How to Get MORE Comments on Your Fanfic! 💌💬

Main ideas / lessons

• Comments matter to fanfic authors, but they can’t be forced. Writers should focus on building conditions that make commenting easier and more appealing.
• Many common “get more comments” tactics are counterproductive because they create pressure, entitlement, or hostility.
• Understanding why readers don’t comment (logistics, difficulty articulating, language/disability barriers, fear of being unwelcome, community moving elsewhere, etc.) is essential before applying strategies.
• The goal is not necessarily a “flood” of comments or increased readership broadly—rather, encouraging more feedback from current readers and attracting people likely to comment.
• Community interaction is two-way: authors should appreciate and respond to comments to reinforce a welcoming, interactive environment.
• Strategies work best when posting/updating initially, when the fic is most visible.

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Methodology / guidance presented (detailed instructions)

Chapter 1: What doesn’t work (what to avoid)

• Do not shame readers who don’t comment

  • “You are not entitled to comments.”
  • Silent readers may have legitimate reasons; shaming them turns comments from a “gift” into an “obligation.”
  • This drives away potential commenters and makes fandom less fun.

• Do not withhold chapters until you receive a certain number of comments

  • Fandom is described as a gift economy, not a transaction.
  • Holding content hostage reduces confidence that you’ll finish the fic.
  • It also reflects poorly on you in the eyes of readers.

• Do not express entitlement to comments

  • Whether in author notes, comment responses, or social media, entitlement is discouraged.
  • Writers’ frustrations are acknowledged as valid, but should be processed privately or with trusted people—not pushed onto readers.

(An “Editing Cora” interlude clarifies the intent: the narrator didn’t mean to call discouraged readers “toxic,” only to criticize writers who take pain out on their readers.)

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Chapter 2: Why most readers don’t comment

• Practical constraints

  • Readers may be in situations where commenting is inconvenient (e.g., finishing on public transport).

• Not knowing what to say

  • Some readers feel they can’t articulate thoughts well.

• Language barriers

  • Readers may read the language well but not feel confident writing in it.
  • Related addendum: disabilities and access barriers (learning disabilities, chronic fatigue, mobility issues) can hinder commenting.

• Fear of saying the “wrong” thing

  • If writers publicly criticize certain comment types (e.g., “rude” or “not good enough”), readers may avoid commenting.

• Newness to fanfiction culture

  • New readers may lurk longer to understand norms first.

• Passive consumption habits

  • Some readers aren’t used to the reader-writer interaction culture.

• Community moved to Discord

  • Readers may discuss the fic elsewhere even if the comment section is empty.

• Perceived “celebrity distance”

  • Readers may view admired writers as too busy and assume their comment won’t matter.

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Chapter 3: Why readers do comment

• Emotional outlet

  • Comments let readers externalize feelings from the story.

• They’re writers too

  • Commenting may come from appreciating how valuable feedback is.

• Community connection

  • Readers want to reach out and feel part of fandom with the author.

• Friend/mutual dynamic

  • Some feel less intimidated commenting when they see the author as approachable.

• They have questions

  • Comments seek clarity, start conversation, or address confusion.

• Author seems relatable

  • If writers present themselves as someone readers can connect with, interaction becomes easier.

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Chapter 4: How to encourage comments the right way (what-to-do)

All strategies aim to remove barriers and align with why commenters comment. Key tactics include:

• Leave thoughtful comments on similar fanfic

  • Find authors in the same fandom/dynamic and comment meaningfully.
  • If they check your profile and see you write similar content, they may become curious and comment on your work.

• Join Discord servers related to your niche

  • Participate in discussions where fandom life happens.
  • Even if it doesn’t directly produce more comment threads, it can build the same “feedback/community” satisfaction.

• Cross-post to multiple fanfiction archives

  • Posting on several major platforms (examples mentioned: FanFiction.net, AO3, Wattpad) increases exposure.
  • More readers often leads to more comments.

• Leave regular author’s notes (A/Ns)

  • Author’s notes make it feel like a human behind the story.
  • A chapter without A/Ns is compared to a “regular book,” while A/Ns signal a direct interaction channel.
  • (The creator references another video about optimizing A/Ns.)

• Ask questions in A/Ns to prompt comments

  • Help readers who “don’t know what to say” by giving them an easy prompt.
  • Even if they don’t increase comment quantity, it can increase comment depth/length.

• Explicitly list the kinds of comments you welcome

  • Reduce fear that “certain comment types aren’t allowed.”
  • Example program referenced: LongLiveFeedback Comment Project
    • Includes a paste-ready comment message.
    • Has a comment builder for people who struggle to think of something to say.
    • Was created with ESL learners and people with disabilities in mind.
    • Encourages comments in other languages (suggested use of Google Translate for understanding).

• Show appreciation for the comments you do receive

  • Don’t complain about low comment volume in a way that makes commenters feel undervalued.
  • Thanking readers signals their effort matters and encourages return commenting.

• Reply to comments

  • Address the specifics of each comment when possible.
  • Continue the back-and-forth to reinforce community.
  • The creator argues concerns about “inflating comment count” are unnecessary because readers mainly understand participation/threads rather than raw numbers.
  • Writer responses are portrayed as a strong motivator for other readers to comment.

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Timing emphasis (when to apply)

• These strategies are most effective when you first post or update, because the story is most visible then.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Cora Maria (main speaker/narrator; also mentions “Editing Cora” as an interlude voice)
• LongLiveFeedback (referenced as a “Comment Project”/resource)
• Google Translate (referenced as a tool to encourage comments in other languages)