One Nice Comment Can Make The Difference In A Writer's Day
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009
by Susan Thom
I try to read as many articles as I can, and I always leave a comment. When I ran across this site, I was glad to see the different options it had over other writing sites. Our articles are rated, and we get stars, a brilliant idea and an added plus. We can also figure out where our writing should be going according to the number of stars our articles get. I liked that idea.
We can include pictures and bios and our banners and edit our material at any time. If we decide we really shouldn't have told our best friend off in print, but hit send anyway, we can have the article rescinded. We have a top reader's choice page, and a featured columnist page. We have access to our article statistics and can choose to view them on a daily, monthly, or all time basis. We have fan clubs, such a great idea and it feels so good when someone joins yours.
And then there's this huge asset called, "Comments." We all know what goes into writing an article. Maybe it comes easier for some than others, but we all can relate to the emotional energy we go through, trying to make words fit together in an interesting and logical way. We post the article, and see it's readership rise. However, it is few and far between that most of us see any comments.
Why is that? We all know how good it feels to get a good comment. If you don't want to leave a bad comment, you could tell the truth in a tactful and respectful way, or leave a comment on another one of the author's articles you might like. However, the odds of forty or a hundred or five hundred readers all not liking your article are pretty nil. So, why aren't people taking advantage of the ability to actually converse with the author?
You can't do that while reading a book, or watching a movie. There are many who are leery of starting out and writing an article. Fear of embarrassment, or sounding foolish may hold them back. One or two good comments can mean the world to them. I know comments helped me greatly at the beginning, and still do now. I don't think there's anyone who doesn't want to hear what a reader thought about their masterpiece.
We are all busy doing 60 things at a time, but if one takes the time to read the article, another minute or two shouldn't hurt, and can do a world of good. Everyone has an opinion, this we can be sure of, so why not leave a quick comment that lets the author know how you felt after reading their work? Did it inspire you, motivate you, take you into reality, make you laugh, make you think, make you dream, give you hope?
There are authors who leave comments whenever they read something. For those die hard literary lovers, I applaud you. I also leave a comment whenever I read an article, and have for over 2 years. These comments are a very important tool for an author, and since this is a site for authors and readers, it would be nice to give the authors who make you feel something with their words, your words of encouragement.
My last article received 1140 page views so far, and 4 comments. I find it hard to believe that not one other person in over a thousand viewers, did not think or feel something when they read this article. I want to know what those thoughts are, not simply to give myself a boost, but to know how my readers are enjoying my work, or not. Most comments take less than a minute, maybe two, to write.
We have a site that obviously took hundreds of hours of manpower to put together, for everyone's pleasure and comfort. This enables us to post our thoughts, our feelings, our opinions, and our fantasies. We are surrounded by good people. People who leave comments on facebook, or myspace. Why not take a minute to write a comment to an author who really worked hard on giving us a well written article?
Everyone must be pleased when they get a nice comment. Well, we are those pleasers. We can make an author's day, night, month. We can change someone's attitude from grumpy, angry, shy, depressed or scared, and give them the recognition and support they need to continue honing their craft. Support is a key issue in writing, as I'm sure we all know.
So, people, let's spread some of that support, and take the two minutes to leave a comment for an author. Sometimes, a reader may not know the words to say after reading an article. In that case, a simple, "I enjoyed this article" is worth so much more than nothing!Sometimes, an author ties up the loose ends, and there doesn't seem to be any more to add.
There is! Comment on how well they tied everything together, and it was a well written article. We are Searchwarp, all of us. If we've chosen to use this site, why not get involved, and remember how much it might mean to someone to simply type a few words and leave a comment. And let's remember how good it feels when we get a nice comment. Leave those comments! I'll be watching
This Article has been viewed 444 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsLet me be the first, Sue.Right On! I understand you completely, here.Nicely stated and relevant, as per your high standards.Please log in to respond to this comment.OK, the second.RATS!Please log in to respond to this comment.hi ken,i appreciate the compliment.we have such a great thing here at searchwarp. people who care about other people, people welcoming newcomers, joining fan clubs, how about a couple of lines in a comment for that author?more comments!my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.LOL, Ken!Please log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue.I liked your point about how often do we get to have a conversation with the author of something we've read. Makes me feel badly for not leaving more comments.Hugs,DiannePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi diane,now, if you feel badly for not leaving more comments, there is a remedy:)comments are important, for the author, and the reader, and i do think it's a privlege to be able to correspond to the author.thanks for reading and commenting,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Sue, for the reasons you've given for yourself about others leaving comments, I agree. I prefer comments to be optional and not required. I do not want others to feel they must read everything I write and leave a comment.
