having thinks today about how "readers don't owe writers comments/feedback" and "writers thrive on nice comments" are two statements that absolutely coexist and should be considered with equal weight when talking about fic comment culture

i can't tell you how often i have been there with a fic that i desperately wish would get more comments (and i know we have all been there too) but i will defend the reader's right to consume my fic in any way they want

i put it on ao3 for you. as long as you're not rude about it to my face, or in a public place i can see, enjoy it in whatever way makes you comfortable!

at the same time, i think it is fair to say your nice comment will make a writer's day. i also think it is fair to say you never know when something as simple as a kind "i loved this!" can make the difference between a writer deleting their fic and keeping it up. these are facts

but i don't think it is fair to put that burden on an individual reader in a way that makes them feel, if they don't comment, they're a bad reader. or, they might as well not read the fic at all if they don't want to/don't feel up to commenting for whatever personal reason

i guess in the end it's about trust. if you tell me how much you liked my fic, i truly appreciate the trust you have shown by sharing your thoughts with me. i want you to know your voice made a difference.

in turn, as writers, i think we so often simply have to trust that you, out there, a silent majority reading our fics, are getting something from it and enjoying it

these are not insignificant leaps of faith. when you throw your work onto the black hole of ao3 and there's nothing except stats and comments to gauge response, it's hard to see the intangible, unexpressed love that's out there for your fic

conversely if someone is primarily a lurking reader, it can be terrifying to leave a comment. also, as writers, we never know what's going on with readers. we don't know why people might comment or not. it's a lot to ask for enough trust that they spend time giving us comments