summaries

[sixbeforelunch]

So here's a question I've often wondered about. What makes for a good fic summary? Is there anything that can get you to click when you might otherwise not have been inclined to?

Conversely, what types of summaries do you like least? Are there summaries that will make you skip a work even if it's tagged with all of your favorite ships and tropes?

Comments

[espresso_addict]

I often click based on voice; not necessarily a direct quotation, some of the best clickbait for me is a cleverly phrased summary. Not actually the summary in this case, but "The Death of a Soul, A Blowjob Beneath a Table, and the Rain of Toads That Followed" made me click on Harry/Draco, a pairing I'd previously avoided.

The thing that puts me off most is spelling/grammar mistakes, or lack of summary altogether, though usually tag forests will have already put me off such works.

[sixbeforelunch]

some of the best clickbait for me is a cleverly phrased summary.

I never thought of it like that before, but yes, a clever summary goes a long way toward getting me to click.