I feel if the title catches someone's attention and what I've written provokes the reader to comment, then they will. I see both sides of this. I like a more relaxed, out of classroom setting. I feel the Reader's Choice Club is a fantastic place for any author who really wants feedback.
Please do not misunderstand. I like reading the comments on my articles (and others I read) but I would not be upset if there weren't any yet the numbers reflect I'm being read. The numbers tell me that my message is being heard, a message that is important to me.
I like that this matters enough to you for you to write about it and very well. One of the reasons I hold you in high regard. I wish for you and others who want more comments to get what you want.
Best regards and with humility,
AvisPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi avis,i appreciate your compliments and honesty, as always.for me, it's nice to see from readers if i'm reaching them in the way intended. lukily, so far, so good. that feedback is helpful to me, i just wish there was more of it.i've never gotten many page views per article because of the things i write about, so i'm not so concerned about the numbers, but i would like to know if people are geting something out of what i am writing. when it does happen, it's a great feeling.i hope all is well, and you have some free time for the holiday,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Hi Sue, thank you. It's unanimous, we appreciate each other. Happy Birthday to you! My youngest sister's husband passed away last Saturday, so I have a funeral in Florida at the end of the week. I hope you and yours have a nice holiday weekend, too!Please log in to respond to this comment.
H Sue!Well put and very true. I have often wondered the same way. Honestlly, I haven't written a whole lot lately because I really just thought it didn't matter or maybe not interesting enough.Have a great day and good holiday.MichellePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi michelle,thanks for writing and commenting.everything you have to write is important and interesting. maybe not to you, you've already heard it or lived it, but to your reader's, it's new.if you need to talk, e mail me, i'm always here,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue,Nicely put and obviously you are a caring person too. Great article!Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi steve,thank you.i think a nice comment can brighten a writer's day-your's just did :)my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Howdy Sue, long time no talk to, I reckon that is because I have been working on my book, but I am taking about a 2 month break from it to gather my wits. I happen by your way, and saw this great article, and thought how really true it is....as you know, it is hard to shut me up, and once I get on a roll, I can write an article in 1 comment. lol. Well, I reckon that is why my nickname used to be "Kak" because I can "Kak" all day, (which means yak all day). That is what my mom used to call me God rest her soul. I really like this article, as I know what you are saying, and it is so true. You have hit the nail right on the head. It takes no time at all to leave a comment, about the article just read, and I'm here to tell ya gal, I loved this article. One can be creative even in their comments, now that is a sign of a true writer. So keep up the good work, and I really did like you content in this article, and how well you articulated what you wanted to say, Keep up the good work, your pal, and still a great fan.........Gary.....dang its good to be back with my SearchWarp buddies!!!!!!Please log in to respond to this comment.hi gary,it's great to have you back.we all missed you.i appreciate your comments, as i do all comments.you really get to hear how your words come across to others when you get comments on the articles you write.there are other writing sites that don't offer this option.i'm glad you are a part of searchwarp, and that you take the time to leave great comments,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Sue, me again. :)
I know we had come to an agreement to disagree yet respect the opinion of the other. The change in the title of this article would have caused me to comment differently. I cannot deny how comments have made the difference in my day. I knew this is what you meant but saying it makes all the difference in the tone of the article at the very beginning. The new title caught my attention and provoked a different emotion than the first one.
Keep doing what you're doing. We need you!Please log in to respond to this comment.hi avis,i have a hard time with titles; another great option on this site=you can edit!very important.you made my day:)happy fourth,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Sue, I came back to this because I couldn't believe you would not respond to me. I knew there was a good reason, my comment to you is not here. I must not have hit save. I left one about a week ago. Oops. Anyway, excellent article. Very informative and warm. I just love my SW family :-) Thanks for writing this piece! Love and hugs, tPlease log in to respond to this comment.
hi t,you are right- i wouldn't not write back to you.when i saw that you had left a comment, it made me happy, and i went on to read it, and it did make me happy.if only everyone would remember that, and simply leave a comment!had i not had my searchwarp family these past 2 years, i honestly don't know where i'd be, having no one on the outside world to interact with.it is truly a blessing, of which we, are a part.thanks for reading and commenting,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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