Are preambles / introductions useful

[Comshaw]

Note that readers who come via lists of competition or challenge entries won't see the description or category until they open your story. And then it's in small print at the top above the story, with Tags only found by clicking on an obscure icon.

For some stories this may not be a problem, but can be worth providing a blurb,.including repeating the category and tags, if you include things that squick some readers.

This is the heart burn I have with tags here and the reason I don't use many. I don't think most readers go by them. I think (with no real proof) that they go by category and scores. It would be wonderful if the tags showed up in the story lists. Maybe under the title, before or after the brief story explanation? Then I think they would be doing the job they should be doing, alerting the reader to the content of the story before they clicked on it. Some readers are rabid about not wanting to read or be exposed to a particular type of story content.

Comshaw

 

[Comshaw]

What do people think about introductions to stories - useful or no?

I see a lot of stories that have an intro usually along the lines of "this story includes AB+C. If you are looking for XY+Z, this story probably isn't for you."

Part of me appreciates not wanting to waste peoples time on something that isn't what they want, and to manage expectations, kind of like book jacket description or a movie trailer, but part of me thinks the category, title, tags and summary blurb should be enough.

Thoughts?

Sorry I got side tracked by the tags subject. I rarely put an introduction into my stories. Of course, most of mine are one offs and I don't see where it would help with those. I did put a small introduction in the chapters of my "A Common Man" series, but that was only to advise the readers that to get the most from that chapter they should read (if they hadn't) the preceding ones.


Comshaw

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Part of me appreciates not wanting to waste peoples time on something that isn't what they want, and to manage expectations, kind of like book jacket description or a movie trailer, but part of me thinks the category, title, tags and summary blurb should be enough.

They SHOULD be enough, but the site doesn't do a great job of putting the tags front and center. I think if you're doing a story that has anything that could generate an ick from somebody - say, straight sex in the lesbian category, or incest/taboo anywhere but in there and the same with gay or bi male sex - it's in your best interests to include the blurb so people can stop before they get there and get annoyed with it.

The last thing you want is a "This had X sex in it, ick! 1 STAR!" kind of comments, so the blurb helps to deter that. It won't 100% inoculate you from that, but you can at least point out that you told them ahead of time what they might get.

 

[Not2Pervy]

I constantly go back and forth about this. I can always think of a reason to add one. When I do, I typically regret it; when I don’t, I wonder if it would have helped.

 

[StillStunned]

I constantly go back and forth about this. I can always think of a reason to add one. When I do, I typically regret it; when I don’t, I wonder if it would have helped.

This is probably a good point. People who generally include notes before their stories and are happy with the response will continue. People who don't include them and are happy with the response won't start including them. As long as you're happy with how your readers respond, there's no reason to change what you're doing. It's only if you start wondering whether things could be better that you begin looking for ways.

 

[PennyThompson]

I include a short author's note at the top of almost all of my stories now, to thank collaborators and beta-readers, give a tiny bit of context if the story is part of a series or uses recurring characters, and to let readers know roughly what they're getting into.

I respect other writer's choices, but I don't buy the argument that providing content guidance harms my creativity or integrity as a writer.

I think of it in terms of allergens. If I was a baker, I wouldn't hide allergens in my cookies and not tell people, it would be unethical (and in some situations maybe illegal).

"Surprise, there's walnuts in the last bite of this bread! Oh, you're allergic? Tough luck! I'm not going to compromise my baking integrity because of your weakness, I don't owe you a thing!"

So, I put an "ingredients list" at the top of my stories. I try to avoid too many spoilers in the ingredients, but I do try to label the primary kinks, orientations involved, and if there are any potentially tricky emotional components.

It doesn't mean I'm going to avoid those things, I'm still going to write what I want to write! Erotica is for enjoyment and pleasure, fantasy and exploration, and maybe a little bit of boundary pushing. But I don't want to hurt someone else if it's easy for me to avoid it

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Why not use both?

