Story Introductions

[dr_mabeuse]

It's always tempting to preface a story with some comments, isn't it? "This really happened!" "When I wrote this I was depressed." "I'm not really happy with the way this turned out." "This was written for a friend of mine..."

Authors usually love to talk about their stuff, and we love to get a chance to have a few words with the reader before they go off to judge us ("Now look, reader, the story you're about to read wasn't written that well, but the thing is, see, this story really happened! Surely that counts for something!")

Lately I seem to have noticed more and more introductions, and these getting longer and longer. I've been guilty of it myself, but now that I stop and think of it, introductions to stories seem like a very sleazy and underhanded trick: a way of currying favor with a reader before they go in to judge your efforts. I don't remember ever seeing story introductions used by writers on the non-porno GRAG (Generally Recognized As Good) list.

So: When are introductions justified, if ever?

More specifically, how do you react when someone tells you that a story is true? I myself tend to click out of there because I associate this with crappy stories. Whether a story true or not has no bearing on its worth as a story, in my opinion.


---dr.M.

 

[M.A.Thompson]

Only once have I used an introduction and that was to warn readers that I had posted a non-erotic story in the romance section. I figured it was only fair to the strokers. It must not have detracted from the story though because it is by far my highest rated.

But I agree with you Doc, I love to gab on endlessly about my stories and will do so joyously if given the opportunity. However, rather than force it on readers in the story itself I've added blubs about each one in my bio. That way if they stumble upon the information they can read it if they choose.

As for intros to other people’s stories, I will usually ignore them if they are more than a sentence or two but that is just laziness.

 

[oggbashan]

Series or Blurb

I use introductions if the story is part of a series to tell the reader that the story is one of a set and they might like to start at the beginning instead of halfway through.

I have thought of writing a "blurb" - the form of words seen on the inside flap of a dustwrapper to give a feel of the story but so far I have avoided it. "Blurbs" are best written by someone else, not the author. My blurbs might put people off reading the story.

A good "blurb" attracts the reader to read this story and not another. A bad one would activate the "back" button.

Sometimes I use warnings so that the reader doesn't start a story that they won't like. The warning on "Erotic Horror" is a good example.

I am trying to bring together my series as a continuous novel. I am using one of the characters to comment at the beginning and end of each chapter. She links one story to another. I'm not sure that it works. At the present rate of progress the novel I have outlined will take another five years.

Introductions such as "This was true", "This really happened", etc. I think are not a good idea. The story should convey its own truth (or not).

Og

 

[pkmoby]

warnings

As has been said, a warning can be a good thing if it is a warning of a genre conflict. Sometimes they can be supurfluous and annoying, however.

One story I read recently started with 'please do not read this story if you are offended by material of an adult nature...'.

Well, no kidding, really? You think there might be some smut on Literotica?

Damn shame, because the story that followed wasn't half bad.

 

[Alex756]

I have used intros in what I think are 2 good ways and one bad way.

In a seris I have I have a quick who's who at the beginning of everyhting after ch. 1, real quick

In my non-consent story I have a warning that it isn't ... I forget how I stated it, something along the lines of being serious and violant and consider yourself warned.

The bad way I've done it is I put a warning about a tory being long ... I have no idea why I did that and I think it's probbaly hurt the story. I mean if they aren't into it enough to not be scared by it being 3 lit pages by the time they get to the bottom of the first I've done something wrong, so I think the warning scares off people. The reason I did it was I had read soo much on 'good' lit stories not being over a page, which I soo disagree with now. The average lit reader has a much higher attention span than many people give that reader credit for/

Alex756

 

[FlyontheWall99]

I'm surprised about the way some readers are scared off by a story longer than one Lit page. I tend to write my short stories in the 5,000 to 6,000 word range which usually equals two full Lit pages, sometimes a portion of a third.

Because I've always written roughly to that length I can't say that I've noticed that much difference in reader views. I have noticed a few other posters though muse about readers giving longer stories a miss ....

I think in my short experience it's the description which accompanies the story which rakes in the views. My most popular in terms of reads and number of votes is a "Strap on for the Ride" which is a college lesbian threesome involving, you guessed it strap ons. Having that in the story description seems to have really increased the amount of views .....

