Coal All The Way

[coalcube]

It's coal-bo time.

 Coal Friending Meme


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Comments

Re: Comment Clinic

[(Anonymous)]

How to comment when you want to be known as an amazing commenter but you didn't really like the fic and know you might get matched with that author again?

Re: Comment Clinic

[(Anonymous)]

As someone who's been in this position before: whatever you do, don't strain yourself and fake enthusiasm.

Even if lying through your teeth and trying to come up with nice things to say won't elevate your disappointment and make you resent the gift more than you already do (spoiler: it likely will!), the author will take your enthusiasm as encouragement and may actively try to get matched with you again, and then you'll be at the same place again next exchange.

If the fic looks like a well-meant, but failed effort, leave a short, polite thank you note. If the fic looks like spitefic, hit that reject button and wash your hands on it.

Re: Comment Clinic

[(Anonymous)]

Thank them for writing [thing, trope, etc]. If there is something you like about the plot, mention that. If are any lines you like -- a moment the feels in character, a good turn of phrase, a striking image -- pull those out and mention what you like about those in particular. But don't make it sound like more than it is ("this line is so in character!" vs. "you really nailed [character], this line is a great example." The latter is saved for people who nail the character all the way through, not for the one line that actually felt IC.)

But don't squee. Don't say you loved it our even liked it if you don't.

Also, if you want to be known as a good commentor, go read widely in the collection and leave squeeing comments on the fics you DO love.

Re: Comment Clinic

[(Anonymous)]

What the two coalies above me said, and also: in future exchanges, you can ask the mods not to match you to this writer again. You don't even have to explain why beyond saying you'd prefer not to have them writing your gifts anymore. Many (most?) mods will do it, unless you are the only possible recip the writer could match to, and that's unlikely to happen often or at all.

Also you can't stop the writer from treating you, but that presumes they would treat anyone at all, and then that they'd treat you, and then you can just say "thanks for writing me this treat" and be done.