In 10 Words or Less?

[3113]

I'm having a problem with my latest story description. The one that has to go with the story title. You know: "He gives her the greatest night of her life!"

So help me out here. What's the best and the worst such descriptions that you've seen? No reflection on how good the story is--just that description.

And what do you feel the description should do? Should it summarize story? Theme? Feel of the story?

What makes for a good little descrtion or a not so good one?

 

[cloudy]

The best one on one of my stories is one Laurel (or whoever) put on it for me. It's on Hush, Hush, Sweet Carly, and it says "Grandmother's closet hides the insidious."

I just love it.

 

[MasterPhoenix]

I think that you want the description to be a hook to get people's interst. Wether its a summary of the story or a summary of the feeling is irrlivant, IMO.

 

[MasterPhoenix]

I think that you want the description to be a hook to get people's interst. Wether its a summary of the story or a summary of the feeling is irrlivant, IMO.

 

[MasterPhoenix]

I think that you want the description to be a hook to get people's interst. Wether its a summary of the story or a summary of the feeling is irrlivant, IMO.

 

[MasterPhoenix]

Sorry for the multiple post... My comp was acting up.

 

[Guest]

It'll up your post count. No worries.

My favorite ten word description?


"I kiked down the door and camed in her face."

 

[elsol]

For the most part... I don't bother with 'good' descriptions.

I find writerly descriptions keeps the bad seeds away.

A Master's Ring
Desc: "Only something alive can die." -- Natalie Goldberg

It's interesting how many people just don't bother because they think I'm a pretentious dork.

If they only knew, I'm actually an elitist prick.


Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[damppanties]

I hate story titles and descriptions. Can never do them the way I want to.

Recently, I found some descriptions that would make me want to read the story on this author's member page. They are like little teasers. Her titles are cool too.

 

[sincerely_helene]

I'm having a problem with my latest story description. The one that has to go with the story title. You know: "He gives her the greatest night of her life!"

So help me out here. What's the best and the worst such descriptions that you've seen? No reflection on how good the story is--just that description.

And what do you feel the description should do? Should it summarize story? Theme? Feel of the story?

What makes for a good little descrtion or a not so good one?

My titles and descriptions are mostly comprised of cheesy puns or double entendres. Doing it this way forces me to be briefer than if I were to attempt a more serious approach.

I don't feel descriptions should summarize so much as create reader intrigue. Perhaps the wrong mindset given the nature of the writing in this case, but not something I'm willing to "bend" on either.

 

[impressive]

I'm about to use a description guaranteed to NOT hook readers:

Variations on a theme

*shrug*

Gonna do it anyway.

I don't feel descriptions should summarize so much as create reader intrigue.

Agree.

 

[dirtylover]

In the end, we are but animals

Those geniuses at Lit gave me this for my latest story- much better than anything I could have come up with.

I think it should hint at what the story is about, but also leave a question mark hovering above your head, thus enticing you to read on.

 

[Aurora Black]

When I write descriptions for my stories, I usually try to capture the essence of the piece without giving too much of the plot away and have it hook the reader in. Whether or not I'm successful is still up for debate.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I guess what you should ask yourself is what appeals to you in other people's taglines. A random sample of mine:


A Lady of Thorns There's more to a flower than the pretty parts

A Wedding With Dhipa The humiliation continues at her cousin's wedding

After the Lecture 1900: The female orgasm is discovered.

Another Shade of Red One girl's anti-Valentine's Day story.

Crossroads A love triangle leads to three-way sex.

Earth Date Earth celebrates her day.

Game of Chance Poker, sex, and betrayal.

Gender Issues Sexual ambiguity on New Year's Eve.


One thing I notice is the better I think the story is, the worse the tagline. That's probably because a good story isn't easy to summarize. "Crossroads" and "Game of Chance" are the most ambitious and involved stories in this list, and their descriptions are hopelessly weak.

 

[Guest]

For the most part... I don't bother with 'good' descriptions.

I find writerly descriptions keeps the bad seeds away.

A Master's Ring
Desc: "Only something alive can die." -- Natalie Goldberg

It's interesting how many people just don't bother because they think I'm a pretentious dork.

If they only knew, I'm actually an elitist prick.


Sincerely,
ElSol

I know.

 

[damppanties]

One thing I notice is the better I think the story is, the worse the tagline.

Going by that, all my stories are excellent.

 

[NoJo]

Gender Issues Sexual ambiguity on New Year's Eve.

I would have called the story "Hogwomanay". Which explains my reader count.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I would have called the story "Hogwomanay". Which explains my reader count.

And the number of male swine who'd be drawn to that story.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

The worst description is the one that ends with "...or is it?", "...or is he?", or "...or is she?"

 

[Guest]

I think the worst one I did was for After Midnight, "An erotic dream... Or was it?" Yeah, cheesy, I know. What can I say? It was one of my first submissions. Had I thought about it for more than 30 seconds I might have gone with "Things that go hump in the night."