That's what I do, unless you need all 10 tags for something else.

 

[WittyUserName]

What do people think about introductions to stories - useful or no?

I see a lot of stories that have an intro usually along the lines of "this story includes AB+C. If you are looking for XY+Z, this story probably isn't for you."

Part of me appreciates not wanting to waste peoples time on something that isn't what they want, and to manage expectations, kind of like book jacket description or a movie trailer, but part of me thinks the category, title, tags and summary blurb should be enough.

Thoughts?

I include an author's note at the top of each of my stories. Usually mentioning what I'm working on next, as well as the usual disclaimer that everyone engaging in sexy fun times is 18+ I don't think it takes from the story. If someone wants to skip it, it's not difficult.

 

[JudyOfOregon]

Why not use both?

because you only get 10 tags. so choose the most popular that apply, like "blow job" instead of "blowjob".

 

[Bramblethorn]

Not saying you have to, or even that it's necessarily the correct path. But yes, it is.

I can think of a couple singular words that successfully telegraph this warning. It's not necessary to make the title long in order to do it, but it would of course be necessary to devote part of the title to it. I'd definitely understand if somebody didn't want to go that route. Everybody has different workflows around creating titles, and sometimes you just get really attached to one. Just offering an alternative to explicitly stating the warning before the story begins.

To me, "surely this is the kind of thing you could and probably should telegraph with the title" is a bit stronger than "just offering an alternative".

 

[iwatchus]

I share the @yowser's stance on preamble minimalism. In my stories, if they did have a preamble, I haven't really included anything that wasn't:

• a note that the story was written for a contest or event (Laurel will often, though not always, change the event name into a link that goes to the story list for the event in question)
• a thank-you note to a beta reader and/or editor
• shote note denoting the stories place within a broader continuity (if it doesn't have numbering in the title already)
• acknowledgement of inspiration by some other author's work

These are the things that would normally be included in the frontispiece of a book, so I feel it's justified to reproduce them in an electronic medium.

I think a trigger warning for certain actions can be a good idea as well. One of my recent stories included a suicide by a side character, so I included an author's note warning about it.

 

[LilyBright]

My last story had some very complicated characters that required more'n a few paragraphs to build, and since I decided to continue the story with part 2. Readers who haven't read the first story might struggle with my characters...So I'm working on a prelude...unsure how that will work.
I like them, but there seem to be many who don't.

That makes great sense for a continuation of a series.

 

[LilyBright]

Because of a rejection due to underage characters (incorrectly), I also state that all are over 18.

Do you think that's needed when context shows all characters are adults?

 

[AlinaX]

It shouldn't be necessary, but in practice it sometimes smooths the path to publication.

 

[MelissaBaby]

because you only get 10 tags. so choose the most popular that apply, like "blow job" instead of "blowjob".

That's certainly true. Personally, I don't think I've ever used all ten tags.

 

[Writer61]

Do you think that's needed when context shows all characters are adults?

I was careful, the original text was clear that the lead character was 18 before anything happened, even in thought, but still got bounced. The rewrite moved his 18th birthday before the start of story. I added the rider to emphasise that.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Do you think that's needed when context shows all characters are adults?

I don't think an age disclaimer does anything much, other than draw attention to the possibility that the story might contain borderline age content, the author knows it, and is hoping the disclaimer covers them. It's like a sign saying, Look the Other Way.

I doubt the site pays much attention to an age disclaimer at all, except as a flag.

 

[SkyBubble]

What do people think about introductions to stories - useful or no?

I see a lot of stories that have an intro usually along the lines of "this story includes AB+C. If you are looking for XY+Z, this story probably isn't for you."

Part of me appreciates not wanting to waste peoples time on something that isn't what they want, and to manage expectations, kind of like book jacket description or a movie trailer, but part of me thinks the category, title, tags and summary blurb should be enough.

Thoughts?

If they're setting the scene.