Five levels of comments we love as authors:

Level 1: Thank you for the chapter

These are appreciated because it’s nice to be acknowledged and the fact a reader will take time to type something means more than you know.

Level 2: A reaction

Did you like it? What did you think? Give us a sign!

Level 3: Feedback

Yup, we can take it and we want to get better. Just remember, we’re human like you and putting ourselves out there (for free). We’re not perfect but will do what we can.

Level 4: Encouraging Feedback

This feedback spurns us on through the slog and the suck, especially if you acknowledge we’re growing and improving. They say that all you need are a thousand true fans and this is where it all starts.

Level 5: You’re living the story

I started getting comments like this recently and they’re on another level. It’s almost like the reader is taking ownership of the story and empathizing with you and the characters. Readers share their hopes and disillusionments and get right into it. They even have theories of what’s going on and spark ideas for us as authors.

Keep them coming!

Any levels I missed for you courageous fellow authors out there? Any examples?