Leaving Comments On Writeblr
All comments (with few exceptions), no matter how small and no matter how incoherent, are amazing to creators, and I can GUARANTEE that they’ll appreciate it SO much. They’re more than just a reblog or like! They’re a sign that you took some of the time out of your day and some of your energy to show how much you love someone’s work!
Please don’t feel “stupid”. You’re not. Your comments aren’t. They’re lovely and so are you.
But, if you’re looking for some actual advice? We’ll see what I can do. And as always, remember to only use what helps you—advice is only a suggestion, after all~
Here are some tips and prompts if you’re struggling on what to talk about!
Types of Comments
There’s a variety of kinds of comments I’ve seen, all wonderful things to receive! I usually combine a few of these bullets, which is where the length of mine tends to come from! (This is not a comprehensive list in the least.)
- Keysmashing
- Incoherent yelling about how good it is overall
- Taking out pieces you like and focusing on those (can be direct quotes or paraphrasing)
- This can be lines of the writing, a particular OC, worldbuilding details, etc.!
- How it affected you (Can be good or bad—writers love knowing they’re manipulating your emotions~)
- Gif/image reactions
- Critical analysis (which is the kind I’ll be talking about later!)
But you know what? There are comments that I don’t like seeing very much, and I find can often be incredibly rude-seeming, even when you mean good. I’d avoid these next types of comments on writeblr, unless people are explicitly asking for them:
- Demands to update/requests for more: This… isn’t helpful. It’s okay to have a nice “Can’t wait for more!” with some of the comment types above, but definitely not on its own. (And DEFINITELY not “When are you next updating?” That’s just… plain whiny unless you tread really carefully with how you word it.)
- Comparing to another work: “This reminds me of [bestselling story]!” Mm… okay. See, this can seem really nice, and sometimes comes across as nice, but unfortunately it usually reads more like: “This is a completely unoriginal idea! It’s already been done!” Which is… not so nice. Especially if this is the only comment you’re leaving.
- Unsolicited (negative/constructive) critique: UNLESS SOMEONE ASKS FOR CRITIQUE, don’t. Don’t. A lot of writeblrs are posting up their content while it’s in its unfinished stage, and are not looking for people to tell them what to change. There are all sorts of reasons why it’s rude to give unsolicited critique, and I’m not going to debate that here.
Tips for Critical Analysis Comments
I suppose having the intrinsic ability to pick up on deeper meanings is developed from experience, but I can certainly give some things to think about, here! And certainly don’t feel required to comment on everything here: pick out a few that stand out to you, or that you really liked the most!
But you know what this sort of comment is like? It’s like a high school essay about what’s effective about a piece. Except it’s about something you actually like, and hopefully it’s something you actually want to write.
- Writing style: Does this writer have something consistently unique and original to their writing that you love? Can be part of any of the below, or something else!
- Sentence fluency: Does this writing read more slowly to fit the mood, more quickly to fit the action? Is it (purposefully) harsh cut and jagged or smooth and soft? Does it feel nice on the tongue when you read it aloud?
- Word choice: More complex vocabulary? Do the connotations of the words well fit the theme and emotion? Does it fit the setting and/or characters?
- Characterization: Are all of the characters different and distinct? Are their personalities easy to see in their body language, action, and dialogue? Is what they do fun for you to read?
- Environment/Atmosphere: Do you feel like you’re there with the characters? Is the environment described well? Does it set a nice atmosphere or tone for the rest of the writing?
- Senses: Sort of goes with the above but… Can you hear the sounds written? Can you feel the cold or heat, or the other senses that the characters have?
- Symbolism: This one takes some experience to pick up on, I suppose. But does the writer use images or connotations that symbolize something?
- Worldbuilding details: Do you get a good sense of the world and culture of the story? Is it woven in well, so it doesn’t feel like info-dumping?
Anyways, there are so many other tidbits you could pick up on, but there’s some to start you off! Basically, think about why you liked the writing so much! A lot of it can be subconscious, sometimes~
So yeah! That was a lot (and a long post ^^’), but I hope you get something out of that! And remember: keysmashing and picking out parts you liked alone is definitely enough of a comment, but if you’re willing and able to put in the extra effort to leave a more meaningful one, it can do wonders to improve a writer’s confidence and motivation!!!
And if you want more work from a creator, leave a comment about their writing, not one asking for more!
