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ZoeBlessing
Nov '18

The purpose of the Series Description is obvious to me, but the purpose of Episode Descriptions is less obvious. I understand you can put links in there. But why is it called an Episode Description if it appears at the bottom of an episode? Is it at the bottom on the app too? (I use the website, not the app.) Why bother reading a description when you've already read the episode? Is it more like Episode Notes?

I'd like to get an idea of what everyone uses the Episode Description for, so I can properly utilize mine. What do YOU use that field for?

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    Nov '18

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    Dec '18
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cleo_san
Nov '18

Oh, well, I usually use the episode description to tell news or talk about the page (what I like, what I don't like) - or I ask for reader's opinions on the page or the story so far =)

Sometimes I drop links to my patreon or ko-fi page, but generally... the episode descriptions are a way to communicate with my readers outside of my comic! =) I don't know if all of them are even reading it, but the feedback I get through that makes me happy <3

Check some descriptions out if you like, maybe adapt some or tell me if you've got some other ideas, I'd be happy to hear about them :wink:

ZoeBlessing
Nov '18

Thanks for your reply! I have been clicking around, but it seems most people don't use it. Do readers even pay attention to it? It looks so much like a comment to me. Also, in what places does that field appear? Is it always at the bottom of an episode? Does it ever appear as an episode summary somewhere? (In which case, random notes would seem weird if you haven't read the episode yet.)

qwerty
Nov '18

I agree "episode description" isn't the best name for it, I tend to think of it as more of a "creator comment".

I use it to comment on the episode, share news, or ask questions, like cleo_san said.

I actually don't know how it appears on mobile, but I know that some people do read it since they sometimes respond to its content in the comments.

cleo_san
Nov '18
ZoeBlessing

Well, not all of the readers seem to pay attention, but a great portion actually does =)
I, myself, love creator talk in the episode description, it sometimes contains additional info or just an update, of the creator is planning a hiatus, etc. :wink: In this regard it is quite useful!

The "creator's comment" - as @A_Toad just said (btw, hi there, we seem to be meeting often in threads, today! XD) - appears right below the last page of the episode and above the reader's comments (in the desktop version). On the mobile app it's only the pages and the creator comment, for the reader's reactions you have to click another button =)

And no, it does not appear as an episode summary, at least not on tapas... the first 1-2 lines of text are displayed when you share it on twitter though =) No clue about facebook tho ^^"

ZoeBlessing
Nov '18

Thank you, @cleo_san , for taking the time to answer all my questions! As a newbie I'm still figuring things out around here. :blush:

Harmony-S-S
Nov '18

I use mine for author's notes! You know talk to your readers, give announcements, links, etc.

cleo_san
Nov '18
ZoeBlessing

You're very welcome! =)
If you have any more questions, just ask, okay? :wink: Noone here in the forums will bite you for that, we're a pretty chill community =P Enjoy your time on tapas! <3

Zaboem
Nov '18

Yes, the episode description does appear at the bottom in the app also.

Here is how I use it. I use a lot of borrowed materials like Soundcloud music and Creative Commons images. Just last night, I launched a new series which uses text directly lifted from the projects of other Tapas writers(with their permission of course). I use this space to acknowledge the creators of those borrowed properties. I also sometimes crack an extra joke in that space which doesn't fit inside the normal text.

ZoeBlessing
Nov '18

Thanks for sharing! I'm enjoying reading about what people do with this space. :slight_smile:

Lady_DarkStar
Nov '18

Originally, the episode description area was supposed to be searchable, like the series, only more specific. It doesn't work that way though. On some other threads I have seen it mentioned that that feature is broken, and has been broken from the start. Whatever it's original intention, most authors use it like an additional comments section, or ignore it.

Rhonder
Nov '18

The way I often see it used (and use it myself) is more as a kind of commentary from the author. A chance to comment on the page, leave a funny remark, pose a question to the readers, etc. Of course not everyone will pay attention to them, but I still like to use it for the aforementioned purposes.

LT1986
Nov '18

I use the episode description not just to summarize the episode, but to also give information about what inspired certain parts of the episode, what to look forward to in future episodes, and sometimes I use it to give more details about a point that I don't think that I thoroughly explained. Examples of what inspired an episode sometimes come from certain scriptures in the Bible and events that have occurred in my life and in the lives of loved ones.

shazzbaa
Nov '18

To me that sort of author comment space is kinda a place to be human. I've noticed that if you ask questions in this space, a lot of readers will respond to that, but I usually just make a lil jokey comment there, like if a character is lying very badly on the page then my note for that space might be a facetious "No one suspects a thing!" or "WOW XIRA, SMOOTH, VERY SMOOTH" -- just something small. I've found as a reader that when the author says nothing in this space, I tend to see the comic as very detached, and when the author comments in this space, it's easier for me to want to connect with them in some way!
I also would use that spot to share my link to TopWebComics, since I put a new vote incentive up with every update, to encourage folks to check that out.

mrtoontastic
Nov '18

I love writing episode descriptions. Usually, I write them on the first chapter on my work, and every remaining chapter would be a vague comment about what transpired in a later chapter. I gotta be careful though when sharing, because light spoilers MIGHT be alluded to in the descriptions. (Thanks Google+...)

silverraven0
Nov '18

I'm the kind of person who rambles a lot on my episode description. laugh, though I try not to make to much of it, I ended up writing how long words on it. ^^;

Letting the readers know of what you were thinking about the episode, the incoming episode, some news and announcement, the whole series itself, the promotion of your other project and stuff, or simply telling them how your days goes. It have a lot of use.

19 days later
LordLacroix
Nov '18

I use to think like it was a Netflix description of a single episode of a series: a resume. And i normally put two or three sentences to help pace the mood of the reader and some hints without spoiling my story.

Bosque
Nov '18

I use it to leave a question, a experience I've having working on the chapter, etc, :stuck_out_tongue: and yes on the app that space stills on the bottom

ZoeBlessing
Dec '18

Incidentally, I've also discovered that the Episode Description is displayed as the excerpt/summary for when you link directly to that page here in the forums. Something to be aware of, since whatever is in there might look strange out of context.

JBrentonParker
Dec '18

Haha, all mine will look very strange then!

Since it appears right under the chapters, I use my Episode Descriptions for Author's Notes. I started posting writing on Mibba way back in '08 as a young teen, and made a habit of "chatting" with readers in the author's note section they provide at the end of each chapter. Now I can't imagine not saying at least "hi" at the end of every chapter no matter what platform I'm posting on.

So I just ramble at any readers who take the time to read it for a couple of paragraphs, or apologize for uploading a day late or something.