Summaries and the lack thereof

[knifeedgefic]

So I'm working on my seasonal_spuffy  entry, which some of you may be happy to know will be the first few (7? 10?) chapters of DUST. Why DUST and not something shorter and complete? Well, one, because it hasn't been posted anywhere before, so it qualifies, and two, because I really want to start posting it and this is as good a reason as any to make myself write

Comments

[dramaqueenlucy]

I put a lot of stock in the summery of the fics I read. I can't count the number of fics that I've past over because of the summery or lack there of but your poem that would bait the hook and the story will reel me in. Just my opinion.

Woot! I'm so excited that your posting some of DUST soon. I've been waiting um...some what patiently ;)

[knifeedgefic]

:)

Yeah, I usually need a summary to get me started, too. It's just so tough not knowing how to summarize this particular fic in a way that will sell it. I heard a few comments on "West of the Moon" regarding the lameness of that particular summary and how it didn't really inspire people to read it. I'd like to avoid that with DUST.

[xc_runner50]

That poem is awesome. I would use that for the summary.

[snickfic]

To me, a summary isn't just about accuracy (although outright lying is discouraged *g*), but about selling the story to the audience. I don't so much care what happens in the story as I do about the writing quality and the voice of the thing. The summary is partly your chance to prove, in two or three sentences, that you can do this writing thing.

All that said, I don't need a summary to sell me on DUST: the snippets I've read already have me completely sold. :)

[slaymesoftly]

What you said.

[eilowyn]

That poem is a bit of a teaser, and it doesn't give away your ridiculously simple plot. You may want to put a brief sentence about what's going down at the beginning of the story to tease what's to come, but you're one author that I'd read regardless of summary, so I'm not the most objective person to ask!

[sarahblack]

I'm so happy to have a date to look forward to! Luckily, May 1st is a bank holiday in Iceland, so I'll just be refreshing my browser. :D (Edit - I just checked, and May 1st is a Sunday. Lol!)

On the summary issue... I can't really say. I know your writing, so just your name is enough for me to click on the story link. But I like summaries that give me an idea of what I'm in for and peak my interest. The poem definitely works. It tells me that I'm in for a complicated romance, and it's just interesting to read, so it makes me curious and eager for more.