Fic Talk > General Discussion
Chapter summaries
RokofAges75:
Mel's story Under My Skin has summaries: http://accidentalchaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=6862 (Gee, Oprah, it was a story of the month here. ;))
Tri:
I tend to do the same thing that Mel does with hers - write a sentence to summarize the chapter. I think it's helpful as a reader in case I'm reading someone's story a second time so that I can go back and read a part to refresh my memory as to what happened (especially if it's been a while since there's been an update). And to tell you the truth, that's how I help myself keep track of each chapter in my own stories, too.
I actually think of chapter summaries as the little description of an episode of a TV show. It's kind of like a teaser. I try not to give too much away, but at the same time, I think it's helpful to give the readers a sense of what the chapter is about. Like I said earlier, if they're rereading a part, they can hopefully find it easier. It usually doesn't give much away with me since my chapters are 2,000-6,000 words. I also give each of my chapters a title like a lot of television shows. Just to get away from the "chapter 1... chapter 2... et cetera." I get bored with that.
I don't know if people agree with me, but I personally like it. :)
mare:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on August 05, 2007, 07:43:21 PM ---Mel's story Under My Skin has summaries: http://accidentalchaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=6862 (Gee, Oprah, it was a story of the month here. ;))
--- End quote ---
Oprah can only remember so much. lol
mare:
You know when I do like the summary in a chapter? When it's an NC 17 chapter and there will be a sex scene. I think in cases like that if the author takes a second and mentions it, that's something I would appreciate.
Tri:
--- Quote from: mare on August 05, 2007, 08:11:53 PM ---You know when I do like the summary in a chapter? When it's an NC 17 chapter and there will be a sex scene. I think in cases like that if the author takes a second and mentions it, that's something I would appreciate.
--- End quote ---
See, I used to have those in mine, but I took them out because I thought it actually gave too much away... I thought that if the readers KNEW there was going to be sex in the chapter, it would take away from the possible surprise. Since my stories are usually rated NC-17 and include the appropriate warnings, I figure the readers are going to expect the sex scenes.
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