#on comments

[ginnyw-potter]

Commenting etiquette

Yes, we do need to talk about it. And I'm not talking about the hateful comments, there are mean people everywhere. I'm talking about people who enjoy the fic but don't seem to get that across entirely.

I frequently hear other writers get so discouraged by unmindful comments and it's something I've experienced too.

And I absolutely do not want to get people scared to comment, because the majority of comments are good and wonderful, I just hope a few do's and don'ts help everyone along.

You do not know the writer and the writer doesn't know you Most of the time, you do not have any rapport going with the writer or very little, unless you are besties who are in each other's PMs. What that means

It is really difficult to guess people's tone and intentions from a few words in a comment box, especially if they're dubious. So don't make them dubious! It's so easy to say I like...., I enjoyed... Put it in there, please (more tips below)

You don't know what people are going through There can be about 700 reasons a writer doesn't update... maybe they don't feel like it, maybe life got in the way, sometimes people go an have babies, or their house burns down! The dreaded AO3 curse! So, be kind, always. You are getting free words. Writers do not owe you an update when you want, no matter what humongous cliff hanger they left you on

It's so easy to be misunderstood online.

"But I want an update!"

Yeah, I get it. you're excited! But asking for an update is hardly ever going to land well. What you can say instead of 'When do you update?' (or other, ruder, options and double question marks often come across as rude. leave them at home) is 'I am eagerly awaiting an update!' You're still letting them know you're filled with excitement for an update, but you're not demanding it. Important note: If you say this, please let it not be the only thing you write. Say a little more as to why. If you want an update, you surely know why.

... So how do you write a good comment?

(Obviously there are a lot of ways to write great comments, but here are a few pointers for people who get anxious leaving a comment.)

Say you are enjoying the fic or the chapter. it's so easy. This is the bare minimum if you comment, in my humble opinion I love this fic This chapter was amazing This fic lives in my head rent-free!

Point out things you liked or tell what the fic did with your emotions I really loved it when x went to x and confessed their love I was at the edge of my seat the whole time! Crying over this fic, it's so perfectly angsty

You can express sentiment about the further story, but do it well I can't wait to find out about x I will be wondering about x until next update I am so entranced, I am so excited to find out more about x When you update I'm going to be first in line to read!

Any other sentiments, a thank you note or the likes are nice, or leave more kudos by pasting in the more kudos images (it's so easy, and posts tend to have instructions) link here

Example of a good comment:

I love this fic so much I have literally not stopped reading until I was caught up When she was almost run over by the bus, my heart stopped and I was so relieved when she made it! I loved the bit where he helps her clean up the tea spill, so sweet and tender. I wonder how she's going to explain that tea stain to her evil stepmother.... Thank you so much for this update!

You can also install the floating AO3 box, and I love to use it to already comment on particular things I liked as I go so I don't forget, and it easily let's you copy-paste bits into the comment box so you can point out exactly what you liked about it.

A lot of people have started treating fics as something to consume and don't see the writer behind it, and it's so sad to see people recommend people to only read finished fics, that don't comment or only to ask when they are getting more words. (I know if you've read this far you're likely not one of those.)

And then they're surprised their favourite author stopped posting, when that author may think their fic isn't liked by you (because you never took the time to say) or they lose the enjoyment of posting because people just always simply demand more, more and more.

In summary, be kind to your writer. they're a whole person who is putting wonderful stories out for you for free. they likely have a day job or school to get to and a 100 worries you know nothing about. I'm not the comment police, I can't tell you what to comment but I just hope you take into consideration how your comment is going to be received by the writer on the other side.

[sulkybender]

another ao3 helpful tips post!

when a story makes you feel strong emotion, that’s such a beautiful thing, as writers we love to hear about it!

please, please do not say:

“Brb, going to kill myself”

“Please never write again for the sake of this fandom’s emotional stability”

there are comments that I think are well intentioned and trying to convey strong emotion but end up being concerning or hurtful for the writer. from talking about this with other writers and artists, it seems like the first comment—people expressing their approval by talking about killing themselves—is kind of widespread.

there are so many other ways to express yourself that will bring delight to both you and the writer!

please try:

“Brb, going into the sewers to join a colony of rats”

“I am walking into the ocean I am screaming with the voices of a thousand whales”

“I am chewing on the bars of my enclosure”

“Cbshxhksdhdddllk”

go with something silly and frenzied, have fun! don’t go dark unless you know the writer well, and even then hesitate.

a good test for comments is asking yourself how you would respond if you were in the writer’s shoes. ex, if someone comments “I’m going to kms,” I have no idea what to say. If they say they’re running feral in circles, I can convey my joy.

