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having thinks today about how "readers don& #39;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& #39;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& #39;s right to consume my fic in any way they want
i put it on ao3 for you. as long as you& #39;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& #39;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& #39;t think it is fair to put that burden on an individual reader in a way that makes them feel, if they don& #39;t comment, they& #39;re a bad reader. or, they might as well not read the fic at all if they don& #39;t want to/don& #39;t feel up to commenting for whatever personal reason
i guess in the end it& #39;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
