How to Receive Those Comments!

Storywrite is designed to be an interactive site where people read, comment, and receive comments.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Then why does it seem like it would be easier at times to get trampled by a rhino than to get a comment?


Storywrite is a large site, with a large member base. On average, there are no less than one hundred stories posted per day. People should read/comment on four for every one they post, but that rarely ever happens. Maybe making it part of your site etiquette, it might bring you more reads....?

Now, let's look at some ways to get you those comments!

Commenting

One of the biggest hints in getting someone to comment on you is to comment on them. Leaving a well thought out, well written comment goes a long way to bringing someone to read you.  

But... how do you comment?

There are a few columns on the subject that are great. Some deal with poetry, others stories, and a lot of the information crosses over very easily for both.

Giving in depth comments on other's works will usually bring that person over to read your works. If you don't comment on anyone else, then no one will really want to comment on yours

Commenting also gives you points, which you can use to feature your stories through:

    • Featured stories - Using points you've earned by commenting (or bought), you 'buy' a number of clicks. Featured only gives you views... not a guarantee of comments. Click on the 'get more reads' at the bottom of the Featured box to get started!
    • Shameless Promotion - This is a place to "pitch" your work to interested readers. Adding a promotion costs ten points, and your promotion will stay active until fifty others are added. The most recent show up on the right side of every screen.
    • Rewards - Stories by recent authors who want reviews. On the story page, click on the 'View Options' on the right of the page. There is a feature or reward option. This costs an average of 5 points per reward. Unlike Featured, the points do not get used up per view...only per comment.


Groups
There are
groups that you can join that specifically deal with giving and receiving comments.  If you're in a group, you can't send a note asking that people read your story. That would also be spamming, and tends to greatly annoy the other group members (unless it's a specific group for comments, and one of their 'rules' says that you can send group IMs).

Contests
Entering contests will usually bring more than a few reads and comments to you. Plus, you get to meet other people and see what they write.

The Chatterbox
In the CB, you can ask if someone wants to trade comments/reads with you. After that, it has to be taken to IM so that no titles, or distinguishing features are named. Although, if you're constantly asking for trading reads, then it could be considered spamming/promoting.


You cannot

IM people and ask that they read. That would be spamming. This would also include IMing your friends... they receive a system message when you post a story, so there's no need to IM them.

Solicit/beg for comments in the comments that you leave. Don't ask people to come read you, or compare their story to yours (unless it's the same genre... "Hey, I write 'insert whatever', too!"... but don't ask them to read. Since you write the same, chances are that they'll hop on over to check you out.)

In Closing

Lot of information and things to think and read though, isn't it?

There are a lot of site members, and many who go a long time without receiving a comment...so best thing would be to not sweat it, and go out and create an interest in others wanting to read and comment on your stories.


 

Included in the list

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Comments

1 - 27 of 27

  • silkenwolf
    July 21
    Edit | Reply
    This a good article thanks! Though I find that I comment far more than on four per story I post but I still don't get that many comments. Storywrite has a very good system though with awarding points to people who comment as they are far more likely. I am a member of another story writing website and they have no such system so no one gets any comments because there is no incentive. At least storywrite has the right environment for people to leave comments. I guess I will just have to continue commmenting others and waiting patiently!


  • EmoVaMpiRe3
    June 12
    Edit | Reply

    hello

    i already comment on other people stories but still not many comment me back... okay maybe because I'm a new here
    i should probably just wait

  • tks friend!

  • Marta gold member
    May 30
    Edit | Reply
    My comment on your column. A good read. thank you.

  • ricky312
    January 28
    Edit | Reply
    Thanks for sharing this, I know what to do now and was kinda confused earlier.


  • IrishYndina Greeters member
    September 8, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Very informative and well-organized. I will no doubt steer others to this column in the future. Thanks for putting it together!

  • slashinguk
    September 8, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    Good article

    I was surprised by this though:

    People should read/comment on four for every one they post, but that rarely ever happens.

    If this were true, the average story would have four comments. All of mine have a lot more and I have posted more than ten comments for every story I've posted. Either I'm very unusual, or other people are posting a lot of stories that no one ever comments on. I don't think I'd stick around for long if my stories only had four comments - I could get more comments from personal acquaintances than posting on the internet.

    Am I missing something?


    • Barbara Moderators member
      September 8, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      It's a 'should', not a 'have to'... one of those polite things. I've seen a lot of people complain that no one reads them... then you look, and they haven't made one comment on anyone else. No one knows you're there unless you comment... and although a lot won't comment back, some do.

      I have stories that have 15+ reads on them, and no comments.... and according to the time stamp of the reader, they clicked through to the next chapter, then the next one. To me, that's good, since it showed they couldn't wait to go on. (either that, or couldn't wait to see if it got better )

      • slashinguk
        September 8, 2008
        Edit | Reply
        Ahh - the benefits of paid membership. I don't get to see who has looked at what, so I just assume my uncommented stories are unloved.


