The complicated personal rituals of fic-reading

[ratbones]

When I go back to fics I've commented on, I regularly, like probably 50% of the time, discover I never left kudos. I leave kudos-ing to last if I'm planning to comment, because I guess I think the author might notice me leaving kudos and then commenting a couple of days later and think that's weird of me (which, as a writer, I can confirm is not a thing). And then half the time I guess I just close the tab feeling pleased with myself and forget to click the button for some reason. ???

Also, I am almost always on a reread when I leave comments, because I mostly read on my tiny old smartphone which I no longer use as a phone and is solely dedicated to accessing AO3 at this point. So I send tabs to my laptop to leave feedback on, which is not the best system because it requires the extra labor of a reread/re-skim to remember what I wanted to say.

I'd leave more feedback if I had a different system such that I could just comment as soon as I got done reading, but I can't think of one. Typing up comments on a phone is a pain, and I usually don't take my giant laptop to bed, or the kitchen while I'm cooking, or the bathroom. Yes, I read fic in the bathroom, of course I read fic in the bathroom.

Anyone have weird fic-reading habits to share?

Comments

[nnozomi]

Yes, I read fic in the bathroom, of course I read fic in the bathroom.
I mean, a) why should fic be different from any other reading material? and b) why should the bathroom be different from literally anywhere else whatsoever (by which I mean, yup, me too)

Re comments and kudos: I tend to think of them as one-or-the-other--if I liked it and have something to say about it I leave a comment, if I liked it but don't have anything particular to say I leave a kudos. (Or, all too often, I read it and think "oh wow, this was amazing! I should leave a comment saying so!" and...just don't. Trying to catch up on a little of this, but very slowly.

Also I tend to keep track of/save the fics/authors I especially like completely offline, in relatively analog things like Excel and Word, which is probably a waste of good AO3 functions.

[ratbones]

I mean, a) why should fic be different from any other reading material? and b) why should the bathroom be different from literally anywhere else whatsoever (by which I mean, yup, me too)
:D

Ooh, I didn't realize some people approached kudos that way! I always intend to leave kudos for any fic that I finished and enjoyed. But your mindset makes sense as well - kudos aren't really necessary if I've just told someone in words that I loved the story.

Also I tend to keep track of/save the fics/authors I especially like completely offline
I have some lists outside of AO3 as well! I keep thinking that I should use the built-in bookmarks system but I just...haven't, yet. (Keeping stuff offline to preserve it does make sense, though.)