Thankies.

maybe..don't say it is a prequel. Say that in the author's note. And say it is a "stand alone prequel", otherwise people will be running away if they havent read Incarnate. Otherwise it is fine ^^

@Miss Fuss -

If you have a certain line in one of your poems, you could use it as a summary (ie, Mirror, I am letting go, something like that you know? And that is a lyric of a song btw).

Or say "My twisted inner workings, shown through what I hate". But that doesn't come out positively.. Hmm... Gimme more to work with, darn you!!

Then again, I'm a one-shot author. I write character sketches and the occasional unfinished chapter story (I've got, let's see... five. Six if you count the one that I never quite intended to continue. The longest has five chapters. I'm a wee bit ADD. By the way.) But, let's see -

Ashes, Ashes

[Maybe people need to believe in something.] One shot, second person, an Atheist thinks about Christianity.

Psychophobia

It's scary, you know, looking into your own mind. Like running headfirst into a whirlpool or sticking your arm into the lion exhibit at the zoo. You don't know if you can really get in, but worse, you don't know if you can really get out. [one shot]

Innocent

I guess I have nothing without my lost causes.

(...My God, I was a terrible writer at fourteen. Why did people lie to me? I seriously need to purge this account.)

Anyhow, your summaries are very good. It's just that you add useless info about them. Like "one shot". People can see that in the "complete" or "incomplete" status and how many chapters there are. No need for that. No need to tell which POV it is in either. That is material for the author's note.

In the summary: Just give the hook about your story. NOTHING else. No info on POV, on what religion, etc. That is for the story itself to show the readers.

Otherwise, you have solid titles and summaries. I particularly like the Ashes, Ashes one ^^

Hope that helped

1. Turning the summary into a list of characters (It's about a thief, a duck, and a pilot).

2. Making it sound like there's no plot ('they have adventures', 'problems ensue')

3. Talking to the reader (Follow Maude as she travels to a distant world ...)

4. Making some vague or philosophical statement as a summary

I especially agree with number 2. Those are too boring when done the typical way. Of course, I believe all of those can be done well, it's just that most cases aren't.

And drat, I think I am guilty of number 4... *nervously laughs*

I'm not sure of how great my summary skills are, so I write down what sounds good and what'll give readers and idea of the story and hope it works. (It doesn't.)

It's funny how things change...

I'm not very good at summaries or titles.... Let me know what you think.

-Zeffir =)

@Zeffy (that is what I dub thee)

I agree with what Blysse said :P But no surprise there. Har har

Summary: Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Andria has.

I haven't changed the title since i started the story in 2005. The summary used to be longer but i deleted the second sentence. I always find the title and summary hard. I'm not very good at 'selling' my stories. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated ^^

Guess there's nothing wrong with the title, but then there's nothing too breaking about it. (Yes, if you begin to understand I get picky and harsh, and more so on myself.) A lot of titles do 'legend of something', but doesn't make it bad. It's a typically okay title unless you really want to break something.

Summary I think whilst it's a little attractive, there's not much more. What about being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Just try to add that bit more to it. At first thought - I was like I have, so what? I think there probably is that something else in the story that adds to being in that position. It may be a word or two extra, but it'd have a better effect.

Well, if this helped, or try to do some more. If not, I'll retire and let someone else take over.

Title doesn't say much nor does it catch my eye. Try to change it into something more gripping. Odd titles are eye-catchers too, so don't be afraid of that.

I'd be of more help and able to offer suggestions if you gave me a short synopsis of what this story is about, though. ^^ So please do!

Summary:

"Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?" This piques my interest

"Andria has. " This makes me turn away. I generally don't like it when answers asked in the summary are answered. It's like "Oh. So you already went and spoiled it, did you now?" to me. So try avoiding it. ^^

So judging from that reaction of mine, you clearly need a different ending. Or change this altogether. I'll give a crappy suggestion to show what I am trying to say

"Being at the wrong place at the wrong time was her specialty."

But like I said, gimme a synopsis and I'll give you better feedback ^^

Concerto: You weren't too harsh at all ^^ i don't think you should retire just yet

The title is probably the thing that has been bugging me the most; i just have no inspiration for a new name

As for a summary of my story :\ It focuses on two main characters (Andria and Bian) and their changing relationship, but it's not exclusively about them. The backdrop for the story is that Andria was a 'normal' young woman before she decided to walk home one night and now she's found herself caught up in an ongoing war between three worlds. Mythical beasties and, of course, vampires are standard fare. It's set on earth exclusively and i'd like to think is more of a relationship/character based story then an action piece.

