Comments are one of the more perilous parts of the fanfiction-writing experience. I say "perilous" because authors really like comments (as a general rule), and when someone perceives that something they enjoy is being withheld, all sorts of thoughts and feelings and actions can ensue. If you write fanfiction, you have probably compared your comment (or click or kudos) counts to someone else. You have probably entertained dark thoughts about your skill as a writer based on that single data point. You have possibly thought unkind things about the people reading your work for free but not leaving a single word of thanks. Or maybe reasoned why that other person's numbers are higher but not actually deserved.

This month, in Cultus Dispatches, our monthly column about Tolkien fandom history, we begin to explore the world of commenting. The first article in this series looks at authors' perspectives on the comments they do (and do not) receive, using data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey to identify trends. Of course, it includes the unsurprising information that, as children like ice cream, authors like comments. (Most do anyway. I was a child who didn't like ice cream, so exceptions are always possible.) However, a deeper dive into the data shows that commenting appears to be bound up with a broader interactive component to fandom, which in turns ties in to shifts in platform use that have occurred across the fandom's history.

You can read "Fandom Chocolate ... or Authors Love Comments" here.

If you have big thoughts and big feelings on commenting (or even just regular-sized thoughts and feelings), we have an active Fandom Voices project about commenting. Fandom Voices is a sub-project of Cultus Dispatches that collects fan experiences and perceptions on fandom-related topics. Readers and creators (of all different types of fanworks, not just fanfic!) are welcome. Responses will be collected and published for next month's Cultus column. You can contribute a response to Fandom Voices here.