wiseheart: (Tyr Anasazi)
wiseheart ([personal profile] wiseheart) wrote2011-05-11 12:21 am
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Fanfic summaries

There are a few remarks that make me *not* read a story in any of my fandoms:

- I'm rubbish at summaries - learn to write better ones, kiddie!

- NOT SLASH! - and that in caps, too, as if it would make the author or the story any better. It usually doesn't. But even if it did, I wouldn't read it, just for that little remark.

- Don't like, don't read! - why, thank you, that's what I'm doing...

- It's better than the title - well then, why don't you find a better title?

[identity profile] songfire3.livejournal.com 2011-05-10 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
This! And not to forget the always popular "I couldn't be bothered to edit, *lol*"

*headdesk* I'm not going to read a story where the title/summary are already ridddled with typos and grammar fail. :/

[identity profile] crowdaughter.livejournal.com 2011-05-10 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, I do agree with the "NO SLASH!" part and the "I'm rubbish at summaries" etc. nonsense - but not with the "Don't like, don't read" part. The idea behind that was originally, of course, to fend off some pearl-clutching idiots who would read a story labelled AU or slash (or clearly announcing an AU plot or a slash plot in the summary) - and then ripping it apart because hey, it was AU or slash!!!101! Of course you can only know if you don't like a story if you read it - but for people who find certeain topics or pairings abhorring, the warning might still have some value.

This is why I use that caution in my numerous story warnings for my dark slashy slavefic AU, too - if people don't like slash, AU or slavefic, they should not complain that the story is just that. If they do like these things and still don't like my story, well, then that's my bad luck or I really did write something crappy. But then, they coukld at least have expected to find something they would like. :)
artemis10002000: Don't drink water... fish have sex in it (Default)

[personal profile] artemis10002000 2011-05-11 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
In general, I agree with you. However, yes, like [livejournal.com profile] crowdaughter said the "don't like, don't read" can make sense in some contexts.

Also, there are fandoms where the "not slash" makes sense - while I do find it offensive in every other context and certainly if it's in big capital letters. Or even more offensive with a tagged on "I don't write that stuff." In fandoms where slash is standard (say, my current one, Hetalia) people will assume the characters mentioned in the summary will end up in a romantic and/or sexual relationship unless otherwise stated.

[identity profile] deathsheadx.livejournal.com 2011-05-14 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
See, i'm going to have to say the reverse of point two(summeries that have SLASH! or YAOI in caps in them) can be just as bad and it's a little worrying to me that you find one side obnoxious enough to stop reading yet would seemingly give a pass to the other side

[identity profile] ithilwen.livejournal.com 2011-05-16 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Think of all the time these writers are saving you, by letting you know up front to stay far, far away from their stories!

[identity profile] jen-rock.livejournal.com 2011-05-17 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
Those are amusing examples of what not to put in a summary. I saw a story a while ago that had a description of "Worst story ever! Don't bother reading!" I'm guessing they were trying to employ some form of reverse psychology and make people click on it out of curiosity just to see how bad it was but I didn't fall for it.