[cha-melodius]

Ah, ok thatʼs helpful. I am not a writer and I mostly read in a different fandom and when I was first on ao3, I didnʼt know the etiquette of commenting or kudos or any of it. I never used to say anything even when I liked something so now I actively try to tell authors when Iʼve enjoyed something because Iʼm really grateful they decided to share something with me and I got to enjoy it!

I guess I only seek out their tumblrs if Iʼm super excited about what theyʼve written though because I feel like itʼs more personal than ao3 comments. But itʼs good to know that you keep track of both!

💗

Read this, closed out of my inbox with the intention to reply later, completely forgot it was in here. 😂 Apologies, my mind is sieve.

Just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to share your love with the authors in whatever way that feels good to you, because that's so so important for people's motivation and satisfaction. And it's so lovely that even a small comment or an ask can really improve someone's day in a big way. A beautiful part of fandom. 💕

[practicecourts]

I peeked at the comments a very lovely person left on Castles Made of Sand and the fact they took my dare and listened to Norwegian Wood 🪵 ❤️

it’s so cool, idk if you’re also on here:) @isacucho1234 (looks like :)

the melody certainly gives off the remininscent, thoughtfull and also pining vibe to me! I love it a lot, but also the ending line makes it like that for me ‘this bird has flown’

anyway, sorry to ramble on but I love you listened to it:) music can be its own magic 🪄

[victusinveritas]

[jandjsalmon]

Fun Story to Share.

I got my (now 18-year-old) daughter into Ao3 back in 2021. I taught her she should always comment - even if the fic looks old or abandoned or whatever. She did.

Well - she got this email this morning:

The fic was written in 2014 and essentially abandoned.

Bethy read and reviewed in 2021 (and was actually the only person who had commented at all).

Today in 2025 - the final chapter was posted by the author and this was her reply to Bethy’s comment.

———

Never question whether a fic is too old to comment on.

[voxofthevoid]

Wow, now there's a bot going around on Ao3 telling people that the "moderators" will delete works from "deprecated" fandoms and impose bans.

Fearmongering bullshit, but it's fearmongering bullshit that seems to be taking advantage of the recent spotlight series in order to trick authors into deleting their fics.

Just. Why.

What the hell does anyone get out of making these bots.

[trekscribbles]

This week, I read a fic that was around 20 years old, which had originally been posted on the author's personal website and which she added to AO3 a few years ago. She listed her email address with the fic, so after I finished reading, I sent her an email saying how much I enjoyed the story, how much I appreciated the work and effort she obviously put into it, and thanked her for uploading it to AO3. She responded the next day and thanked me for my message, then said she had a few more stories in the same series that she hadn't gotten around to uploading. I checked this morning--she added a 35,000 word novella and thanked me in the summary.

👏 comment 👏 on 👏 old 👏 fics 👏

[opera-ghost]

[cha-melodius]

Hey Sara, I saw your RB on comments on ao3 and was just wondering something. I usually comment at the end of someoneʼs fic but Iʼve gotten in the habit of messaging authors on tumblr who leave their @ as I read or sometimes in lieu of a comment entirely on ao3...is this fine? I still want authors to feel appreciated but I like being able to send (happy! nice!) anons on tumblr as a treat. Do you have a preference?

Hey anon! I assume you mean the poll I reblogged (now a few days ago) about short/emoji-driven comments and whether they were an 'issue' (my opinion being, absolutely not, they are a completely valid and appropriate form of comment).

I am, in general, in favor of people expressing their love for fics in whatever way they feel most comfortable! So if you want to come on tumblr and leave asks rather than ao3 comments, I say more power to you. Some authors do like the record that ao3 comments leave because they can scroll through them when they're feeling down, which I do enjoy, but I also made a tag on my blog so I can find the asks people send about my fics and scroll through them that way. So either is a-ok with me!

I think the main thing authors are a little sad about sometimes is when people only express their feelings about a fic in private places an author can't see, such as discords an author might not be a part of. But if you're going directly to the author to share your enthusiasm, I don't think anyone would complain about that! And I always love getting happy nice anons about my fics. Seeing something like that come in always makes my day (or week!).

[marisatomay]

What are you even supposed to eat for dinner

[lrndvs]

compliments from girls go hard

[yume-fanfare]

top places to publicly overshare online:

tumblr blog

youtube comment section of a song

[slugg-it-out]

if chapter 4 did anything its that it reminded me how zooted she is for the lizard

[dramatic-dolphin]

i actually think it's rly cool for people getting an abortion to joke about the abortion, and it's not tasteless or bad. btw. they are allowed to joke about it. and it's funny.