commenting on past fic -- to do or not to do, that is the question?

[sealie]

so the comment thing on past fic is an interesting affair. I posted the latest ‘Uhane H5O TS fusion, and I got a few comments on it (which is awesome), and a bunch of new and/or repeat readers (based on numbers and increase in the number of kudos) on all the other stories in the series, and all my other stories including the out-there stuff. But only one person has commented on the old stories.

Why not comment on an "old" fic?

Comments

[ratcreature]

There also might be an impact from how older vs newer fic is read. Due to plain laziness I am less likely to comment on fic I downloaded and read on my tablet than fic that I read in parts where I stay on AO3 website or the journal where a comment field is right there. Old fic is usually finished, so unless it's really short I usually download the whole. Also if go to a new story that is linked from a journal, even if I download, I often still see the announcement on my flist, and I can comment on that entry rather than on the archive.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I don't have any guess regarding older fic. I tend to leave feedback on anything I enjoy reading. I have noticed sometimes when I leave a comment on an older fic that the author does not respond. Maybe this happens to other people and they think the author won't see it? Or had moved on etc?

It's a big leap, but perhaps plausible?

I know I get excited when I receive feedback on an older story. Although I do cringe when people read some old fic and I realize how bad it really was compared to my current level of writing :-P

Like Ratcreature said, it could be that people download the whole catalog or series of an author and read it on a tablet etc. Then browse AO3 for new stories and while linked, leave more kudos/comments?

I've noticed it when someone kudos like 5 stories in a row and I know they didn't read them all that night (or maybe they did :) ) and they return to my author page and kudo everything at once.

[sholio]

I think people often feel self-conscious about it. I semi-regularly get comments on my older fic that starts off with some variant of "I hope you don't mind me commenting on this ..." or "I feel weird commenting on this because it's so old ..." (It's especially weird when this happens on stories that are only a year or two old -- it's a little less strange when it's one from 15 years ago!)

I'm not entirely sure why people feel so strange about it, though. Maybe it's that they think the author might have moved into another fandom -- which is usually the case with me, I guess, and is fairly obvious from what I'm posting lately -- and doesn't want to hear from an old fandom, or something. It's even weirder with people not commenting on earlier installments of the same series!

I think also, people sometimes feel strange about leave a whole bunch of comments on one person's fic. That's actually something I DO feel self-conscious about. If I'm catching up on chapters of a WIP, or reading through one person's back catalogue, I'll usually only comment on the stories or chapters that really catch my eye, even if I'm reading all of them. It feels strange to give them 15 comments in their inbox all at once, especially if they're all just variants on the same comment. But I don't mind IN THE SLIGHTEST when people do that with mine (it's flattering!) so I'm not sure why I don't want to do it myself.

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

I can vouch for your authorly eviltude (plus cackling!)

[vamysteryfan.livejournal.com]

Good question. I recently started rereading The Cooperative, probably because it's the anniversary. I remember eagerly awaiting each installment back then. Now, while I am rereading, it hasn't occurred to me to leave comments this time. I don't know why. I am certainly enjoying it as much as ever.

So, i like the Cooperative. I like the alternative personalities you created for everyone. I like .the way you resolved Wo Fat and Joe White and I want to visit Seolh.