I read the thread of likes and it seems that most authors prefer comments in their stories. How can an author motivate his readers to comment on the chapters?
You can try asking folks which way they want the story to go or ask other questions to try and nudge folks I guess? I've never really tried though because I don't like trying to make folks feel like they need to. I love the likes and comments I do get though and I'll be interested in seeing what others suggest
Lately I have been asking for them at possible story stops. These are natural places for a The End or possibly a one chapter epilogue. I ask if readers want to see more developed chapters and if I get enough interest I add more. Some have been real emphatic in their support which helps the longer a branch gets.
As an update, one of my most recent branches has been markedly less popular than usual, despite having what I consider better writing than usual. It also has less sex and the site has been bumpy lately, but I still didn't know whether I should continue it. I left a note asking for comments if they wanted it to continue and almost immediately heard from people that hadn't even hit like on previous chapters. There can be all sorts of reasons readers don't like, comment or bookmark, and I think we should explicitly encourage comments when we are unsure how a branch is landing. It has let me know when readers want more but weren't asking for it for whatever reason, and when people aren't as into a direction and I can put my energy elsewhere.
Yeah, the site has been pretty rough the last couple of days. It'll get straightened out but in the meantime, that's an excellent solution assuming readers can be coaxed to respond
