30 Day Fanfic Meme - Day 16

[dimity_blue]

16 – Summaries – Do you like them or hate them? How do you come up with them, if you use them?

I think summaries are important to give people an idea of the story or a glimpse into what's going on. How else will they know if the story has potential to appeal to them?

However, I suck at writing summaries. I used to struggle finding the right words and I'd still be extremely dissatisfied with my summaries. Then I noticed that some authors use a short paragraph or a few sentences from the actual story as their summary. Now I do the same and it's so much easier. What a relief!

Comments

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

Then I noticed that some authors use a short paragraph or a few sentences from the actual story as their summary.

That. Is. Genius. Summaries are the work of the devil. Although the real living hell is trying to think up a decent title, and I don't think I could re-use that trick for that!

I feel like I've been remiss in not replying to these posts - it's not that I haven't been reading them; more that I don't always know how to respond. I'm very impressed at how you've kept up with it! Some of the questions seem a bit ridiculous. Do you use OCs?! How can you write a proper story without them for goodness sakes?! And urgh, all the pairings. I think it was when fanfic forgot that stories can be ship-free, that I ducked out of the fanfic community.

[/stuffy old curmudgeon]

[thisbluespirit]

Summaries are like titles - fun when they come easy, horrible when they don't and you can't really do without them...

:-)

[leesa_perrie]

Yep, summaries are very useful! But also can be very hard to write!!

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

I also suck at it. Maybe I'll try that. :)

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I don't know anyone who enjoys writing them... I sometimes use a line from the story of nothing else comes to mind.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

That. Is. Genius.

Isn't it? I was thrilled when I noticed and realised I could use it for most of my stories.

Sometimes I dig through my fic to find a title to fit the story. That's harder though.

Some of the questions are a bit daft. The pairings one had me stumped, so I decided to see it as 'any relationships'. Ship-free stories are surprisingly hard to find. :o(

ETA: And don't worry about replying. I'm surprised people can find anything to say in reply!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Untitled fic #57 is hardly memorable, is it? :oD

Composers cheat a lot though. "Opus 25, movement in B flat. Yeah, that'll do."

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

So true!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I hope it works for you, Patt! :oD

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Some people seem able to write a decent summary. I just feel stymied by them.

[stargatesg1971.livejournal.com]

As a reader I love summaries because they really help entice me into the story. While I don't mind a snippet from the fic itself as a summary I prefer one written specifically for purpose. However, as a writer I find them tricky and frustrating.