  • Oblivion Kitty God silver member
    September 7, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Quite informative. Though, I've found that a lot of authors still do not comment on stories of those who comment on theirs. All the other ideas I've had some luck with, however.

    Nice column, and interesting links.


  • vampirecutie669
    September 7, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    This was good and helpful, thank you!


  • Much-Dipstick
    September 7, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Really useful! I almost never click on a featured story without finding something to say about it, and practically every comment I leave is an 8 point one . I have a question though.. if you win gold membership from being top commentor while you're already top commentor, does that take away someone else's chance to win it. I know it doesn't activate or store, but I wasn't sure... It happens frequently. Anyway, this was a great piece on how to get comments and also hinted at how best to comment ^^. I don't have much of a problem getting my work read but to those writers out there who do, this should be good! Also points out that messaging someone asking for reads is spam, which people frequently do. I still read and comment but i never feel as warmly disposed. Anywya, a brilliant write

    • Barbara Moderators member
      September 7, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      I do believe that you cannot win a membership while you're on a won membership. Not sure if it goes to the next in line, but I think it does... I'll double check.


  • SageSyren Greeters member
    September 6, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Great column Barbara. Good information for the new and OLD members


  • Be.Your.Own.Hero
    September 6, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    Great column!

    Nice column But most good friends don't mind it when you ask them to read a story XD especially if they have a lot of other friends posting stuff and they dont have much time to read it all or even notice it on their notes >_< But I understand what you're saying. I need to start commenting more but I don't know where my love for reading has gone *sigh* I think StoryWrite is dying. At least this column gives me the sense that there's actually life out there -_-

    Thanks for the column Miss Barbara mod person

    • Barbara Moderators member
      September 7, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      True, most good friends don't mind, but a lot of people will IM those on their 'friends/favorites' list and request...and not everyone on those lists are good friends.

      • Be.Your.Own.Hero
        September 7, 2008
        Edit | Reply

        Touché

        And it sucks when you have to tell them you don't like that genre of writing XD (my friend once asked me to read her Naruto story...and I hate fanfiction >.>)


  • Rune Morose
    September 5, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    The loveliest new addition to the Featured Stories box is that it tells you who clicked on your story, so if they clicked and didn't leave a comment (thereby wasting your points) you can go after them. >:-D

    • Barbara Moderators member
      September 5, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      On the feature page, if you click on the 'What is a featured story?', it says: "This is per click, not per comment. Only some will comment; harassing those who don't is not allowed."

      So.. you can't go after them .. and if you do, then a mod will IM you a nice warning.

      • Rune Morose
        September 5, 2008
        Edit | Reply
        I don't mean harassment, in the past I have just asked them if they forgot to comment. I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm spending those points (which I primarily obtain by commenting) to put my story out there, it's a bit frustrating to see them just disappear into the ether when someone clicks but doesn't comment. I wouldn't dream of doing it to someone else, it seems quite disrespectful.

        • Barbara Moderators member
          September 7, 2008
          Edit | Reply
          Look at the featured area as you buying 'ad space' for your story. People look, they read... take it for a test drive, maybe, and if they like it, they'll let you know. If they don't, then they'll probably walk away.

          You see a commercial on TV, but you don't always buy the product, or even comment on it. By featuring, you're buying clicks... the comments are just that nice added bonus.

          • Rune Morose
            September 7, 2008
            Edit | Reply
            But who turns on the TV just to watch commercials? A commercial comes on, and you sit through it because you didn't want to miss your show, not because you're interested in what Billy Mays is yelling about.

            You click on a featured story intentionally, and as you said in the comment below, it's common courtesy to let the person know what you thought. I'd see it as a waste of my own time, as a matter of fact, if I read their whole story and DIDN'T let them know what I thought, or give them some kind of constructive criticism.


            • WhatALovelyDay silver member
              September 7, 2008
              Edit | Reply
              Haha, I'm so scared of reading something featured and thinking it was bad and not wanting to comment, that I actually look it up first, read it, comment, and THEN click on it in the feature box, just to make sure I'm not wasting their points XD
              I'm so paranoid >.>


        • Anaya Roma
          September 5, 2008
          Edit | Reply
          Hello Rune:
          I just wanted to say that sometimes I click on a story in the Featured Box, I read it, but I just don't find anything I can say about it. This happens when it is not really something that interests me.
          Sincerely,
          Anaya Roma


          • Tiger-Lily
            September 6, 2008
            Edit | Reply
            Then simply say so, mayhaps? I kinda have to agree on this with Rune. Maybe not go after them, but ask them if they liked it.

            • Barbara Moderators member
              September 7, 2008
              Edit | Reply
              One of the best things of the site is that no one is forced to comment on anything. It's common courtesy to actually comment if you click on featured, but it's not mandatory.

              A lot of people will go to the author's page, and click on the story through there... no points used at all.




  • Kari gold member
    September 5, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Excellent Job Barbara! Bravo on this wonderful column

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