What's wrong with giving, what's wrong with giving, what's wrong with giving compliments? (Uh-huh!)

[taste_is_sweet]

I'm not apologizing to Demi Lovato, because I'm linking to the really cool video I stole the chorus from.

Let me say, O best-beloveds, that there is nothing at all wrong with giving compliments. I used to not do it very often, because it felt safer to keep things to myself than to court the potential embarrassment of engaging in a possibly unwelcome interaction. But then I got older and I decided that life is too short not to tell someone that you like their shirt or that they have beautiful eyes.

Last night I sent a message to someone I know on Tumblr just to say I really liked their posts, and I made them really, really happy. That made me happy too. Being nice is almost always a win-win.

I've mentioned before about how I leave kudos on AO3 for fics if I read them the entire way through, because someone went to the effort of writing the story. A kudo is a quick way of complimenting them for that effort. Clicking it says 'hey, I liked this. You did good.' Nice comments are even better, but a kudo is so easy it astonishes me that so many people don't leave them.

The last time I posted about leaving kudos (the link above), someone replied that they only give a kudo when something really moved them. Otherwise they thought that the hits alone were enough acknowledgement of the writer's effort.

I've honestly been thinking about that on and off for two years, and I still have a problem with it. While I can understand the principal--be happy anyone bothered looking at your fic--all that hits actually show you is that someone went to that page. Maybe they noped out after reading the tags. Maybe they got three paragraphs in and hit the back button in a panic. It's impossible to tell. But a kudo means that they both read the story and thought it was good, or good enough. And seriously, we're writing this stuff for free, here. Isn't a story that keeps you reading until the end automatically good enough for a lousy click on a burgundy button?

I know that some people like certain stories so much they read them several times, and unfortunately (or fortunately, I suppose) you can only leave kudos once. But there are loads of readers out there who don't bother leaving them in the first place. Not one little compliment saying that they appreciate your time and effort.

And that, honestly, is just mean. Sure, no one forces a writer to put their stuff out there, just as no one pays us. But that's also the point. We don't have to do it. That fic you rolled your eyes at but still gave you ten minute's worth of entertainment is completely, totally free. Our only expectation as writers is that people will read our work, and our only hope is that they'll let us know they did.

So, why should anyone think they deserve a masterpiece before leaving a kudo? It's one click. One tiny, easy little click. But I can tell you as both a writer and reader that one tiny, easy little click can actually mean the world.

And life is too short not to say something nice.

Comments

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

If I read and like a story, I always leave a kudos. Because you're right, it's the easiest thing in the world to do.

I certainly don't write for any other reason than that I have a story to tell, and I post it because I want to share it with other people in my fandoms. But getting feedback, even a simple kudos, is so very happy-making. It lets me know I'm not just writing into a void.

Keep spreading the word, Taste! ::fistbump of solidarity::

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

::Returns fistbump:: Thank you!

You always leave me such fantastic comments, too. You are a really kind person. :D ♥

[sholio]

... people think a hit constitutes feedback? What?

Actually, I know a lot of people (well, some people anyway) think a bookmark constitutes feedback, and while a bookmark is actually flattering (in a way that just getting a hit isn't) I still don't think of it as the same thing; a bookmark is for you, while a kudos or a comment is actively saying "thank you" to the author. (Though I do love going into my bookmarks and reading the notes that people have left. Some of them are truly a delight.)

But, yeah ... I think of a kudos as the absolute minimum I can offer on a story I enjoyed. The only times when I won't kudos is when the story hit one of my major DNWs near the end, or when I don't want to admit that I was reading it (as in the case of certain embarrassing kinks) -- yes, I know you can leave guest kudos in that case, but logging out and reloading and logging back in requires actually WORK. In any case, if the story was worth reading to the end and didn't violate the contract with the reader in any major way, a kudos is the very least I can do.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

... people think a hit constitutes feedback? What?

That was pretty much my exact thoughts about that. And the person who left that comment is also a fanfic writer, so maybe they're happy with just the hits themselves. If so, more power to them, but I'll never think that's cool.

I love reading bookmarks too! But unless it's marked with a heart or has a nice note and/or a tag, it's possible that all it means is that someone has a vague idea of reading it at some point.

As you know, I agree with you completely, though I admit I haven't read any story that I'd be embarrassed to leave kudos on. :D

[ride-4ever.livejournal.com]

And then there is the opposite thing...the trolls who use the comment box to be mean, including mean comments that aren't even about the fic...like the troll who last week used the complimentary comment I made on a fic (and that's the only kind of comment I ever leave on a fic) as an opportunity to leave a reply to my comment in the form of telling me that I am "dense and stupid," that my "username is stupid," and that she has better things to do than read anything related to my OTP since it is "the wrong OTP". *facepalm*

[mific.livejournal.com]

OMG, I can't believe people can be so petty and mean! *hugs you*
Also you have a great username!

[ride-4ever.livejournal.com]

TYK, bb!

(And the troll herself does not maintain a singular username. We just call her "the dS troll" or "dS anon" because she uses such a multitude of names to make it appear that her opinions are more vast. Hmmm...now who was it who said "I am legion". Heh heh.)

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. What a horrible person! I really can't imagine going out of your way to be a bitch. It sounds like you're both used to her and unaffected, but still. ::Hugs you::

It's possible the AO3 mods will remove the comment for nastiness, or the writer of the fic can, if you ask. :D

[ride-4ever.livejournal.com]

Those of us in dS fandom are used to this particular troll and often even anticipate her rants.

