Things You Wish Your Readers Would Say

For everyone one nice thing a reader/commenter has to say, I'd love them to point out two things that they didn't like and why.

I hate when I get the usual review 'Great one, update soon.' I know people are in a hurry, but I wish I could get more insightful comments that would help me improve. Go on, criticise me! I don't mind! I've gotten some nice reviews in the past taht actually show that the reader has, for one, read the chapter, and for two, understood it.

I like it when readers tell me they notice something... like the way they interpret a section of writing. Or if they catch some sort of foreshadowing. I also love it when they tell me what certain parts of a chapter make them think. Not feel, but think. It's very helpful and pleasing to know what thoughts run through your reader's head when they read your story compared to your own thoughts.

I love to hear how people interpreted each passage. Alot of things I leave pretty open in some stories, and I love to know what each thing made them think of.

I wish some of my readers would actually take the time to comment. Even if it's just one think they liked about it, or a prediction.

I just want to hear something about how my writing could be better. In poems, I'd like to hear what they thought about the repetition. I'd love for them to tell me what they thought of how I used the capitalization in my poems. I'd love to hear more about how Music came across to them. I want to know what they think of my characters, because I'm scared since it's in first person, she'll be entirely unlikeable, like Bella Swan. I want to know if anything about the story could be better. Not saying anything makes me think that, Oh God, they think my story is so shitty that it's beyond saving! And it doesn't feel that great when you spent six months on it.

That they can relate to my story or they can actually see the story in their head or becoming a movie. Or if they point out specific lines or paragraphs that they thought were pretty good.

I just want to know their thought process as they read. I love rambling comments/reviews. All I want to know is that they understand, that they got what I wanted to convey, that it made them think, what it made them think.

More constructive crit. I also don't mind you pointing out grammar or punctuation errors. It helps me more than you know. Also, if you love something, even if it is just a couple of words, tell me!

I squealed when a few people told me they loved how I used twisted magic as a way to describe "The Doctor" in The Chronicles of Andrainea: Darkness Falls. I never thought two little words would have such impact, but I am glad someone said something about it.

Maybe let me know if an area of the story sounds weak and what could improve it? I don't mind this at all. So long as it doesn't take away from the feel of the story or try to completely change the story in any way.

God, yes, to pointing out punctuation/spelling/grammar errors. It irks me when someone says "there's one or two typos" and they don't point them out.

I reread my own shit to catch it, but I can always miss something and I'd like to not have those errors. You're not a bitch for point them out; you're a saint.

But I don't like it when all I get is a list of errors. That's what a beta's for.

^ Agreed. I try to catch everything, but I know I will miss something from time to time. A list is not needed, but if you need to give me a list, PM me.

This is an odd one, but I really love it when people tell me what the love about certain characters. That always makes my day.

"YOU ARE THE GREATEST WRITER IN THE WORLD".

Clearly I'm not, but let's be honest, most people would love to read that.

On a more serious note, I'd like my readers to be more specific about what they do like. In my experience, when someone doesn't like my writing, they love to be very specific about everything they hated, but when someone loves my writing, it's just, "I loved this! I'm gonna subscribe right now." Okay, thank you a lot, but why I usually know what I'm doing wrong, but what am I doing right? What keeps you coming back for more?

So I guess my complaint seems to be the opposite of what most people wish their readers would say. Haha.

EDIT// I agree with the person above about the character thing. When someone points out the details they love about a character, it makes me so happy. I put a lot of heart in to every character I create, so to know that someone cares about them enough to pick up the specifics is awesome. Also, just to know why they like the character in general is great.

I would love more comments from readers who pick up my random referances/allusions, because I have millions of them. I subtley shove Wicked down your throat in Music Girl, but I've never once had a comment about it I'm either not hinting enough, am very sneaky, or no one has read or seen Wicked.

I love it when people comment on my dialogue 'cause it's generally supposed to be "dude dialogue" and I'm not a dude, so I like to know it sounds natural.

it's over dru.:

I love it when people comment on my dialogue 'cause it's generally supposed to be "dude dialogue" and I'm not a dude, so I like to know it sounds natural.

I totally agree with this. I write way more male characters than I do female characters, and I like when people tell me it sounds like a real dude speaking. Being complimented on my dialogue is nice in general because it's very difficult for me, but particularly when it's a guy speaking because, well, I'm not a guy.

I'd like it if they'd pick out specific parts that they liked, like a certain line that stood out for them, or parts that they really didn't like.
Mostly, I get comments on my characters and that's great because I love my characters and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside when other people love them too, but I'd love comments on the narrative itself, especially the descriptive parts because I know I suck at description and it would be great to have people point out bits I could improve.

I'd like to know what they thought of the characters. Most of the comments I get focus on the plot, and although I really appreciate them, I'd love more comments about what they liked about the characters. I once got a fantastic comment like this, and it really made me smile.

I wish people would say that they get the dynamics of the relationships within the story, especially with Pete. The main character and the dad have a sort of strained relationship, but the father isn't really distance, you know. He still cares about his kid and "gets" her, in a sense, in a way not all kids are lucky to have. I try to get that across in little ways but I'm not sure it's something that many readers pick up on.

He's not a distance or uncaring father, things are just in a weird place for everyone at the moment.

I wish people would point out the messages I'm trying to send even though I already know it.

But I think it's really funny when people fall in love with my characters or wish something that happens in the story would happen to them.

And deep down inside I wish that they would ask why certain things are happening but I'm also happy they don't because I would ruin the story for them (I have an addiction to foreshadowing)

I'd like it if people would give me suggestions as to how to take my story (: