To Heart Or Not To Heart

Thats a lot of questions! If I like something I always leave a heart and comment becuase that's what I would appreciate from someone. If I'm don't resonate with something I've read I don't do anything, but that really doesn't happen often. I read my subs list generally and thenFB/Discord shares. Sometimes I look at the 'creators we're loving' and pick one I've not encountered. Its difficult to balance life/job/writing/reading. If I had all the time I wanted, I'd write a piece a day and spend the rest of it reading and encouraing creators. Sadly. Never going to happen in this life. Sorry for the essay!

I agree. This is why I have chosen to be a reader rather than a writer on this platform for a little bit. Of course, I will go back to writing again shortly. Comments need to feel right. The writer has taken the effort in writing the article, and to get more out of what you have just read as a reader; commenting can be gold. Thank you.

I am constantly torn. My approach to reading changes a lot. I used to want to read every top story and comment, but that started to detract from the people I'd subscribed to. I don't have a LOT of time to read on here, though I try my best. I bookmark (copy/paste story links) in Notes and try to read through my list when I have larger chunks of time. This is also where I put longer stories or stories that I know will require a longer comment. I am not inclined to force myself to be a FIRST reader on most things...I just can't. Reciprocation is a goal that I have. I do it off and on, based on comments to my stories. The thing is, I often want to deep dive a certain creator, spend a good amount of time reading their work, then move to the next creator and do the same. Doing it read for read is not easy for me. I read according to my mood, and that changes. Sometimes it's the picture, the title, the author, the community, the length that get me interested. It's much more important to me to write honest comments than to do a lot of reading. I value constructive comments above all, as I view Vocal as a place for writers to share in the craft. So I want to try to break down what's working, metaphors, structure, etc., and not solely praise a piece generically or only bring in my emotional feeling. I want to touch on all that I genuinely like and praise what is working. I feel that unsolicited constructive criticism (feedback) can be counterproductive, but with people I know, it can actually help out. I will "heart" a story if I genuinely like it (after I read it), or heart it to come back to it; I don't normally heart without a comment, though. So, not a full system here, but I try to do as you say--be genuine. This was a great conversation starter, and I'm glad you wrote it! Congratulations on TS! (Sorry for the long comment)

I think what you've discussed here is very valid. If something is good, I quote from it or summarise what it made me feel, what I thought the other writer was trying to do. But sometimes, I find it hard to comment. Sometimes, I don't like what I read so I don't put a comment. Sometimes I'll congratulate people, sometimes I don't. No system really but if something has got under my skin, I will rhapsodise a little. I reciprocate people who've read mine and have favourites that I return to. I try to be sincere and constructive where I can.

Your article is great Read mine 🙏

Very interesting! Personally, I only comment on posts when I actually have something to say (like now lol). If I just want to convey that I really liked the piece, then I'll just leave a heart bc that pretty much fully conveys my opinion. Also, I leave hearts if I want to go back to a piece for reference later, since it essentially bookmarks the piece. I wouldn't heart everything i read because that would make it unreasonably hard to find my actual favorites again, imo.

I rarely stray out of Poets nowadays but I'm glad I did for this piece. We wouldn't be here if we didn't like it! Congrats on the TS!

Your article is a great conversation starter. After reading some of the comments below, it seems that the general consensus of what draws some readers to a story is the title and photo, followed by the first few lines and community in which it’s posted. All very good things to know about the reader. If I heart, I 99% of the time comment. They go hand and hand for me. So much to choose from, no one can read everything (except Dharrsheena, lol. God bless her) but we try to engage as much as possible. Great article, Kelli and congrats!

I love your title! 😊 A great read, too. 💯 Thank you. 🪴

Congrats on the TS, my friend. I heart everything, but more so as a reminder to myself that I've read it. I usually comment on everything as well to let the author know that I appreciate their work. Sometimes I have a lot to say, and sometimes I genuinely don't know what to say, so the comment is more simple. As for reading, I have my favourite authors. I also like to check out the top stories and reciprocate those who read my stuff regularly. I'm a little behind this week (just had knee surgery last Friday) but I'll catch up eventually.

If I read, I like. If I really like, I comment. If it's AI, I hit the flag. I'm a simple man. Why do I do it this way? Mostly because it's how I'd want people to interact with my work. I want to know my audience. I want to put a (digital) face to the reader--it helps my creative process and helps motivate me to continue writing things.

I think that writing is hard and that we should just be focused on that... And I want to buy Boardwalk first.

Kelli, the notifications of published stories is redundant. The reply & comment on story gets buried. My system - . I go to subscribes and select a story based on picture and read length. If it is to long, I will skip it. I heart after reading. I leave a positive comment

Personally... I really hate it when someone only "hearts" my stories. Recently, I poured my heart into a 3000-word first chapter for the GAN Challenge, and I received a little "heart" from someone who had read it. But why? Why just a heart? Why can't they tell me, genuinely, what they thought of the story? What was so absolutely fantastic about it that you just had to leave a heart? Can't you tell me? I'm honestly a little annoyed with only "heart"-ing. I'd much rather prefer someone give me actual feedback on my piece of writing that I slaved over instead of just leaving the fact that they liked it behind. On my own, I always try to comment. For a while I was hesitant to do so, afraid that I was not yet a prominent member of the community, but now I comment on most everything I read. Unless it is something that I would deem offensive and my only thoughts on it are ones that would be angry. I also constantly forget to like stories, but I try my best to do it often. These are just my thoughts. I love feedback, and I hate that silent "so-and-so liked your story" without the added comment about what they specifically enjoyed about my hard work. Congratulations for getting Top Story, and this really deserved it.

I enjoyed the read. I always enjoy comments on my story! 😀 hope you’ll heart and comment on my stories!

I always tried to comment if I have read something. When I started, less than a month OK I was quite intimidated and felt quite self-conscious commenting. But then I realised that when people take the time to comment on something they have read of mine, it makes me feel less unheard-unseen. A heart doesn't really mean all that much. Although that being said I think if you are going to comment then it should be sincere, I don't know how I choose what to read really, things from the vocal social page on Facebook, Paul Stewart's, 'Deep Cuts'. Congrats on Top Story-A really interesting read 🤍

I frequently choose to read stories based on the title. That's not a grantee that I'll read it all the way through, anything from prose to description to realizing how long it is and not having enough time to give it due attention can cause me to bounce off something. None of that means that I don't think the story is good, just that it's not for me. Like Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen book one) it can be very high quality but not appeal to me. When I read through a story all the way to the end, I do my best to like and comment something I enjoyed from the text itself. I find something to praise because I know how difficult it is to write and then release something. I do this especially if the story has low traction, it's a wonderful feeling to get that first like or comment and I want to make sure that other creators get to experience that whenever I can. On the rare occasions that I have nothing to say, and did not enjoy the story very much, I leave without commenting. But those are very rare as I always try to find at least something and rarely finish articles I didn't like very much. Whether or not there's any reciprocity from the creator isn't all that important to me, I just want to make sure that they know their hard work has been seen and enjoyed.

I often pick stories based on if the title is enticing. I always heart after reading and I try to comment on any that I know what I want to say to the author/about the story. On my pieces, I like comments for feedback. I'm content with both positive and constructive criticism on my pieces. I always want to improve but I don't feel like I am.

What great content for a story! Definitely relevant and relatable. Authenticity drives my reading selections but I am acutely aware that we are all at different places in our writing journeys and in our lives. The comment that would roll off yesterday may stick in a graw today. We are complex creations. Titles, lead photos and first lines are my reading breadcrumb trail to check out a writer's work. If they aren't enticing (a totally subjective aspect we're all entitled to) often I'll pass. I do believe in finding ways to support developing writers though, and constructive feedback or posing questions is a great way to do that. I won't heart a piece if I don't see something about it I like and I've never been a 'follow-for-follow' or 'quid pro quo' kinda person when it comes to certain aspects of literature. I was force-fed unpalatable books at a young age without a choice, so I won't read something I don't like. A person's work should speak to me on its own merit and if not me then maybe somebody else. It's a big world and there's room for everybody.

I think I am the last person to leave insights. The title, picture, and author can drag me into a story that I read, and if I have taken something from it I leave a comment, heart, and insight. If a story leaves me cold then that is how I leave it, the author may have gotten a read from me, but no interaction, but that seldom happens because my choices are usually good for myself. This is an excellent and useful piece.

I do not see the title or the picture. I read everything that comes up in my Vocal notifications by everyone that I'm subscribed to. I hit the heart before I start reading and I always leave a comment 💖

I heart afterwards. I am drawn to writing style, then topic! Sometimes the right words for a response don't come right after reading a piece. I'd rather just heart a piece instead of writing something underwhelming or incoherent! I enjoyed this topic!

I typically hear something as I read it, and if I feel stirred by some emotion, I will leave a comment. However, my words are primarily simple bc sometimes I don't have more to say other than, I liked it. Sometimes, I don't know why I wanted something; I know I did, and sometimes I have much to say. This was very interesting to bring to our attention. Thank you!

My comment is left on your post. 😍

I hearted this piece specifically, even before reading the whole piece, because I appreciate somebody taking on this topic. This touches a nerve for me right now because I often am dropping in on vocal on the fly. For example, at this moment I am running the blender for my daughter. So I can only respond in the time it takes to make a smoothie! I'm often torn on whether to leave a heart when I know I don't have time to write a proper comment. I know that authors can see in the notification who left a heart on their piece and I don't want someone to feel slighted by the "cheap like." On the other hand, it feels sneaky to read and enjoy a piece without any payment in feedback at all. As for you, dear Kelli, I don't always resonate personally with the emotions you share but what your work often gives me is a clearer window into those emotions. I appreciate your passion, your vulnerability, and the way you draw on nature to tell your heart's stories. Well, I'm done making lunch now...