Thank you to N16 and BlueandBronze for reviewing this guide.

This guide is also available on AO3 and on Tumblr.

Introduction

I've made this guide because I've heard from many people that they are not sure how to comment on fanfiction, or how to leave detailed comments. Although readers don't owe anyone comments, if you enjoyed a particular fanfiction, leaving a comment is one of the only ways to show your appreciation for the hard work the author put into the story. Comments support the fanfiction community and make it more likely authors will post additional works. While most authors seem to appreciate any form of positive feedback in the comments, it is nice to be able to leave more detailed and unique comments, and that is what this guide aims to help you with.

Comments are a Habit

Remember, the more you comment, the easier it becomes! Leaving comments on fic is essentially a habit for me now, and I will leave at least a few sentences on most works I enjoy. Because I do it so often, it no longer takes much effort for me to do so. And the rewards are great; I've had lovely interactions in the comments of many works, and even made a few friends simply by consistently commenting on their fic.

There are times I don't have the energy to leave a detailed comment, and in those cases, I will save a link to the work in a specific "Fic To Comment On" folder within my browser bookmarks, which I regularly revisit. But for the most part, I try to comment right after reading. Sometimes I'll even leave a shorter comment if it's all I have the energy for, and then save the fic to revisit and leave a longer comment later. Do what you can!

Perspective of this Guide

This guide is mainly for commenting on written fanfiction, so I don't really cover how to comment on podfic, fanart, or other types of fanworks (though some of the advice may still apply). While this advice should be applicable on any fanfiction site with a commenting feature, I should note that I mainly read fanfiction on Archive of Our Own, and the commenting culture on other sites might be different from what I have based this guide on.

The advice here is informed mostly by my anecdotal experience as a fanfiction reader and commenter, though I am also a writer. I can't guarantee every author will appreciate every type of comment described here, but hopefully this will help make it easier for you, as a reader, to comment on fics you enjoy.

How to Use this Guide

Remember, these guidelines are just that: guidelines. To construct your comment, mix and match as many of the suggested elements as you would like, in whatever order feels natural to you. Put your own personal spin on things! That will make the comment even more unique and meaningful.