How to deliver the best story descriptions.

[Ninegoodreasons]

Having recently posted a story knowing that my story description was poor I wanted to ask if maybe we need more space for descriptions?

I have now got a poor description that I feel hurts rather than helps my 'selling' the story to potential readers. (I have tried to re-write it but I am still not very happy with it.)

I have been wondering if any authors have any advice on how to write a more accurate story description?

Thanks for your time.
Ninegoodreasons

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Having recently posted a story knowing that my story description was poor I wanted to ask if maybe we need more space for descriptions?

I have now got a poor description that I feel hurts rather than helps my 'selling' the story to potential readers. (I have tried to re-write it but I am still not very happy with it.)

I have been wondering if any authors have any advice on how to write a more accurate story description?

Thanks for your time.
Ninegoodreasons

Its a gift you cant train anyone to do, because the best descriptions have double meanings.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

how much space do you think you would need to adequately describe your short story?

 

[emap]

Generally the best description of your story is the one that doesn't tell anything but does mention a big thing. Also means next to nothing in certain categories. An incest story, honestly you don't need to put anything but sex happens cause it is read by every single person who is into incest. Same with non consent, every story posted is read, depending on how good the story reads to those into it the more it is read.

 

[SlightlyGone]

Its a gift you cant train anyone to do, because the best descriptions have double meanings.

Bull shit.

You can either tell a story or you can't.

It's like being able to run fast. Some people can, some can't. On a site like Lit, there are a lot of people who can tell a story, the only shitty thing is that most of the stories on here need to be smut.

Edit: Not that I'm against smut, but it's just easier to write.

Edit continuation. If people like reading what you write, don't want it to end, can lose hours of their life in whatever you pen, that's a way to write a story. Don't get caught up in the idea that there is more meaning in your words than what you are saying. Just write and time will tell you if you can.

 

[Weird Harold]

Its a gift you cant train anyone to do, because the best descriptions have double meanings.

Bull shit.

You can either tell a story or you can't.

...

You might want to read what you quoted again before going on a rant about the same thing as you quoted.

As for the rest of your rant -- including the two edits -- it has nothing to do with the original poster's question about the very limited space allowed for the story teaser, blurb, description or whatever you want to call it. It doesn't matter how long or short or how well written the story is, an author still only has about a hundred characters of description to invite readers into the story.

I also frequent other sites and some of them allow virtually unlimited space for story descriptions and tags. I often find that I don't need to open the story because the author has given me a complete outline in the description. Lit could allow slightly longer descriptions, but given my druthers, i'd rather have short limits than none.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

RULE OF THUMB: All of us are raised on stories...tv, dvds, reading, whatever. We know the form and know when its good or bad. But descriptions and tags and vignettes aren't stories. Theyre collaterals of stories, like newspaper headlines.

 

[Hypoxia]

MOMMY or DADDY in the title or description grabs eyeballs. Be suggestive. BIG BANANA in Incest is my most-read (and least-liked) story. Use key words. "BROTHERLY LOVE: Stick That Big Black Dick In My Raw Anus" will probably gain some attention, as would "MAMA'S GOT A BRAND NEW WHIP: It's a Family Tradition". Just don't be bland.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Another don't forget:

There are millions of movies out there that have great trailers that make you think the whole movie is just a good. They put the best stuff in the trailers. 98% of the movies with great trailers stink.

Sometimes less is more.

 

[Ninegoodreasons]

More space would be nice I think. I am not after unlimited space, as that might just be a story of its own.

But I wanted to let people know what was coming in the story without giving the 'surprise moment' away before hand.

Maybe three times the amount of space we have now. I think I could work a better description with that much space.

Thanks for the responses. Any more are welcome.

 

[SlightlyGone]

You might want to read what you quoted again before going on a rant about the same thing as you quoted.

As for the

I stopped there. The best stories don't have double meanings. The best stories take you away from the world you live in.

That's why we write them.

They can be clever, witty, intelligent, dumb, funny, sexual, violent, but the 'best stories' make you accept all that is happening. You can live with it, deal with it, see how it is possible, or believe in the impossible.

 

[Weird Harold]

I stopped there. The best stories don't have double meanings. The best stories take you away from the world you live in.

You're still missing the point that this thread is NOT about the story. This thread is about the limited space provided for describing a story.