Back to the thread subject, I like to make my opening line simple and try and briefly convey the time and place where the story is set. Anything else can be built on after that, but I think those basic facts put the reader at ease off the bat ....

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

 

[Sabledrake]

I put an intro on my most recent one, but it was more in the terms of a warning for those who might not have been entirely familiar with the myth of Pasiphae and the bull and hence might then be caught off-guard.

None of mine are even remotely based on reality, so I never expect to need that "this really happened" line

Sabledrake

 

[gauchecritic]

I think a warning may be justified if a story contains things that some people find distasteful but isn't the main gist. Like BDSM in an otherwise romance story etc.

Having said this if I did put warnings then one of my efforts would have excluded readers from all categories except BDSM because there wasn't any.

Onwards from that I often find that if a story is 'hot' enough then I will be more willing to accept anything which deviates slightly from my own tastes.

Gauche

 

[Quasimodem]

Other than the Blurb, which I consider advertising, I can only think of one way to introduce a story.

"Reader, this is Story."

"Story, this is Reader."

"Now, shake hands and come out fighting!"

 

[MathGirl]

More specifically, how do you react when someone tells you that a story is true? I myself tend to click out of there because I associate this with crappy stories.

Dear Dr M,
I do the same. Not, of course, when the story is one of yours.

My approach is, "Listen up, motherfucker. You gonna read this here story, then you gonna vote a five, send the writer some flattering feedback, then go on about your business." You must give the reader instruction, or the whole system just goes all wahoonie shaped.
MG

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Introductions?

Phaw! Who needs 'em?!

Frankly, when I start skimming the stories and I see one that says "this really happened" or "this is a true story" or even "this is my first attempt at writing" I back the fuck away and go look elsewhere.

I read fiction, which should speak for itself in an event. The story exists on its own level, apart from me and why I wrote it, and how I feel about it. It is what it is, not what I think of it. So rambling on at the beginning about my thoughts and myself...that's just selfish nonsense to begin with.

And I prefer fiction written by someone who's familiar with the written word. So when i see that it's your first attempt, I'm not going to bother. Maybe in a few months, when you've got some experience and a few more posted, then I'll check out your work (if I'm impressed, I might just go back to that one with the first attempt warning) but not on that first attempt. If you think you're good, let the work speak for itself, but don't tell me in advance that you don't know what you're doing. Let me read it and see what you cn do for myself.

Yes, when you're giving one of those "This does't contain explicit sex" or "this contains serious violence" type deals, yes, go ahead, but make it quick, and don't make it personal.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Re: Re: Story Introductions

Dear Dr M,
I do the same. Not, of course, when the story is one of yours.

My approach is, "Listen up, motherfucker. You gonna read this here story, then you gonna vote a five, send the writer some flattering feedback, then go on about your business." You must give the reader instruction, or the whole system just goes all wahoonie shaped.
MG

You're spoiling your readers, MG!

 

[Quasimodem]

You're spoiling your readers, MG!

At least Math will capture the submissive demographic.

 

[wildsweetone]

So: When are introductions justified, if ever?


---dr.M.

They are justified in cases where the reader may not be able to tell the difference between reality and fiction.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Re: Re: Story Introductions

They are justified in cases where the reader may not be able to tell the difference between reality and fiction.

But isn't good fiction supposed to immerse the reader into the story so that they can't tell anyway? At least for the duration of the story?

Alex

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Intros to a story are, IMNSHO, justified when they tell the background for a story, as in why-the-hell-are-these-two-sharing-a-motel-room?, or even-though-this-is-a-non consent-story-beware-that-it's-also-a-gay male-story.

However, I usually skip reading intros altogether, and scroll down to where the real story starts!

 

[jon.hayworth]

Re: Re: Re: Story Introductions

But isn't good fiction supposed to immerse the reader into the story so that they can't tell anyway? At least for the duration of the story?

Whilst in broad terms I would agree with this proposition, I also believe that there are stories which are enhanced by a brief introduction.

Therefore I make no apologies for the introductions I have written for some of my "historical stories": -
"Juliana's Last Stand" - a Gladiatrix's final day and last fight;
"The Memorial" - the tale of love and sex between a Gladiator and an Actress;
"Saturnalia" - the seduction of a young Roman Nobleman during the Feast of Saturnalia;
"Double Crossing Isis" - another Roman love story.

