When the Comment Box is Full, the Dead Authors Shall Walk the Earth · 3:56am Jul 1st, 2016
The best part of writing an online serial work is that comments give me the opportunity to see reactions as they come and interact with readers in a way that’s more intimate than, say, publishing a printed work and reading responses on Twitter. This feels especially in the realm of fanfiction, because there the playing field feels…level. Even if admiration or skill or prestige or whatever tips the scales one way or another, in the end we're all just fans of silly magic talking horses.
That intimacy with comments, though, is what usually gives me pause when it comes to responding. I have the incredible blessing of readers who know how to read deep and see the breadcrumbs I drop. Some follow the breadcrumbs and see approximately what’s going on in the notes I don’t play. Others follow the breadcrumbs and end up in a completely different place in their interpretations or predictions and what have you.
Though I have an annoying habit of doing so late/awkwardly, I do try to respond to my comments, but when those come up, I never know what to do with them. 
ehhhhnnnnn....
Spoiling would be right out, of course…but then again, I want to praise when someone gets it right (Fimfiction’s thumbs-up function is a lifesaver in this regard). And on the other hand, in my current situation, said guesses aren’t so much spoilers but answers as to why things are playing out the way they are, guessing motivations and such. It doesn’t hurt my story much to say that a character’s actions are done because of [insert motive here] or that they haven’t got it but are very close. It still feels like spoiling.
A teasing response often feels like the best response, but possibly bad form.
On the other side of the coin, when it comes to people who come away with an interpretation or prediction that I didn’t intend or expect, I’m left at a loss. Not because I risk spoiling something, but because…well, who am I to tell them that the paragraph of theory they were so kind to leave me is wrong? When the very crux of fandom–and fanfiction especially–lies in unique interpretations of canon, who am I to say “That’s all very interesting Dear Reader but I’m afraid you’ve read this entirely the wrong way you’re supposed to”. My intent and their interpretation isn’t always going to be the same thing. And that’s fine, it’s the natural result of making….basically any art, ever. Nobody reads the same story the same way, author included.
The Author can’t very well be dead, however, when walking amongst the talkative living (the irony of my screenname suddenly becomes apparent). If it were a matter of “this is what I think the author meant when [character] [verbed the [noun]”, the certainly I’d be within my right to disagree, confirm, or what have you, but in matters of “I think [character] [verbed] the [noun] because [reasons]“….that’s where I’m at a loss.
People have a right to their own criticisms, readings, and interpretations. Granted, this also means that others–creators included–have a right to openly disagree with them. But when it’s the creator doing it, it simultaneously feels like pulling rank, either smacking my readers with rulers or else hammering No Fun Zone signs in the yard.
Especially when I feel so, SO privileged to receive that thought-out comment in the first place.
It feels as if the best response would be none at all, while remaining silent is rude after the trouble taken to say anything. As any writer here knows, feedback is our lifeblood. The least I can do for the blood donation is send back a thank you card. Unfortunately, my cards are bought blank.
In any case, know that I do love you, dear readers. Thank you so much for your effort and taking time out of your day to read and care about the words I made enough leave your own words about the words I made.
If I do end up leaving your comment hanging, it’s only because I’m still sitting on my fence.
....All that said, this kind of thing is probably why I usually set my time to reply to comments at a week after posting. That and so I can respond to everyone at once.
side note: I ain't draggin' nobody, and this isn't about anything/anybody specific, just ol' lady Patches fretting over her knitting.
Most of this can be attributed to Patches being shy as heck.
Yeah. Long, speculative comments are strange. They are treasures, and yet often so wrong that you're not sure what to feel about them. Like you're excited that they were engaged and thinking, but then they were so off base you worry that you did something wrong and argh
Clearly the course of action is to create an alt account that affirms correct theories for you.
4059712 I'll be on the look out for a "Mundane Trampoline" account
4059727 Dude, last time I tried to have a bunch of alts argue with each other, Obs deleted all of them without warning, neglecting to notice I had story ideas stored on them. Thank goodness for the fimfiction archive.
I think my adoration of TSS is well-established enough that any further praise feels redundant at this point, so lately I've just fallen into a routine of finding things to make lame jokes about.
I can't really do the literary analysis thing.