hope | (no subject)

Although I admit to being horrible at writing summaries for my own stories, I do rely on them when deciding whether to bother reading someone else's. Sometimes, I can tell just from the summary (typos, grammar errors) that the writing in the story is going to make me crazy so I'll pass. There are things in canon (Alonzo) that I'm denying and would rather not read about. Sometimes, if it's been ages since a writer posted part of a multi-part fic, the summary reminds me that I know and liked (or didn't) the story.

As a writer, I like knowing that a lot of people are reading my fic, even if they aren't commenting. The summary is just one tool a writer has to lure the reader inside. The title, pairings, warning, and the author are all elements a reader considers. But since you're asking today about the summary, I'd say it's an opportunity a writer shouldn't disregard. We'll see what your poll reveals.

First question assume I added 'or' between each one. I think that it depends on the story.

Also with the last question, I find that the other information is often equally as important to my decision to read or not read.

With regard to the middle question, I'm extremely unlikely to read a story without some sort of summary or indication if it's something I'm actually going to enjoy - recs I trust or an author I trust are perhaps two of the only reasons.

Any of the summary types work for me. I do read summaries but authors and recs carry far more influence. As do trusted betas or the lack thereof. OTOH a snappy summary can convince me to give a story a shot.

I have some difficulty distinguishing between those summary types -- ones I write or look for often combine those elements. So I guess any of them works for me.

I'm always interested in how a writer reflects on/presents a complete story. The ones I can't stand are the disingenuous or I-suck-at-summaries ones; I won't usually read those fics. By the time you've written it, you have to have some idea what it's about.

I might do any of these summary types, depending on the story. Sometimes it's a line from the story, sometimes a descriptive summary, sometimes a tagline.

If a story is by someone whose writing I know/like anyway, I'll probably read it regardless, but if it's an unfamiliar writer, the summary can entice.

A summary's really important to me - as another commenter said above, bad spelling/grammar will show up immediately. I personally use it to give an indication of the prose style of the story - humorous, angsty, whatever, as well as a bit of a plot summary. I hate spoilers in summaries though...

I most definitely and quite DELIBERATELY skip over story headers and summaries.

If I get bothered while reading a story, I'm an adult and simply put it aside.

For me, nothing is worse than being spoiled. For a story, a novel, or a movie.

Renee

I usually prefer a quote from the story, usually the first line (that's what pulls you into a book if you pick it up and flip to the first page, after all!) or a line that feels like it sums the story up in 100 words or fewer. Don't tell me the plotline of the story, don't tell me how it ends, just tell me what to expect.

I trust the torchwood_house summaries not to say too much, so read those, but I tend to skim the summaries. I don't like knowing much beyond basic idea of what I will be reading.

I'm not so fussed exactly how the summary is presented as long as there's something there. If a story has no summary at all I will sometimes go to the pairing etc. to make a decision, or start reading and just see how I go, but I prefer to have some idea of what I'm getting into.

The exception is when it is a) an author I adore (e.g. I will read any HP stuff by

resonant8 without giving two hoots for the summary, because she writes so damn well), or b) it is a rec by someone whose taste closely matches mine.

And then there's the out-there stuff, like fic in a fandom I have no canon knowledge of but will read because I love how the author writes. YES THIS MEANS YOU PIPPIN.

i always completely forget to write a summary!

i tend to read via recs, then via pairing/fandom. as other people have commented, i tend to use summaries more to filter bad spelling, grammar, typos, melodramatic tendencies. often that information is also available from author notes.

also, re: the first question. i don't really see it as "should be the following", i see it as "can be the following".

I get all bad-flaily on Delicious when something doesn't have a summary. Even a quote or something. So... on a fic header, I need a summary or I won't click it. I'm the sort of person who flicks to the back of a novel before I read, or deliberately seeks out spoilers.

That said, the other header info is important (but perhaps to an extent is part of the summary? Without a "cover", we have no blurb, no image to indicate the possible direction of the story &c. ) -- probably just as important as the summary. For me, it's like asking "which would you prefer to lose, heart or lungs?"

I also like to know word count, because I have limited time, and I don't want to start down some path and find out the fic is 100K words :D.

Yeah, true, you can often tell the tone and technical skill from a summary. I think sometimes more than anything I use a summary to tell if I *don't* want to read it, most of the time the rest of the header will get me to give it a go.

Yeah, it should have an "or" - that Q started life as radio buttons, which had the "or" inferred!

I think a lot of the time I don't pay a lot of attention to the summary because i'm so desperate to read new fic that as long as it matches the general requirements (maybe pairing/length/rating), then i'll give it a go.

Yeah, true. I resemble this comment.

ugh, the passive-aggressive "i suck at summaries" makes me hit the back button instantly.

The trouble I have with writing summaries is... well, that same trouble with storyfinder communities! No matter how clever the story, you can reduce it to sounding ridiculous or boring by summarising its elements, a lot of the time. I often feel an abject reluctance to do just that when I'm trying to come up with something pithy and encouraging to advertise a story.

Yeah - I have almost zero time to read fic atm, so I only have time and inclination to read stuff that's actually worth my (inference: precious) time.