Do you ever get the feeling...

[MaxSebastian]

Do you ever get the feeling that some of the writers here are shooting themselves in the foot?

How many readers are really going to click on a story in the Erotic Couplings section that's described as "Chaste woman enjoys maintaining her chastity." ?

It's like saying 'please don't read my story'!

I'm not saying it's easy to get the perfect title or tagline, but...

 

[whispering_surrender]

I hate writing the tagline....most of mine sound cheesy and straight off the back of a Harlequin....*sigh* I need a ghost writer for taglines.

Whisp

 

[MathGirl]

How many readers are really going to click on a story in the Erotic Couplings section that's described as "Chaste woman enjoys maintaining her chastity." ?

Dear Max,
If the above were the SUBJECT of the story, I can envision some catchy taglines. E.g. "Angeline blows more than a whistle and finds a meaty cure for rectal itching."
Just trying to be helpful,
MG

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I tend to believe people read my stories inspite of the tag line rather than because of it.

-Colly

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I want room for longer tag lines! How am I going to get anyone's attention with a short thing like "they meet and fuck"? I'm close to using abbreviations!!!

"Sexy BM30 resc. hot WF25 fr. dr., is rew. w. pass. f."

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I want room for longer tag lines! How am I going to get anyone's attention with a short thing like "they meet and fuck"? I'm close to using abbreviations!!!

"Sexy BM30 resc. hot WF25 fr. dr., is rew. w. pass. f."

That might actually work, 'flicka. I would definitely give it a what-the-fuck look.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Or, as the tag line would put it, "WTF".

 

[Boxlicker101]

Do you ever get the feeling that some of the writers here are shooting themselves in the foot?

How many readers are really going to click on a story in the Erotic Couplings section that's described as "Chaste woman enjoys maintaining her chastity." ?

It's like saying 'please don't read my story'!

I'm not saying it's easy to get the perfect title or tagline, but...

My titles are intended to convey the idea that the story is part of a series. I'm not sure how well it works, but if people like one story by me, they will, hopefully, read more. Usually the editors or somebody writes the descriptions, and they are pretty dumb sometimes. I prefer to write my own but they don't always let me.

 

[MaxSebastian]

Re: Re: Do you ever get the feeling...

Dear Max,
If the above were the SUBJECT of the story, I can envision some catchy taglines. E.g. "Angeline blows more than a whistle and finds a meaty cure for rectal itching."
Just trying to be helpful,
MG

Hearty chuckle at that, MG!

I agree taglines are too short, but they're better than nothing, better than displaying just a title. They are important though - sure, people who already know your stories don't care what you put in the tagline, but it's nice to attract new readers to your material, I always think.

Perhaps some clever geek (are we allowed to call them that nowadays?) could come up with some nifty software to help come up with decent taglines.


- Max

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Boring taglines are one thing, but stupid ones are even worse! I feel my lunch coming up whenever I read a tagline like "Annie gets what's coming to her... or does she?"

I HATE such braindead tags!!! These people are obviously trying to be original or funny or create attention and excitement - but instead, they're just ridiculous and unprofessional!

 

[MaxSebastian]

Boring taglines are one thing, but stupid ones are even worse! I feel my lunch coming up whenever I read a tagline like "Annie gets what's coming to her... or does she?"

But aren't you intrigued? Don't you want to find out whether Annie gets what's coming to her? Or doesn't?

 

[niteshade]

I HATE coming up with a tag line. I tried leaving it off, but that didn't work either. I also hate coming up with the stupid titles. If I could call them all "my story" and still keep them straight, I probably would. Everything I come up with is SOOOO cheesy.

 

[MaxSebastian]

What we should do is hold a contest for the writer who can come up with the most misleading title and tagline for their story (without lying/contravening advertising standards).

 

[jfinn]

What we should do is hold a contest for the writer who can come up with the most misleading title and tagline for their story (without lying/contravening advertising standards).

Hmmm, let's see. I think I do that already.

Jayne

 

[Svenskaflicka]

But aren't you intrigued? Don't you want to find out whether Annie gets what's coming to her? Or doesn't?

No, quite the contrary - I get so annoyed with the unimaginative tagline, that I ignore the story, convinced that it would be a waste of time and energy to read the drivel.

 

[raphy]

Personally, I rather like writing the tagline - For me, it's similar to finding the 'poster quote' for a movie.

Besides, life's all about good one-liners, right?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

One-liners, one-nighters...

 

[raphy]

One-liners, one-nighters...

Mr. Right, or just Mr. Right-Now, 'flicka?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Writing a tag line feels like one of those old highschool and grade school contests that they were forever fostering on us. 20$ prize to the student who tells us why they love Frigmorton's Cheesey Puffs in less than 25 words.

Time and again I start a tag line only to run out of characters before I finish the short description. I am tempted to try Read it, you'll like it! as a tag line. I am sure that would just get the story crushed in ones however since my works don't appeal very well to the stroke crowd.

I would say a short, catchy tag line is an art form in and of itself. an art form I have come no where near mastering.

-Colly

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Mr. Right, or just Mr. Right-Now, 'flicka?

Mr Someday...

 

[oggbashan]

What we should do is hold a contest for the writer who can come up with the most misleading title and tagline for their story (without lying/contravening advertising standards).

Been there; done that.

My stories The Stag Party and The Hen Party get poor ratings because I promise more than I deliver.

The Vinyl Dress is another one which attracts people who like Vinyl - and I poke fun at them.

The Worst Chain Story Ever Chap 01 delivers exactly as advertised.

Og

 

[raphy]

Mr Someday...

 

[Boxlicker101]

When I first started, I tried to be straight with the readers. Now, I think I'll just say something like "If you like to beat your meat, read this story!" Since my stories are mainly just filth, that might work. I can't use the same tag line for all of them, though.