[Ania]

I know this is a wierd one but I seem incapable of writing a decent summary for my fics, they're either too vague and don't give enough detail or are too long and send the reader too sleep, does anyone have any tips they could give me?

[Marta]

I have that problem, too. The only way I've been able to have any luck with summaries is by summarising the premise of the fic instead of summarising the whole story or even the beginning of it. For example if I was going to summarise "The Lord of the Rings" as if it were a fanfic I might write

"When Bilbo stumbled on his magic ring nobody dreamed how dangerous it might be. But the Dark Lord Sauron is now rising, and Sauron has heard the name "Baggins." Now his nephew Frodo must pay the price: journey deep into Mordor to destroy the Enemy's Ring, or watch all Middle-earth fall to the encroaching night."

Something like that.

Cheers,
Marta

[sindohte]

Ania,

That is a good question. Could you give an example of a story that you have been having trouble writing a summary for? That way people can give you more specific input.

Here's is an example of an imaginary summary about a Boromir fic that I haven't written.

"The eldest son of Denethor is faced with a difficult choice. Does he carry out his father's edict as the captain of Gondor's troops, or does he follow his heart?"

When I write a summary I try to mention who the main character is and then include some vague detail about what the main conflict or action will be. And I try to say it all in 3-5 sentences and in the form of a question that I want the reader to find out by reading my story.

[SilverMoonLady]

Always a toughy, the summary:)

Both of the previous posts are excellent suggestions. The 'trick' I guess is to give just enough info so your reader gets 'hooked' on the story, so catching their imagination with a question definately works (assuming it's the right question), as does setting up the tension/drive for the story (what hangs in the balance? what must be done/prevented). Every now and again, the first sentence of your fic ends up being a good hook as well, since it serves to a certain extent the same purpose, to draw the reader in.

[Marta]

[sindohte]

[Ania]

Thanks for the feedback thus far, okay, the fic that I'm referring too is actually the only fic I have posted on this site, here's the summary I have up at the moment for it:

'With the overrunning of Arthedain by the Witch-king, the kingdom of the Northern Dunédain was lost forever, their people became wanderers known as Rangers. But, to maintain the line of Isildur, the Chieftains of the scattered people dwelt within the elven-home of Rivendell, whilst small groups of their company roamed abroad. Known as 'rangers', these men roamed Middle Earth, aiding those in need and offering assistance to the kingdoms of men...'

Zzz you see what I mean? I just feel like it's a history lesson and if I read it, I know that I'd be put off, but I've changed the summary for the same fic about five times.

It's about a young warrior from the Dunédain about 100 years before Bilbo discovers the ring and happens during a time when the Rohirrim were having problems with the Dunlendings, he's leading a scouting party in pursuit of a group of Dunlendings and after killing them discovers a terrified Rohirrim girl, it's about how she's brought to Rivendell and her wound is gradually healed (tortured past, etc.) but I don't know how to put all this into one summary. I just want to say enough to intrigue the reader and get thm interested but I'm finding it difficult to word affectively.

[BittenBuggy]

I am bloody awful at summaries, so I offer you no advice... only sympathy!

[Viv]

I'm not very good with summaries, but the best ones have come from other people. Maybe you could ask your beta to give you her two-sentence take on the story?

[Leila]

[KhazarKhum]

[Dragon]

I personally hate summaries, and it's made all the more difficult by the fact different archives have different maximum lengths (ff.net's in much shorter than here for example). I figure that in fanfic most people want to read about the characters, so I try and put names in as much as I can, and then a 'Main Characters: Blah, Blah, Blah' thing.

I normally settle for a sentence or two about what the story is, sometimes mention short or long, and include any labelling words that might help people find what they're looking for... like 'cute elfling fic' or 'slash' or 'romance'. It's mostly just to get people to click on the title and then they can skim a bit or read the first few paragraphs and see if they like it.

I know that on ff.net when I read summaries I just skim down looking for names of characters I like, and if I see those I'll read the rest of the summary.

[Marta]

Sorry I've been not around much the last few days; RL called.

[Viv]

[SilverMoonLady]