Can you see just how hard i find it to write summaries and synopsises _

Nah, it's not that hard. Unless you think it'll spoil the story if you give too much away. You're doing a good job there, but try to squeeze it in with less words. That's called summarizing and hence the summary.

Spontaneous titles:

What We Changed (based on the fact that I think the two will have influence in each other's lives and thus change things, not to mention the war part. Change can be for both good/bad though)

and

err..that's it O.o

Bian is a vampire, though Andria won't find that out until a way into the story (The lack of big black capes and blood stains on his mouth deceive her ;p). Their feelings towards each other are not unrequited and they will have several blissful months together but one of them betrays the other and that puts a slight crimp in their relationship.

Was that more helpful? *looks hopeful*

Suggestions:

Beloved Betrayal (it just sounded good ^^;)

Scarred Heart / Scar My Heart (meaning the betrayal that is to happen)

Turn Right What is Wrong (ugh, that one was a mouthful, though, again it was pointed towards the betrayal and the betrayed one wanting things to be okay again.)

Trust The Lies / Trust My Lies (again, it just sounded cool :P)

Trust That Rots / Rotten Trust

Yeah, as you can see, I am very focused on the betrayal here (I am not good with coming up "happy" titles, sorry :/)

Feel free to comment upon these, and say if there is a certain train of thought to specialize in. Brainstorming with others can be very helpful ^^ So bring it, Nhert! Also, say which titles you will definitely not even consider so I know what to not write :P

I'm not very good with titles myself... mine just seem to stick on my own.

Title: Confessions of a Broken Heart

Summary: Rejection hurts in so many ways.

Well, that's it! Let me know what you think, and feel free to read and review the poem ;)...

Seems a little too generic for my tastes, both title and summary. Try giving a sample of what the story hasto offer in your summary. And the title... I could've sworn I've read at least three poems with the same title, or some variation of it... (okay, that was an exaggeration, but you get my point.)

Thanks for the advice. =) I'm going to work on thinking of a new title, and I'll fix the summary. Thanks again =)

-Katrina

Thanks for the suggestions though Fran/Phil/Fill ;)

I like pretty much all of the titles you suggested but the biggest problem I have is that I don't want people to know that one of my characters is going to betray the other _

Now I read something elsewhere on this site about coming here if I need advice on Title/Summary. So here I am. The stories these are for are not posted yet, and only one is started...but.

1. SUPERNATURAL -- About a man who loses his wife and son in a car accident. His six year old daughter survives. As he begins adjusting to his new life, he starts seeing ghosts, except they're not really dead yet. They are asking for his help; to stop their deaths before they happen. The whole thing drives him nuts; it's not normal. His moods fluctuate and his daughter gets the worst of it. She learns to keep away from him and begins to wander.

And then one day he sees her "ghost".

Now the clock is ticking for him to find her, and save her from such a terrible fate.

If it sounds familiar, it's because I pitched it as an idea for a group project, which never got rolling. And since it's being such a bunny, I am going to write it myself.

2. ROMANCE/HUMOR -- Sean and Molly were best friends since grade school, until senior year. They split up and go to separate colleges. Now Sean comes to stay in town for a few months, since Melon (the company where he is an engineer) has opened a new quarter. Molly expresses her lifelong interest, but he shoots her down. Shortly after she agrees to marry the man she is dating. The story continues as Molly plans and executes her wedding, and Sean watches with increased instability, until he finally self-destructs in the end. Only five chapters.

I was thinking of calling it Triangular because of the love triangle, but I can't help but think its not good enough. I still can't seem to come up with a summary.

Any ideas?

Hmm...are you sure the possible titles spell the betrayal out so clearly?

Think like someone who has no prior knowledge of the story or what will happen. I dunno how things play out in your story, but a title can sometimes be very weird until that special part comes which it is named after, wherein thereafter makes perfect sense (but not up until then). "Beloved Betrayal" isn't exactly vague on that department, but the other titles aren't obvious with it (well, to you, because you know what they mean :P)

Wanna brain storm some more? We could focus on a different aspect of your story ^^ (just explain that circumstance a bit, mmkay?)

@Terrance -

Heya!

Well, your supernatural sounds really good. It sounds very dramatic, so I do urge that you make title and summary dramatic too.

