foolish_m0rtal | Be the Change

This/last week, a pretty prolific writer for a community I follow left very suddenly (deleting her journal), prompting some discussion in the forums.
fenchurch has a good point when he/she said comments are the only way we can know that people are reading our posts/stories. It's not like ff.net, where you have a counter (did I just say counter? Too much coding!!) to total the number of hits your entries receive. Comments basically let you know people are out there.
I'm not one of those writers that churns out the old story for the reviews. I like to write, and if there are people that like to read what I write, well, that's a happy combination. But that's of course not the only reason.
Well, I've just realized there are stories/authors I follow that I've never commented on. Sometimes, it will be the same author over and over again. (What can I say? Some people have just honed it to a level that produces pretty decent quality stuff consistently).
I've never really given it much thought before, but I feel EXTREMELY bad, now. Okay, so I don't have much time. Who says it has to be a long and drawn out critique? Just pop by and say hello, let him/her know you're out there hanging on and awaiting the next riveting chapter.
Do you remember when/if you posted stories? Sure, you're all artsy and bohemian in your little skinny black clothes: "I don't do it for the reviews."
But that's a genuinely warm feeling when you open your inbox and see comments from other users talking about your work. Your entries are like your kids. Be the proud parent. Accept critiques, make new friends. (I swear, there are some people I've seen over and over again in multiple communities I follow, but I've never bothered to say halloo)

So pass this on (not literally! Incidentally, if you send it to 20 friends, you get your own house-sized cake) and take some time to linger. I've decided on a new course based on the events of the author and her deleted journal. Today, I sent a message to an author I've followed for sometime, and told her just how much I appreciated the work she puts into her works, what a fan I am. That's only a drop in the bucket, but it's a start.
So go on, comment on entries and stories. Message that person you've been meaning to but never got around to. Who knows if one day you find their journals deleted, leaving you with a handful of "should haves" and "maybes."

Give someone an electronic hug.