How to Leave a Good Constructive Comment

Although writing for the sake of writing can be great fun, almost everyone on Mibba appreciates receiving comments on their work. Whether those comments are simple and short or long and filled with helpful advice, leaving comments on work is incredibly simple and can make someone’s day! However, leaving a constructive comment can seem like a tall order, especially when you’re not used to commenting on pieces in such detail, but it’s extremely simple! Looking for ideas on how to write a well-rounded comment? Check out the tips below!

1. Comment as You Read

This may seem more complicated than it is worth to begin with, but commenting as you read means that you’re writing things down while they are still fresh in your mind! The easiest way to do this is to open a new Word document, take quick notes on what you want to write, and flesh it out afterwards. You could also open the comment box in a new tab and formulate the comment as you go along. Doing this allows you to make sure you don't leave out anything you may have noticed while reading, as you’ll be jotting it all down as you go!

2. Point Out What You Liked

Sometimes we think the plot of a story is well thought-out, or perhaps the characters are incredibly lifelike; both of these things would contribute to our overall enjoyment of a story. Make sure you let the author know what they are doing well — this works in their favour, since it allows them to know what is working for their story so they can move forward with less doubt and a little more confidence. This is especially helpful when it comes to writers that are experimenting with new techniques or just new writers in general.

3. Be as In-Depth as You Can

One of the main complaints Mibbians have when it comes to commenting on stories is the lack of in-depth comments. Of course, it’s lovely to receive comments where someone has told you that they loved your story and want to continue reading, but sometimes we just want the dirty details. Why is it making you come back for more, or why didn’t you like it as much as other stories? These little details will mean the world to the author, and will also show that you have paid attention to their story as a whole.

4. Mention Spelling / Grammar Errors

One of the clever ways that the human mind works is the ability to learn through error. We all make mistakes in our writing, whether it be a single typo or a series of minor grammar mistakes. Pointing these out to the author can be of great benefit to them, if done in a respectful manner.

When writing advice for spelling or grammar errors, ensure you are as specific as possible. If it’s a typo or spelling error, let them know where the error occurs and what it should be changed to. If you are dealing with a grammar error, let them know where it occurs (if possible) and let them know how to fix it. There’s no use just pointing something out without offering any help on how to fix it. After all, we all missed the odd error at some point in our lives, even after several thorough proof-reading sessions! However, remember that your entire comment shouldn't just consist of you pointing out the errors. Remember to add some positives in as well!

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Critical

It would be incredibly unnatural to assume that you will love every single second of a story. Even some of the ‘classic’ novels have fuzzy areas when it comes to plot or characters. Don’t be afraid to point these out to the author! Again, much like the spelling and grammar errors, we can all learn from errors. If you think a certain area of the plot is rather weak, or you found discrepancies in the storyline, then let them know and if you have any suggestions on how to improve it, speak up!

6. Always Be Respectful

Regardless of the quality of the story or your distaste towards anything, always remember to be respectful! You aren’t commenting to attack the author and their work — you are commenting to help them improve and let them know what you thought of their work. Don’t use insults or personal attacks to bring across any dislikes. Simply state what you liked or didn't like, why you felt that way, and how you think the story could be improved.

A good general format to use in a comment is to sandwich the negatives in-between any positives you wish to mention. Every story has its positive aspects and mentioning them to the author can help boost their confidence, put a smile on their face, and allow them to be more receptive to any criticisms you may offer.

Special thanks to Audrey T. and Goddess of Floyd for editing!