Judging a book by its cover

[CharleyH]

Just returned from a walk, and along the way I found a book sale at this funky little place I go to buy books and CDs (I don't prefer mega stores that carry limited stock of authors I am interested in). Spent about an hour just lingering and looking, and as I left, it occurred to me that I DO judge books by their cover, and their titles, and the very first paragraph.

Case in point - there were 12 J.G. Ballard books, and though I know him to be a good author, and while I am well-familiar with Empire of the Sun, the only one of the 12 that struck me was the one with the cool cover, a funky intro and a title: Cocaine Nights.

It does go to show - maybe or maybe not? - how important it is for us at Lit to have good titles, descriptions and first paragraphs that capture reader interest, since really, other than ratings, how do we advertise our stories.

How do you judge a book or Literotica story before reading it?

Or respond to whatever here, and in whatever way you feel.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

One of my favourite authorly topics.

There are 120+ stories being submitted to Lit every day, currently, and thousands upon thousands on the web. Readers simply don't have time to go through all of them in search of the good ones, so having a good title, one that will grab the reader's curiosity, is indispensable.

There used to be a thread in the poetry board about this. Great titles make the reader's mind reel with possibilities. The title itself will evoke a story in the reader's mind before he or she even clicks the link. Whenever one of us saw a great title, we'd post about it, and about that story it evoked, before actually reading it.

"Don't judge a book by its cover." - Bullshit. That's what the cover is there for!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

If I don't know anything about a book, I'll judge it by (a) the author, (b) the title, (c) the first 3 or 4 paragraphs, (d) the cover.

I know that covers lie and often have nothing to do with the contents, but they still affect your perception of the book.

Advertising works. That's why people do it.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

If I don't know anything about a book, I'll judge it by (a) the author, (b) the title, (c) the first 3 or 4 paragraphs, (d) the cover.

I know that covers lie and often have nothing to do with the contents, but they still affect your perception of the book.

Advertising works. That's why people do it.

When I talked about the cover, it was metaphorical. For us here at Lit, the title of our stories IS their covers, I think.

I'm trying to remember being disappointed by a book with a deceivingly good title. Those are the worst.

 

[AppleBiter]

The way I judge a Lit story, if I'm just skimming the new submissions for something to read, is first by the category (I'm usually in a specific mood), second by which ones have an "H" (much to my shame, but it's true), third by the little description of the story, and last by the title.

The things that make me decide, once I open it, if I'm going to keep reading it are: The length, the intro (if it takes too long before becoming at least suggestive and also, if it has an intriguing hook), the voice of the author, and what perspective the story is written in.

Jeez -- I'm pickier than I thought! Wow.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've never read it, but it better be one great book.

 

[CharleyH]

If I don't know anything about a book, I'll judge it by (a) the author, (b) the title, (c) the first 3 or 4 paragraphs, (d) the cover.

I know that covers lie and often have nothing to do with the contents, but they still affect your perception of the book.

Advertising works. That's why people do it.

How do you, then, or how much time and thought, do you give to your Lit story titles, the first 3- 4 paragraphs, the description, perhaps?

 

[CharleyH]

The way I judge a Lit story, if I'm just skimming the new submissions for something to read, is first by the category (I'm usually in a specific mood), second by which ones have an "H" (much to my shame, but it's true), third by the little description of the story, and last by the title.

The things that make me decide, once I open it, if I'm going to keep reading it are: The length, the intro (if it takes too long before becoming at least suggestive and also, if it has an intriguing hook), the voice of the author, and what perspective the story is written in.

Jeez -- I'm pickier than I thought! Wow.

LOL. Why by an 'H'? I know many authors on the AH who offer fabulous selections, and not all of their stories have an 'H' and not all of their stories are on the first page.

Do you have the same criteria for non-erotic books or stories?

 

[AppleBiter]

LOL. Why by an 'H'? I know many authors on the AH who offer fabulous selections, and not all of their stories have an 'H' and not all of their stories are on the first page.

Do you have the same criteria for non-erotic books or stories?

Oh, I full-on realize that. I didn't say it was right, it's just part of what helps me decide on what story I'm going to read. (Hell, only one of my stories has an H) Just being honest and I know honesty is what you were looking for in a reply. It's not right to judge a book by it's cover, but many of us do it anyway.

My criteria for non-erotic books/stories is a little different. In the event that I'm picking out a book, the title is the first thing that grabs me. Second is the little description on the back or inside cover of the book. Third, I read most of the first page and pay attention to whether or not I feel absorbed in the material, the writer's style, and the POV they write from.

 

[gauchecritic]

Good question.

I was looking through the list of my favourite perversion the other day (here at Lit.) and actually picked a specific letter from the alphabet at the top, looking for a specific word that I wanted to read about. Obviously I'd limited myself very much because the word I was looking for could have been anywhere in the title.

