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

Summaries survey

[arizonapoppy]

My list is somewhat skewed, because a lot of my history lately is fic that I've subscribed to because my friends wrote it, but here are the last ten that I read out of the blue. In analyzing why I picked each one, I think the primary reason I click on a fic is because of the pairing and the tags, and the summary is a distant third. I am not really sure what would make me *not* click on a story? I read some pretty rare rarepairs, so beggars can't be choosy, and I pretty much ignore the summary and click through on principle for those. In other fandoms, there is a glut of fics so I go based on whether the premise grabs me.

1. With that, the image widened and Zeb could see that Kallus was holding something in his arms, and as the Lasat inspected the image, he gradually began to realize that it was a baby – a Lasat kit.

"Zeb...help me."

"Oh, karabast."
<<< this one I chose because I am a sucker for accidental baby-acquisition, and I was curious about the pairing involved

2. Following the events of Ezra's sacrifice over Lothal, he wakes on a strange planet with only hazy memories and a blue-skinned Chiss named Thrawn. Though neither are able to remember the details of their crash landing, they must trust in one another if they ever hope to get back to civilization.
<<< this one I picked because I liked the author and I was interested in the topic already (continuation after the show's close)

3. Part Two of the "Not to Yield" series. Caleb Jarrus, the fifteen-year-old Padawan of Ezra Bridger isn't perfect, but he's trying to be. This story details the struggle in Caleb's life as he tries to become the Jedi he was meant to be. It's probably best read after "Not to Yield." Not that it wouldn't stand on its own, but I recommend reading "Not to Yield" first.
<<< this one I picked because I had read the previous story, and it's for a pairing that I like

4. He was secrecy and shadows. She was blasters and battle. Neither could win this war without the other.
<<<< this one I picked because I am subscribed to the author and I liked the pairing

5. Iden couldn't pinpoint the moment it began. It was small things that built up throughout their lives.
<<<< Again, one I picked because of the pairing

6. Governor Tarkin contemplates whether to give in to his aide’s wishes and have something sweet with his tea.
<<<< Picked because it was for a rarepair and sounded titillating

7. Tarkin caters to a subordinate’s needs.
<<<< Picked because it was for a rarepair and sounded titillating

8. "Mr…" Her lips pursed, as if she had had a particularly distasteful task to do, such as scrubbing the blood out of her robes, and then she looked up at him in eagle-eyed clarity. “Palpatine. The things you are asking for are restricted. Few Jedi would ever have access to such …seditious material.”
<<<< Picked because it was for a rarepair that interested me

9.

Ben Solo meets his online arch rival, Rey Sanderson in a Waffle House on the third night of Dragon*Con.

The fact that two people attending Dragon*Con end up at the same Waffle House isn't terribly surprising, given that there's really only one within walking distance of the convention and at 2:30 AM after three straight days of partying and con-going, there are very few places that make more sense for drunk nerds to end up.

The fact that they – that is, Ben Solo (aka the r/StarKiller mod known as KyloRen) and Rey Sanderson (aka reddit user ReyOfLight, the eternal and yet un-bannable thorn in his side) end up at the same Waffle House at the exact same time is really just a comedy of errors.

(A Play To Win Waffle House AU in which instead of being professional gamers, Ben and Rey are just your average nerds who hate each other online until a fateful encounter during Dragon*Con brings them closer than they ever thought possible.)
<<<< Picked this because it sounded hilarious

10. Will a gentleman's secrets change John and Margaret's world forever? A plot-twisted, tropey, fluffy, smutty North and South continuation.
<<<< Picked mainly for the pairing, but premise was intriguing

Re: Summaries survey

[amalthia]

Hi, I don't suppose you have links for story 1 and 3? I tried googling "not to yield" and couldn't find the story.

Re: Summaries survey

[arizonapoppy]

Here we have the power of the summary! You are looking for:

The Colder the Winter, the Warmer the Spring

and

The Not To Yield Series

Re: Summaries survey

[amalthia]

Thanks! those summaries sound interesting. :)

Re: Summaries survey

[yourlibrarian]

Yeah, when it comes to rare pairs or small fandoms, finding works at all trumps whatever the summaries might suggest. There are a few pairings I would definitely click on regardless of what the summaries suggest just because I'd want to see how it was addressed.

At the same time I am thinking of one pairing that I would be glad to read and which, in fact, begs a in-depth exploration given the canon. Yet I have tried story after story and have yet to find one I've enjoyed (or even been able to finish). The common element seems to be a summary and first page that is a lot of exposition and no snappy dialogue at all.

> Ben Solo meets his online arch rival, Rey Sanderson in a Waffle House on the third night of Dragon*Con.

Actually I thought the summary should have stopped right there, that's all I needed to hear. It immediately made me think of Kyloki which I wish had more episodes.