Title suggestions:

perhaps you should either zoom in on his quest to save his daughter (a "Time is Ticking", "Until Your Heart Stops", "OMGZ I must save her!" esque title, if you know what I mean), or something related to his ability ("Those In between"(in between life and death, I mean), or something...maybe you even have a distinct phrase or word for them in your story?)

Summary... Hmmm...

"What drove them apart must now bring them together" Err...okay that summary isn't really worked on (it just was a top-of-my-mind kinda deal) I do suggest, however vaguely you choose, to portray his quest to save his daughter, rather than the the general ability of his. With his daughter there is more emotional impact to be drained :P

About the romance:

Triangular is a decent title, but it doesn't quite catch my interest. Add something. Spice it up.

Triangular Intentions ? Ok, I suck, I know :P Just showing ya what I mean ^^

Feel free to brainstorm further ^^ I apologize if what I offered wasn't enough to get your creative juices to flow

Nothing yet for the romance, but I thought up this for the Supernatural:

Where with others I've failed/Lost but not gone/Unbarred fates -- He knows what will happen if he doesn't find her. And so he must.

whadduya think?

~

Anyway this one story that I've been trying to focus on...it's barely getting any views each time I update. I'm probably going to take it down and tear it apart, which I've done twice now. But I like the title and summary so I might keep it or maybe change it...anyway it's:

Title: Spitting Blood

Summary: He wanted to call me a ** up. He wanted to say how disappointed in me he was. But he didn’t.

-I like taking parts of the story and putting it in the summary-I had to censor the word ** in the summary though. So it's "screw" when I submitted it.

"Lost but not gone" and "Unbarred Fates" sounds too generic to catch attention. I, like Detox, find "Where with others I've failed" intriguing. It is a bit of a long title, but that's okay in my own opinion. You might want to get a third opinion on this, in addition to mine and Detox's ^^

The summary:

I find "He knows what will happen if he doesn't find her. And so he must." to not be powerful enough. One thing to blame is the "And" that you start the second sentence with. It leaves more impact if you have "So he must" instead of "And so he must". The word "And" should not start dramatic sentences, in my own opinion (there are exceptions of course. This is just not it).

This is in itself a decent summary, but it is not eye catching/powerful enough. It is very to the point and obvious, which works sometimes, but not when it is a too well-known area (someone needs to save another). To get a general idea of the whole ungeneric-road:

"Sand ran through his fingers as easily as her life did/would" (This portrays that someone (his daughter) is about to lose their life)

or maybe even

"Sand ran through his fingers as easily as her life did. How does one stop sand from escaping?" (which implies the above, but also that he wishes to save that life.)

@Detox -

Well, from both title and summary, my initial thought is that it is about some emo kid who has anger issues (due to the coarse language), has a bad father, maybe even abusive?, life sucks, etc, and that doesn't appeal that much (to me). If that is what the story is about, I right now don't know what exactly to improve. Such stories aren't really up my alley ^^;

Care to tell what the story is about? That'd help a lot! ^^

It's about this kid, Seth, who lives with his brother because his brother has custody of him. Seth breaks the law (will elaborate later on in story) and ended up going to court which then instead of jail or juvie he has to do community service. But to top that off his brother takes off. So it's like he starts to turn everything around in order to try to find and get his brother back...the title actually is referring to his friend. I don't want to explain the whole thing. That's the general idea, he's not emo he's like a wannabe badass.

So if the story is about him to find + get his brother back, perhaps that is something you ought to portray in the summary?

Or the beginning of it all (how he became who he became)

Ok, I am not making much sense :/

Her life is slowly slipping through his palms, just like sand through the neck of the hourglass that defies him.

~

Terrance, maybe change the word "palms" to fingers. It sounds strange with that word there.

" Jordan Rose didn't ask for a guardian angel, especially not one bent on finding the men who killed him. And as he draws her into New York City's criminal underground, she reaches out to his ex-partner for help, and gets more than she bargained for. "

1. Forums are not to be used to post stories.
2. All discussions, language and content, must be suitable for teens.
3. The owner/moderator(s) of this forum is solely responsible for content posted within this area.
4. All forum abuse must be reported to the moderator(s).

1. Forum admin/moderator
2. Fanatic (on site for more than 2 years)
3. Fan (on site for more than a year)
4. Regular (on site for more than 6 months)
5. Camper (on site for more than a month)
6. Apprentice (on site for more than a week)
7. Newbie (on site for less than a week)