The very few titles that I found beginning with that word ('sleeping' if you must know) gave me about 2 stories to read.

Being lazy or in need of a quick fix is a sure way to avoid masses of worthwhile reading material.

 

[CharleyH]

Good question.

I was looking through the list of my favourite perversion the other day (here at Lit.) and actually picked a specific letter from the alphabet at the top, looking for a specific word that I wanted to read about. Obviously I'd limited myself very much because the word I was looking for could have been anywhere in the title.

The very few titles that I found beginning with that word ('sleeping' if you must know) gave me about 2 stories to read.

Being lazy or in need of a quick fix is a sure way to avoid masses of worthwhile reading material.

LOL, I look for words, too, and it is rare that many of those I search for turn up, YET, I am willing to bet there are more than 10 (guessing, can't recall) hot MILF or PROM stories on Lit.

Do people search for porn terms not categorized ie: MILF, bukkake? Or by theme? By something else, maybe? Do we take our search terms seriously?

Interesting. I had not thought of search terms in my first post. Thanks Gauche.

 

[impressive]

How do you judge a book or Literotica story before reading it?

Book: Author, subject, sleeve blurb, title, cover (in that order)

Lit story: Category, author, description, length, title (in that order)

 

[dr_mabeuse]

How do you, then, or how much time and thought, do you give to your Lit story titles, the first 3- 4 paragraphs, the description, perhaps?

Do as I say, not as I do. I'm pretty bad with titles, though I'm trying to do better. My first paragraph is invriably lame and awkward too. Para 2 is usally better.

I'm a total hypocrite through. One of my big turn-offs when I'm browsing for stories are cute titles or titles with bad puns in them. They make me feel that the author wasn't really serious in what they wrote. But then I just wrote a story for another site about a lecherous hypnotist and called it "HypnoTheRapist" It was too good a pun to pass up.

 

[CharleyH]

Book: Author, subject, sleeve blurb, title, cover (in that order)

Lit story: Category, author, description, length, title (in that order)

I am much DEEPER than that, Imp


(sizzle - got ya back from this morning, or was it yesterday?)

 

[impressive]

I am much DEEPER than that, Imp


(sizzle - got ya back from this morning, or was it yesterday?)

DEEP is GOOD.

 

[The_Fool]

The way I judge a Lit story, if I'm just skimming the new submissions for something to read, is first by the category (I'm usually in a specific mood), second by which ones have an "H" (much to my shame, but it's true), third by the little description of the story, and last by the title.

I would add to this, whether or not there are any misspellings in the Title or description.

 

[CharleyH]

Do as I say, not as I do. I'm pretty bad with titles, though I'm trying to do better. My first paragraph is invriably lame and awkward too. Para 2 is usally better.

I'm a total hypocrite through. One of my big turn-offs when I'm browsing for stories are cute titles or titles with bad puns in them. They make me feel that the author wasn't really serious in what they wrote. But then I just wrote a story for another site about a lecherous hypnotist and called it "HypnoTheRapist" It was too good a pun to pass up.

thanks Doc. I am willing to bet we are all, as I like to say, "NOT beyond contradiction" rather than a hypocrite .

WHAT makes a good title then? To you? What turns your crank?

 

[gauchecritic]

Interestingly (to me) at Lit, the first couple of paragraphs have to grab me by the throat (or maybe a poke in the eye will suffice) but when I'm trawling second-hand bookshops I open the book at random to see if I'm interested by paragraphs in the middle. I'm grabbed very rarely with books but more often with Lit stories.

Investment of time is quite a big yardstick.

 

[CharleyH]

DEEP is GOOD.

In you

 

[Liar]

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've never read it, but it better be one great book.

'taint too shabby.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

'taint too shabby.

You read it? Tell me more.

 

[velvetpie]

Great titles make the reader's mind reel with possibilities. The title itself will evoke a story in the reader's mind before he or she even clicks the link.

I definitely agree. I am a lover of 80s music and a lot of my works have been named after songs from that decade. I went through the titles and a lot of the time, a certain story would jump out at my from the title. I keep a notebook filled with my story ideas so that I never forget them. Titles certainly are a fantastic way of stoking the old creative fire!

 

[CharleyH]

Interestingly (to me) at Lit, the first couple of paragraphs have to grab me by the throat (or maybe a poke in the eye will suffice) but when I'm trawling second-hand bookshops I open the book at random to see if I'm interested by paragraphs in the middle. I'm grabbed very rarely with books but more often with Lit stories.

Investment of time is quite a big yardstick.

So, you invest more time in Lit than books, but what is by the throat? Other than edge play. Forget the paragraphs for a second. WHAT grabs you to make you go to those paragraphs in the first place?

 

[Liar]

You read it? Tell me more.

Have you read his first book? It's pretty similar in style and theme. Which is also why it's not as good. But as I said, still worth a trip to the library one day.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

No, but I'll keep an eye out for it.