How to Make Constructive Comments
Cyberfunded creativity thrives on feedback. One of the most important things you can do to support your favorite crowdfunded projects is leaving comments. This shows your interest so that the creator knows what things people are viewing and enjoying. Here are some ideas for making your comments as useful as possible.
First, comments with substance are better than those without. Similarly, detailed comments are better than generic ones. This is where it pays to know the project, because some creators make use of even simple "I like this" feedback to make important decisions such as which sketches get chosen to paint. Other creators only count comments that say something specific about the item to which they apply. If you're not sure what kinds of things are helpful in a comment, try focusing on whatever catches your interest the most.
A good approach is "Two Hurrahs and a Hint." Point out two things you like, and one thing that could be improved. For best results, start and end on a positive note, sandwiching the constructive criticism between those. (Thanks to the_vulture and ellenmillion for these ideas.)
Comments on images: If you'd like to buy a print or other hardcopy, always mention that. Name your favorite color in a picture. Discuss the framing or focus in a photo. Point out a specific object you like, such as a flower in the foreground or a character's hat. Say what you think about the medium, especially if the artist is experimenting with a new one. With sketches, it's often worth mentioning what areas you'd like to see refined further, like a carved door in the background. For more depth you can discuss the action or emotion in the scene.
Comments on divination: The main point here is whether you found the reading/remarks to be accurate and insightful, or off the mark. Feedback on the deck or other divinatory tool is also relevant, especially if the reader is using several and might benefit from knowing which is the most popular. Mention personal connections, such as if the Tarot card drawn is one you use as your significator.
This is one area where coming back LATER and commenting may be as much or even more use than immediate feedback. Then you can reflect on how events actually played out in comparison to the reading. Over time, this is the stuff that distinguishes the best divination projects from the competition.
Comments on fiction: There are two aspects here, storytelling and technique. Explore how believable, likable, complex or simplistic the characters are. Do a little travelogue through the setting(s) and point to things that caught your eye. Discuss how the plot is unfolding in ways that surprise you, make you laugh, make you cling to your chair with worry, etc. In storytelling, it's often the people and places that hook readers as much as the actual plot; make sure the author knows what brought you in and kept you reading.
On the technical side, watch for typos or other errors and point those out if the creator welcomes that kind of feedback. You can also highlight little gems that you love, such as a particular turn of phrase, or deft handling of a difficult technique like writing from a child's perspective. In technique, the author's "voice" or particular way with words -- and their ability to write legibly without a ton of typos -- is what contributes to reader retention. Anything you can tell them about how that works or doesn't work for you will be helpful.
Comments on music: This can include vocal or instrumental content, or both. A very simple personal response can be how the music makes you feel, or what you use it for (background music while writing, energy boost for doing housework, etc.). For solo work, try to identify a favorite motif such as the chords or the words of a song. For ensemble work, listen for a particularly charming instrument or voice. If an unusual instrument is featured, such as a psaltery or an oud, say whether you liked it or not and why.
Comments on poetry: As with fiction, this has an aesthetic side and a technical side. The easiest feedback is to quote your favorite line(s). A narrative poem tells a story; there you can discuss what happens or which character(s) you like. Other poems focus on describing a scene, creating a mood, or just playing with fun sounds. Try to figure out what a poem is "for" and discuss how well it achieves its goal. If you read/heard the poem out loud, comment on how it felt in your mouth and sounded in your ears. On the technical side, you can remark on such things as the rhyme, imagery, or other specific tools of the craft.
If you haven't found poetry very impressive before, but this one grabs you, that's crucial information. Poetry isn't popular in the mainstream right now, so knowing what hooks someone who's not already a poetry fan will make it easier to home in on what people really want in poetry. Be as specific as you can about what attracted your attention, made you smile or shiver, stuck in your mind, etc.
Comments on serials: This can apply to webcomics, weblit, song cycles, thematic art collections, or anything else where the creator is posting bits of related material over time. The most vital input here is what you want to see more of or less of. Name your favorite character, or list characters in order of preference. Point out a setting that you loved and want to revisit. Suggest a subplot or motif to explore in more detail. If you want to get fancy, discuss the overall mood of the series, its recurring themes, or how it has evolved from starting point to current point. Comparison/contrast of several favorite entries is another useful option.
Comments on multimedia: If it's a multimedia work (like a story with illustrations, or a CD and its artwork), comment on how the media work together. (Suggestion by mdlbear.) You may also want to discuss individual elements, especially if some work better than others.
Comments on production: If you're familiar with the mechanics of the production process -- recording and mixing for audio, scanning or photography for artwork, website layout or blog mechanics for prose and poetry -- comments on how well that worked and how it can be improved can be very helpful. (Suggestion by mdlbear.) Artistic media or cameras for art, tools for crafts, techniques and format for writing, etc. are also worth mentioning if you understand them.
Finally, connect the content with yourself as a person. In crowdfunding, the audience is not just important as an abstract consumer base. Creators go into cyberfunded creativity because they want to interact with their fans. This is especially true of patrons; creators pay extra attention to the people who send them money. So tell them a little bit about who you are and what you like in general, how that relates to your enjoyment of their work. The more you do this, the more they will get to know you and the more likely it is that you will influence what they produce.
One terrific area to cover is your favorite causes. Maybe you're into peacemongering or abolishing hunger or portraying women in positive ways. Highlight any case where one of your causes seems to match something in a creator's work. Similarly, let the creator know if an item touched you enough for you to link it or otherwise recommend it to your friends. Creators value exposure, so they're more likely to do things that inspire fans to boost the signal. If you're a creative person yourself, and you've handled the same motif in your own work, that's another good comparison/contrast opportunity -- no two people will ever do exactly the same thing with a given inspiration, and looking for similarities and differences can be a lot of fun.
Comments are fuel as well as information. They help distinguish crowdfunding from conventional business models. They don't cost anything but a minute or few of your time, so everyone can participate. This is a great way to support projects even if your budget is tight. Do your part for crowdfunding -- delurk and comment today!
For patrons and fans: What inspires you to comment on a project? What are some projects where you tend to comment often? Do you favor making some particular kind(s) of comment? Conversely, if you prefer to lurk most of the time, why is that?
For creators: What kind(s) of comment do you find the most useful? What are some ways that you use comments? Do you have any perks for feedback?