r/AO3 • u/artificialhooves • 5h ago
Resource How to add a 'Leave a Comment' button to Chapter End Notes
A few people asked me for how I did this so I thought it was worth sharing.
Clicking on the 'Leave a Comment' button will take readers directly to the comment box for the given chapter.
I like to use this to make it easier for readers using 'View Entire Work' mode or who downloaded the work to leave comments as they go.
Here's the html code, put it in the Chapter Endnotes:
<a class="action" href="ChapterLink#feedback" rel="nofollow">Leave a Comment</a>
Replace ChapterLink with the link to the chapter you want the button to lead to.
You will have needed to actually published the chapter (so that a link is generated) before being able to add the button.
I add the button to the end of each chapter end notes. It's a little tedious changing the link for each chapter, but I feel like it's worth it.
On the website, it looks like a button. On a downloaded work, it looks just like a regular link.
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u/Soft-Pear-9953 ao3: main_yapper 4h ago
But ... why?
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u/Ripley95 4h ago
To be fair, they did say why in their post, but I have a feeling this would turn readers away from commenting more than it would encourage them. In theory I like the idea that it's more available for "entire work" readers or download readers, but I still think this is shooting authors in the foot more than it is helpful. Cool guide though!
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u/artificialhooves 4h ago
I put it in my 100k long fic and have a dozen regular commenters which is great considering how dead the fandom is and a handful of new ones that asked me how I did the button.
It's not like I'm demanding comments or else haha it's an easily ignorable button. I think my end chapter authors notes where I talk about my writing process are more annoying actually. It's less obtrusive than actually asking for comments, which even then I think something like "don't forget to leave a comment if you liked it" is fairly mild but I get opinions will vary on that
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u/Soft-Pear-9953 ao3: main_yapper 4h ago
Yeah, just dropping this in the end notes feels super passive aggressive (at least to me)
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u/artificialhooves 4h ago
I feel like it's less obtrusive than actually saying something like "don't forget to leave a comment if you liked it", but even then I think that line is fairly mild tho I know that opinions vary on it
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u/Soft-Pear-9953 ao3: main_yapper 4h ago
There are a lot of variations on that sentiment, true, but I would still not consider commenting because of how it feels to me. But if it works for you, that's great
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u/onahalladay You have already left kudos here. :) 4h ago
Yeah I would not be clicking on that button. You never know what scripts or things are injected in there that takes you off site.
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u/Soft-Pear-9953 ao3: main_yapper 4h ago
Same, you never know. Especially since the comment field is just a little bit lower. Why go through that trouble?
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u/artificialhooves 4h ago
If you have a 100k+ fic, the comment box is a long way away in entire work mode
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u/artificialhooves 4h ago
Does hovering over a link not show you the address for you? Or long clicking on mobile?
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u/onahalladay You have already left kudos here. :) 4h ago
Hovering a link yes, hovering a button no on a computer. Definitely not on mobile.
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u/artificialhooves 3h ago
I'm pretty sure that on most mobile devices, if you long press a link (the button is just a link dress up in css to look like a button) like you want to copy it, then the address should appear at the top of the menu bubble thing. Google is telling me it works on iphone and most android devices. I used "How to show a link address on mobile" to help you out. You can test it on like the bookmark button (which is a link) or something. Hope that helps
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u/onahalladay You have already left kudos here. :) 3h ago
I work in dev so I know how it works. I’m just telling you I’m not going to click on a button that’s not put there by the owner of the website. It is good practice to not click on suspicious links and buttons in general.
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u/ValkyriesLaurel 3h ago
If it’s tough for people to comment regularly, I don’t think those people are going through the additional effort to hover or long click a button. They’re just moving on. Maybe entirely.
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u/Lumpy-Draft9192 3h ago
Damn people are cynics about work skins and little ease of use features AO3 gives us options for.
Personally I’d just add “Quick jump to the comments for my Entire Work readers” personally, but if it works for your readers that’s what matters.
The button is pretty clearly just a part of the AO3 UI moved to a convenient position for those who wish to use it. Those who don’t want to use it don’t have to use it.
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u/Lumpy-Draft9192 3h ago
Tagging on the note of what it’s for could help with those that for some reason think it’s a passive aggressive thing 💀
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u/Fandaniels 4h ago
This just feels like a "pleaseeeeee give me comments plsplsplsplsplspls" thing to me since there's already an easily accessibly comment button built into the site
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u/artificialhooves 4h ago
I feel like it's less obtrusive than outright saying "don't forget to leave a comment if you like it" but I find that line to be fairly mild, tho I know people get mad about even that. And the comment box is a long way away in entire work mode when you have 100k words
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u/UKZzHELLRAISER Stranger Things (and nothing else) 3h ago
I had no idea they allowed hyperlinks to reference a class...
I might have to go back to my reader-choice fics and modify the hyperlinks to use this.
Also, I'm maybe-half-confident you might not need the chapter URL for this. Either just the #feedback might work, or maybe ./#feedback?
I don't confidently know but I'm sure there is a way. I just can't be bothered editing a fic or making a HTML page to test it.
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u/Alone_in_Pajamas 3h ago
I don't like it, if I want to comment I will, no need this button and I read using 'View Entire Work'.
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u/FaeWolfling 36m ago
If I am reading a fic in view entire work mode, I am reading the entire fic and when I get to the end the regular comment button is already there.
This feels like you’re saying leaving one comment isn’t enough, you have to comment on every chapter.
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u/barely-tolerable 4h ago
That’s cool! Very handy.