even a simple one or two-liner will tell the author exactly what they'd like to know: that you read and enjoyed their fic. Anything else you want to add to that is most welcome, but by no means mandatory.
I'm a little insecure about my English, I'm no native speaker, so I'm not a very good judge when it comes to language and such, so any feedback I give most of the time comes down to "I liked it".
The HP fandom, like most other fandoms, is a very international community. You are not the only non-English native reader and there are tons of writers out there who aren't English natives, like yours truly. If you feel insecure about your English, then tell the author that. No author will mind if you tell them that you are Dutch/German/Spanish/whatever, but that you still want to leave them feedback in English. And no author will hold it against you if your English isn't perfect.
Start with leaving one and two-liners, and slowly work your way to compiling paragraphs until you feel comfortable enough about summing up in English what you liked about a fic. The author will be most happy with whatever feedback you feel comfortable leaving them.
I am not a writer and as such, do not possess any sort of writing ability. I often do not feel that I am able to give any sort of constructive criticism to an author.
You don't have to be a writer to be able to point out factual mistakes, and you don't have to be a writer to have your own opinions about things like characterization. Some of the best reviews I've ever gotten were written by people who only read fanfiction. Don't let the fact that you only read keep you from sending insightful feedback. Remember: the author wants to hear from their readers. And that's exactly what you are.
The author already knows I like their stories, I don't need to send feedback again for a new fic.
While you might believe the author already knows that, in most cases the author doesn't. Authors don't see their entire work as one and the same thing. Every new fic is a new experiment for them. They might have put extra energy in portraying one of the characters in a different way or they might have touched upon a subject they find difficult to write.
Every author loves to get feedback for every fic they write. If an author is particularly prolific, and you lack the time to leave lengthy feedback for each and everyone of their fics, then stick with a two-liner. That way the author still knows you read and enjoyed that particular fic.
I'm afraid that the author totally reads my feedback the wrong way.
If you feel uncomfortable about leaving feedback, stick to the steps. Start with one-liners, then try a few two-liners, and eventually leave a small paragraph. If you're still doubtful, show your paragraph to a friend, and ask what they make of it. And if you are particularly worried about con-crit, then don't give it.
Remember, you can never go wrong with a two-liner.
Do I have to comment on every chapter of a WIP?
WIPs are tricky things, because technically they are one story, but to the author it still feels like posting many short stories every time they add a new chapter. If you don't feel up to leaving lengthy paragraphs for every chapter, then don't. But leaving a two-liner for every new chapter is always appreciated by the author, since they'd really like to know if their readers are still reading and enjoying their fic.
I'm often too tired to leave feedback, and tell myself to write to the author the next day. Then I often forget to do so.
This is something I hear quite often. In this case, stick to two-liners. That won't take up too much of your time and energy, and still tell the author you read and enjoyed their fic. And while you might have more to say the next day, if you forget to leave feedback the next day, sending a two-liner directly after reading the fic is still a lot better than leaving no feedback at all.
'BNF authors' already get enough feedback. Why should I bother with sending them feedback. It's no more than a drop in the bucket.
Yes, and if every reader thinks like this, even the 'BNF authors' won't receive any feedback at all.
Just because a certain fic or author seems popular, it doesn't mean that the author doesn't appreciate receiving feedback. Even a simple two-liner is something every author enjoys getting.
I've sent polite feedback but the author responded by sending me something that resembles a flame.
Sadly, this sometimes happens. And while there's no telling why that particular author responded that way, it's best not to take it personal, and not to let it keep you from sending feedback to authors who do appreciate it. Just remember that particular author's name, and don't bother with sending them anymore feedback. Use your energy to tell authors who like receiving feedback what you thought of their fics.
If I send feedback to an author for more than one or two of their stories, won't they think I'm stalking them?
No, they won't. Unless you ask them for their phone number, their home address, or send them a serious marriage proposal. When all you do is leave them feedback for their stories, you have nothing to worry about.
Authors see all their fics as individual stories, and really enjoy receiving feedback for each and everyone of them.
