badwolfbadwolf:

How to Comment and Be a Cool Person and not a Total Douche

Do Not

  • Leave anything critical AT ALL in a comment.
  • Do not offer concrit unless the author has specifically asked for it, and even then, ask what kind of feedback they are looking for.  In that case, still, of course, be polite.  Sometimes fic writers are okay with discourse but they will say that specifically.  If you’re not sure, don’t say anything.  (I will say respectful discussion on if a fic should have been tagged a certain major way is fine, but again, as always, be respectful).
  • Do not demand updates.
  • Do not demand sequels or demand another chapter to be written to include something you want.  Hopeful and excited comments are okay as long as you phrase it as, I’d love this but it’s still your fic and you do WHATEVER the heck you want.
  • Do not say you wish the fic went a different way or wasn’t quite what you wanted.  If you feel that way, that’s totally valid, but you know what?  Close the fic and find something else.  Even better, WRITE IT YOURSELF.  You would NEVER say to your friend who brought you chocolate chip cookies, “oh thanks, this is great but it really could use more chocolate chips.  And I actually wanted oatmeal raisin.  Thanks, though! ”  No, of course not, so don’t do this in fic.
  • Do not shame anyone EVER for liking things that are different than you.  Follow ‘your kink is not my kink and that’s okay and I won’t say anything about it’ judiciously.
  • If you feel like you are wanting to write anything even remotely close to any of this, backspace the fuck out of all of that and don’t say anything.

If you are an author who’s received a weird comment, just delete that shit.  If you want to stand up for yourself, knock yourself out, but you really don’t owe anyone a justification, explanation, conversation, or even any type of reply.  This goes for asks, too.  An ask/prompt/comment is not a summons for a discussion you must submit to.  Just delete that shit.

Do

  • Leave a kudos and a comment!  Both is good!
  • In your comment, say you liked it!  That’s fine if that is it!  That will be SO appreciated.  Point out a section of dialogue you liked, a particular part that was great, that you are excited for more (but don’t demand more).  I’m also totally fine with people telling me comments of the ‘I’ll be in my bunk’ variety but ymmv on that one.
  • Even if the fic is really old or already has lots of comments or doesn’t reply to comments, leave a comment.  The author will read your comment and cherish it!  I LOVE getting comments on old fic.  And I try really hard to reply to all comments but sometimes I don’t do it right away to not seem weird and then a few days have passed and I’m like… is it weird to reply now?  So if that happens, I’m sorry and I still love you.
  • If you read it, leave a kudos.  I leave a kudos for anything I made it to the end of.  Shoot, sometimes I log out and leave an anonymous kudos so they can get two.
  • If you re-read something, comment and say you re-read it, because you can’t leave kudos again!  Re-reading is the ultimate compliment.
  • Rec things to friends, make rec lists, put it on your blog.  You will make someone’s day!
  • If it’s a thing on tumblr, like it and consider reblogging it.  Obviously you don’t have to, but tumblr is a weird place and it needs to spread in order to be seen for more than two seconds, so toss a reblog to your writer/artist.  
  • If something is a kink you’re embarrassed about, still please like it.  I promise you that no one is going through your likes and being like, well they liked THAT thing, wow…  No one cares and we are all strangers on the internet.  Writing that stuff is tough because people are more afraid to say they like it so people are less likely to put it out there because they didn’t get a lot of feedback and are worried they are some kind of freak and alone in this world (they’re not).  If you want more of something, the best way to get more of it is to be supportive!!!!
  • If you REALLY like something, it’s AMAZING to get an ask about your fic in an ask box.  AMAZING!  
  • You can anon in most people’s askboxes if you are not comfortable using your username.  You can also leave anonymous kudos and comments on things on ao3.

So, in short, please comment, leave kudos, like, reblog, and be nice.  These amazing people are writing free stuff for your enjoyment, and deserve to be showered in love and affection!!!  Tell them thank you!!!