I feel you!!! Right now I am so unmotivated to write even though I’ve been free for the past weeks just cause I update and I haven’t received much to any comments which makes me feel like not updating and my chapters are usually 20,000+ long so it makes me feel like am I wasting days and weeks? But then I want to finish what I started and seeing 200+ views on the chapters do make me happy but it’s like can’t even one of those 200 comment?! Argh...I miss the old days when AFF was more lively, I remember the good times where I used to get 30+ Comments per chapter on one of my popular fics but it’s pretty dead now :(

I’ve noticed stories with subs only gets more comments so I wasn’t sure whether to do that or not but then I think I don’t want to force someone to sub just to read my work like I rather they like and sub on their own will

Idk what to do about readers tbh like idk how someone can read someone’s work and not comment at all? I always make sure to comment in whatever I read so I hope someone does that with my stories too!

As a writer I've learned to not focus on the comments too much. Being not as well known (and doing nothing but odd ships) kind of leaves me in the lower end of the spectrum. I know I have silent readers but at least I know that SOMEONE out there is reading the chapters I write. It's always good to get feedback from those who do comment though, because it lets me know someone is enjoying my odd ship pairings and is enjoying the story so far as it progresses

I never seem to have this issue I always have so many comments

This is definitely an issue and I understand where you're coming from~ it's hard as an author to deal with silent readers sometimes, because it throws up a lot of uncertainty. I feel that I don't know if someone is interested in my story - they may have read chapter X, but not chapter Y, and so I'm always updating in constant doubt.

For me though, my current story has a large amount of comments now, compared to many other AFF fics. Most of these comments are from the same set of readers (so for example, I have thirty-eight parts to the fic so far, and I have readers who will comment on each part, so 38 of those comments will be from one individual etc.) but what helps is actively engaging with readers. Always reply to comments and strike conversation and if you can, show gratitude and appreciation. A lot of my commenters are friends I have made via the story, who keep commenting to support me (they're so sweet uwu I have the best readers and I'm so damn fortunate uwu). Anyway, don't give up! Just make sure you too try encourage readers - leave an A/N or thank people on their wall when they subscribe, for example, and.make sure to reply to comments too. It won't always work but even having one or two readers who I know will comment on every chapter makes a difference.:3

Good luck <3 !

:( Aww I understand if you don't get comments or they are less compared to reads. It hurts as an author that there's such a difference in number..

Personally, I've been writing for a long time. Now I don't look at comments anymore (I READ THEM But don't mind how few they are). Just seeing the views go up makes me feel happy that my story has interest at all.
We can't change people and make them comment if they'd like to remain silent

But what I do is make engagement. I ask a question after the chapter "So what did you think? DO YOU THINK THEY'LL MEET AT ALL? AND WHO WAS THAT PERSON?" I try to make it seem as if I have no idea what happened or what will happen next XD,, sometimes, the mystery added makes readers engage in "what could be" scenarios for next time :P It's fun hehe

It does get frustrating sometimes, I agree. My only motivation as of the moment, since I don't get much comments pertaining to the story, is writing with the idea to finish what I started. If they comment, I'd interact with them and if not, that's fine too. I updated 4 chapters once (once a week, I think) and only got one comment. Currently, I got no comments pertaining to the story after updating my fic like 5/6 times now. I honestly don't feel rushed to finish since I don't think anyone is looking forward to updates, haha. But like I said, I just want to finish writing the story.

People will comment if they have something to comment is what I say to myself. You can always add a note at the bottom that you'd love to read comments or something like that. :)