Didn't ask for a take-down on her comments -- they really only make her look bad and serve as a warning that this is not a person to take seriously.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's good to know!

How strange, though, that she'd be so nasty in one particular fandom.

[umadoshi.livejournal.com]

*nods* I leave kudos if I finish a fic, basically. And admittedly I read fic almost entirely via recs, so a high proportion of fics I click on are things I like at least reasonably well, but OTOH, I get scared off so easily by bad or annoying summaries that even when I am just poking around my success rate at clicking on decent stuff is still high.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Hey, nothing wrong with being able to ensure you're going to click on something worth reading. I've been reading fanfic for so long that I can very often tell from how the summary is written if it'll be worth my time. But even if the fic isn't great, if it's good enough to finish, I'll definitely say thank you. :D

[popkin16]

I don't tend to leave kudos or comments for side fandoms, weirdly. I know I should, but I put so much effort into my comments, sometimes I just want to read, be alone in my head, not reach out. It's different if it's a friend or an author I love.

SGA, on the other hand...the fandom is so small. I try to leave kudos and a comment on all fics, unless it contains something that I really don't care for (in which case I will just skip over the fic). I tell myself the author won't even notice...

Hits absolutely aren't any form of feedback. Kudos are the absolute minimum you can give an author to show appreciation. Even a comment saying, "Great fic!" can be heartening.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

On behalf of all those other writers, please leave kudos! I know I leave fewer comments than I should, because sometimes coming up with something that fits the story feels exhausting, and sometimes I just didn't like the story enough to want to say anything. But leaving kudos takes no effort at all.

I always appreciate your comments! :D

[popkin16]

*nod* I'll make a point of at least leaving kudos on everything I read, side fandom or no. It's a good habit to get into~

One day I am going to read all your SGA stuff and comment on them all.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

:D Thank you! But I promise it's okay if you don't. I'm just happy that you're kind enough to comment on my LJ!

[popkin16]

You're welcome :D Nah, I want to. I mean, even before we became friends and I started talking to you, I wanted to read all your stuff and leave comments. I can think of two fics off the top of my head that I've reread multiple times already. If the rest of your fic is awesome (and I'm confident it is), it'll be no hardship.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you. :D I hope you do enjoy the rest of my fics!

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

I agree - it seems churlish not to leave anything if you read to the end of anything longer than a drabble.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

::high fives:: Exactly! :D

[mific.livejournal.com]

I completely agree that leaving kudos on a fic you read through is the way to go.

I'm sometimes bad about it as I almost always download fics to read on my phone or pad, and that means I have to be super-organised a) to remember what I recently read and b) to locate it again on AO3 or wherever and leave kudos &/or a comment. It's even worse with podfic, where the lag between downloading and listening is often a lot longer, so podficcers have to be philosophical about that and learn to treasure all comments.
The problem's a technical one with iphones, ipads and the safari browser (which you can't usurp to have another preferred browser), as the link saying "drop by the Archive and comment" at the end of a downloaded fic does take you back to the AO3 page for the fic - but you're not logged in as you, and the Archive won't accept a guest kudos filtered through Kindle (also, guest kudoses are OK but not as satisfying for an author, IMO). So you have to laboriously log in (and the interface via Kindle means your phone won't 'remember' your login details either, so it's all by hand).
What with all that, I don't always manage it. /o\

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

My sister has expressed the same issues--she loves downloading long fics to read on her iPad, but she doesn't always get back to leave kudos. I'm sorry that the links and apps give you such a hard time.

Personally, while I always find usernames interesting, I don't find guest kudos to be less satisfying, but as an author I appreciate how hard you try to leave kudos with your name. :D

[mific.livejournal.com]

Me again!
Scrolling on further to catch up with my flist, I discovered two hilarious fics where AO3 itself is the fandom - they're about leaving kudos. They put my problems to shame!

http://archiveofourown.org/works/5993785 - Not Leaving Kudos by Bunn

which led to

http://archiveofourown.org/works/6097927 - Kudos At All Costs by rhymer23

[ride-4ever.livejournal.com]

I just now read these on your rec!

And of course I left kudos and comments.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll have to read those. :D

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right! What's wrong with leaving kudos for free entertainment? It's absolutely dead easy to do, and it makes someone who gave you the gift of free entertainment happy. Why are people so entitled and miserly?

I sometimes wish I could leave multiple kudos--once each time I reread a fic I love!!

[ride-4ever.livejournal.com]

Ditto! (When I reread a fic, I usually leave a comment saying that.)

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

That is really nice of you! :D

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you--the ability to leave multiple kudos would be fantastic. :D

I don't understand why some people feel leaving kudos is too hard. :/

[inu-spockya.livejournal.com]

I have the same approach. there are very few stories I won't at least leave a kudo if I like it enough to finish it -- but passive-aggressive begging will change that every time. can't stand that whole "here's today's 500-word installment, please review!!1! and let me know what you want next in the story!!1!"

*shudders*

a lot of times I can't come up with what to say so leave a short comment and bail, but I keep hoping if enough of us do this, the culture will change. and if not, well, at least I'm trying to hold up my end of things.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Hello again, Spockya!

It's extremely kind of you to come up with even short comments. I need to do that more often, but I keep forgetting that even a single sentence can make someone's day. Thank you on behalf of all the fanfic authors. :D

I really, really hate passive-agressive begging! I don't mind if the writer is honestly asking what the audience wants because they like getting prompts or have run out of inspiration, but not when they hold the fic hostage for comments.