>>76367525These are all really good questions.
>Do you need it to keep the lights on so to speak?Sometimes. For stories like Balsa I was so passionate about that I'm still (mentally) working in Blackbean. Kafka is another that regardless of engagement, small or large, good or bad, I will continue it as it suits me.
A lot of my stories aren't like that though, but White December may be a passion project so I may keep up with it even if it's just one anon reading or ten.
>Is it more of a luxury since we are in the business of self-indulgence?I don't really see it as self indulgence. We all love positive feedback sure, but more than that I want people to critique what I'm not doing well. This thread has made me a way better writer since when I started and god knows I have more grown to cover to be better. More engagement means more learning.
>How much engagement is healthy before it can potentially have too much sway?This is something I have struggled with a lot. Building Block Doll and Balsa both took very different plot paths due to what reviewers gave me and ultimately I think it mostly came out for the best. But I do have to learn that sometimes original vision is best and sometimes people just aren't going to like a particular plot path. It's life.
>What is the level of preferred engagement? Is it a simple 1 sentence post? Or something that branches an entire paragraph? How much detail of the stories themselves is the accepted standard to go into?Anything really. I always love people saying good job or they enjoyed it, but I'm always down for someone to get surgical about my latest chapter. White December is already shaping up to be better because of one review. It gave me inspiration for a shocking amount of material.
>How can someone boost their own reader engagement? Should they take actions in order to accomplish this? Or just let their stories do the work for them?Ultimately I don't think they should try unless they're intent is to sell their work. This is a hobby space and you should use to to write you craziest, out there fantasies.
>Some readers are likely shy to engage to begin with, but does that make their silent affirmation any less valid than the vocal ones?Silent validation is well... silent. I don't mean to sound harsh but only the one who isn't speaking up could ever know that they read it unless of course it's AO3.
Sometimes though, just saying "I really liked that, keep it up" or some variation is enough. Not every comment needs to be a great, sprawling critique. Sometimes it's just nice to hear someone is having a good time.