I believe that in the case of these stories the introductions, allow the reader to know where fact ends and where fiction begins.

jon

 

[Quasimodem]

In certain cases a ‘Warning Preface’ may be called for:

The following story includes intergalactic name-calling and may be offensive to some readers.

In other cases a story may require an 'Afterword' that carefully separates fact from fiction.

The preceding description of gliding through the use of stretched out excess skin surfaces, while accurate, is only valid for certain varieties of flying squirrel. Any human experiments in this mode of naked gliding has always ended in premature cancellation of the experimenter’s life assurance policy.

In any other situation, the story should be able to stand on its own.

 

[wildsweetone]

Re: Re: Re: Story Introductions

But isn't good fiction supposed to immerse the reader into the story so that they can't tell anyway? At least for the duration of the story?

Alex

Yes it is, however when it immerses a reader to the extent of the reader loosing their ability to be aware of their own safety once they get back into the non-fiction world of 'life', then a warning on the story front is necessary.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't use disclaimers about unsuitable material. I think Lit has a general disclaimer that covers everything in here. That's good enough.

And I think that intro's that set the stage for a story or include background are sometimes useful, although a writer worthg his/her salt should be able to fill in the back story in the story itself and not have to tack it on to the front, at least in my opinion. You shouldn't have to tell people why he and she are in the motel in a separate, non-story extension. You should be able to tell that in the story. That's part of the story, isn't it?

Can anyone name a published story that has a separate introduction penned by the author? (Aside from those "And then I wrote..." intro's you see in anthologies.) There may very well be some, but i can;t think of any myself.

---dr.M.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Story Introductions

. . . . however when it immerses a reader to the extent of the reading loosing their ability to be aware of their own safety once they get back into the non-fiction world of 'life', then a warning on the story front is necessary.

I don't think I'm capable of writing anything that absorbing, but you make a good point.

 

[wildsweetone]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Story Introductions

I don't think I'm capable of writing anything that absorbing, but you make a good point.

It's not so much whether authors are capable of writing the kind of story that grabs a readers total absorbtion, it's more whether the reader is capable of discerning reality from fiction.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I don't have author's notes in the beginning of my stories unless they're necessary. Two of them were "dedicated" to certain people, so those single line dedications went to the top. One of them was a flat slap at someone, so a necessary "disclaimer" also went at the top. One of them was written based on another story, so that story was referenced though the link is currently broken. I should fix that. The final one with notes has pictures where the photographer and model received appropriate credit.

Disclaimers are stupid. Lit comes with disclaimers and they also have the liability if minors access the site, not the author. I'm iffy on the whole "copyright" business. Lit enforces author copyrights already, but I think a discreet all rights reserved at the bottom is not a big deal.

You can always tell an ASSTR cut'n paste because they have the whole hoopdy-do-da stuck in there without a single thought as to conventions of the current publisher. I read those and I sometimes wonder if these people have any concept as to what publication is all about. However, considering how stories get ripped off around here, you can't blame them for it, either.

The stupidest things, by far, however, are the announcements about upcoming stories. Those are only good until the story is released and then guess what, you look like a fucking moron. I use the "biography" area of the author page for announcements.

 

[Chicklet]

I'm guilty of writing intros, and I just don't care if they're in the right place or not.

One of the times I think it's really sincerely OKAY to write an introduction is when you've edited a story - putting a thing on the top saying "This is another draft of the story by the same name that has been fixed so you can read it without crying and killing yourself" is okay - people know they're getting a second edition.

mho.

Chicklet

 

[jfinn]

Basically, I'm real lazy. One of the reasons I like Lit is because I don't have to put in all the "this is a work of fiction" crap. I do post to some sites where it's expected and I have a standard spiel for them, but I take it off my submissions here.

As far as giving out teasers, forget about it. I can barely stand to think up those one liners that go under the title on the what's new page (and mine always stink) so there's no way I'm going try and think up a blurb for the beginning of each chapter.

I think I've only used an announcement once and that was at the beginning of a series and just said, no sex in this chapter. My stuff is pretty bland, so I've never felt the need to warn anybody about it.

I do put a note at the bottom to thank my editor(s) but that's about it. I have nothing against any of it though except like most of you I'm a little leery of "this is a true story" caveats.

Jayne