I print the fics I want to read, and then read them away from a pc. That way, I often forget to send feedback when I'm behind my pc again. Or when I'm behind a pc I don't have much time to sit down and think of what to say to the author.
A way to get around this, is by using the good old ballpoint pen. When you've finished reading a fic, write the feedback you want to send the author down in the margin or on the back of the paper. Then make yourself a nice 'to feedback' pile, and when you have pc time again, all you have to do is type down the feedback you've already composed in an email and send it off to the author. That way you will save a lot of time, and the author will still get the feedback they so much appreciate.
I'm new in the fandom, and I've seen a lot of classical fics recced on several sites that I want to read. Wouldn't it be odd if I send those authors feedback for a story they posted a long time ago?
Nope, that wouldn't be odd at all. Fandom is a very dynamic place. Everyday new people discover it and read stories that were published way before their time. The author, however, hasn't forgotten about their stories, even if they sometimes posted them years ago. Receiving feedback for an old story is something any author appreciates. Feedback never gets out of date.
And if you feel a bit uncomfortable about it, just add a small line to your feedback: 'I only just found this story, and I really liked...'
I just read a really long fic which I enjoyed. Isn't it weird to leave a short comment for it? Doesn't the author expect a long review because she wrote a long fic?
No, an author doesn't necessarily expect a six-page review for a longer fic. Any author will be quite happy with whatever feedback you will give them. Of course, a longer fic often gives you more things to sum up in a paragraph should you want to leave a paragraph, but you shouldn't worry that leaving a two-liner or a short paragraph for a long fic is weird or won't be appreciated by the author.
I want to leave feedback for a story I've read on an egroup/forum, but one-liners and other short posts aren't allowed there.
Some egroups/forums have the rule that short posts should be sent to the author privately. This so one-liners won't clog up people's inboxes. You can imagine that when you send a short post to the author on an egroup that has 2000 members, you will have one very happy author, but also 1999 other members who will have one more email that has no use for them filling up their inbox.
In cases of egroups and forums, it's always a good idea to check their rules before posting feedback. If they don't allow it, simply send your feedback to the author privately. Even if it's just a one or two-liner. No author will object to receiving feedback off-list.
I found some really good fanart. Should I leave the artists feedback for it?
Artists love getting feedback, just like authors. Everything mentioned in this guide applies to artists as well as writers, so if you come across a piece of fanart that you like, don't be afraid to tell the artist and leave them a few lines of feedback.
Some tips for the authors:
Make sure your penname and contact information is available on the same page as your story, or at least a clearly visible url to the contact information. There's nothing more frustrating for a reader than wanting to leave feedback, but not being able to find the author's email address.
When someone takes the time to send you feedback by private email, be it a one-liner or a lengthy review, replying to that email is a polite thing to do. A simple: 'thank you, your feedback is much appreciated' will let the reader know you received their feedback (and it didn't get lost in cyberspace) and that you do appreciate them taking the time to leave you a note on your story.
Don't use techniques like threatening to withhold a new chapter if you don't receive an x amount of reviews. Please, be more mature than that. It's okay to ask for feedback, and the best place to do it is in the header of your fic. An few examples:
Feedback: yes, please. I'd really like to know what you think of my fic. Con-crit is most welcome. Send it to me at: myemailaddy @ internet.com
Feedback: on or off list. Raving reviews and con-crit are most appreciated. Flames will be happily ignored. myemailaddy @ internet.com
When posting your stories to a website or private archive, make sure the formatting of the story is simple yet efficient, and most importantly, is pleasant for the reader to look at. Use hard returns between paragraphs, use at least a 12pt font (fonts like Arial and Times New Roman are usually easiest to read) and stay away from bright colors. Dark text on a light background is often the most pleasant way to read a story. You'd be amazed by how many readers are put off by bad formatting and will pass a story that's not formatted correctly.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, send them to me at: maeglin.yedi @ lycos.nl
On behalf of all the fanfiction writers out there, thank you for reading this.
Maeglin Yedi