Novel descriptions discussion | how important are novel descriptions really?

[AdairRoblesUrrutia]

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NOVEL DESCRIPTIONS? HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR DOES IT REALLY HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING PEOPLE TO READ YOUR NOVEL?

In my opinion, the Novel description is not the make or break thing that will determine whether or not I read a Novel. The Novel's Genre is the biggest Factor, at least for me, that will determine whether I click on it. The Novel's Cover is the second Factor. Because those two are what will initially get me to click on it in the first place. Once you've gotten me to click on it, the description won't make me leave. I'll at least give the First Chapter a read. It doesn't matter to me how good or how bad the Novel description is. I think the most important thing about the Novel description is not the description itself but it's if the Novel has an interesting Concept. And based on that, I'll decide whether to read it or not. But ultimately I think your first Chapter is what will determine whether or not I'll continue to read.

Here's a tip for descriptions: Focus on the Novel's main Conflict and make sure it comes across and hooks the reader in the description.

[arxianfall]

No no no big nooo!

It's the second most important thing after a cover. It's the second thing a potential reader interacts with.
It's where you write your hook! Something to convince me to go into that 12 page prequel (another discussion). I don't have time to read 5 episodes to see if I'm mildly interested or if it goes somewhere.

When you browse in a bookstore you always look at the back cover for that hook.

I won't even touch a first chapter if the synopsis is shit.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

For me the novel description is the first glance for any potential readers to get to know about the writer's writing style, writer's skill level, the tone conveyed, and a glimpse of the story. I can understand why it is very important (although I surely did not make a good impression with mine). Cover and genre alone does not suffice for me because it is too vague and it did not reflect the writer's skill, you cannot judge someone's writing skill by their graphic design or drawing ability.

For example, when I am faced with a long and unnecessarily detailed description, I cannot help but think the actual novel will be the same (and I have proven right in some cases). Usually, reading a description takes less time and effort than reading a whole full first chapter, that is why I would prefer relying on my impression of the description rather than first chapters. Description also can let me know if the story will potentially contain contents I dislike, or maybe help warning people of content that may trigger them or something.

That is why I feel very cheated when some books sold in bookstore do not even have a small blurb in the back. I noped away no matter how interesting the cover is. I do not want accidentally investing my time and money into things I won't like, and I am sure this is how many people think when reading a description to decide if they're going to read or not.

[scribesunlimited]

We tell our clients to keep most of it quiet.
All you really need is a paragraph to explain the book.

If you need more than a paragraph to fully explain a novel you wrote, you'd better do some serious cutting, or plan a sequel.

[SleepingPoppy]

Novel description is make or break for me! I do find novels via their genre and thumbnail, but my interest is determined by that synopsis. I'm picky and I'm usually looking for something that hits on some story trope/aspect that I already am into. I also find it difficult to find novels on Tapas, which makes my patience threshold lower, but I'm working on that.

[rajillustration]

I think it does make a pretty big difference. I notice increase of activity every time I make my novel description better and more concise.

[crowstories]

I would literally never read a novel that didn't have a compelling description.

[bulletcrucifixion]

Description is very important more than genre for me. Like no matter the genre if it's another teen story, I'm not reading it.

[domisotto]

I think on Tapas, it’s a logline that does the trick tbh, rather than the description, because it leans the comics way. So, short, punchy and specific.

One thing that immediately turns me off are the blurbs that ask me questions, particularly the rhetoric ones. Will she choose duty over love? Well, Bob, in 99% cases she does.

The second thing are names, endless names. Her name, her uncle’s name, their tribe’s name, their god’s name, the name for their enemy’s uncle’s god... and then all the three countries the author invented for their book also included. And two planets. Give me a break!

[crowstories]

What, you don't need the entire mythos of the world to decide if you want to read?

[domisotto]

With a brief quiz included after, yeah. Just love it!

[crowstories]

I mean, it might be doing it's job.... like warning you to run, RUN, because the entire first chapter is just the author's world building notes.

[domisotto]

Pretty much. I expect nothing less than a pantheon and the brief history of the world on a logarithmic scale. Plus, maybe 6 to 10 random characters with names, some of whom will never be mentioned later. Or, alternatively, all of them would be endlessly talking to each-other in gigantic groups.

Blurb does often indicate what to expect..

[Iris-Grimoire]

Both novel and comic descriptions are extremely important, novels even more so. In a comic, the story might not make much sense, but the art will make me at least give it the benefit of the doubt - but no amount of beautiful prose will give me patience to read several episodes to find out what's happening. Polish your description to a sheen.
A genre can mean a thousand things, a cover can be commissioned and misleading, a concept can be a fun prologue that nothing else can get as good as. But the description, and how well it's used, can really reflect what you're going to get if it's updated as the author improves and gains confidence.

[Mallory]

I... will ALWAYS read descriptions. "Sci-fi" is a pretty broad genre. So is "Fantasy". I will always read the description to figure out if this world, plot and characters is something I will care about. My flowchart of reading goes something like this:

See pretty cover + title ---> read description (it annoys me that tapas immediately takes you to Chapter 1 instead of the info page...) --> decide to read if both catch my fancy. It's the same way I choose books - and I work in a library, so I see lots of books! I would NEVER just open a book and start reading, even if I had previous history with the author. Too much likelihood that I will waste my time with something I don't care for.

[Kaydreamer]

Good novel and comic descriptions are absolutely vital. They give me a sense of whether the author can write at all, and even if they can, whether they have a good story to tell, or if their writing is a mishmash of shallow tropes and conventions. If a description is bad, I won't touch the story.

[nostalgicroxas]

I've noticed on Tapas after a recent update that new readers aren't taken to an INFO or synopsis page. So what matters "most" is the thing that appears immediately to the reader.

So yes a synopsis is good, but that initial 250 characters is basically your limit to hook someone. I want to be very clear that I update frequently. I wouldn't say my "hook line" here is "the best" but I am the first to admit I suck at elevator pitches in general.

[Iris-Grimoire]

One thing I started doing that worked out REALLY well is to have the logline before any information, then the main synopsis. This isn't only when you search, but also when you post link previews on the forums, on Discord, etc - even the date you update isn't important next to that (unless it fits right after), the reader can see that when they open it proper.

But, a logline is still part of the description. It can be a time waste to even give names/titles/concepts in it unless it saves on word count - so after you've hooked your reader, having a good, clear description under that can let them confirm it's what they want to read, and what/who they should be thinking about when they start.

[Wocalich]

Here's a tip for descriptions: Focus on the Novel's main Conflict and make sure it comes across and hooks the reader in the description.

Wasn't I the one who told you this? Glad to see you're using it. Yes, descriptions are really important. So important that Thousand Kisses(a webcomic script) doesn't have one yet. I decided to wait until I find the right description for it. Anyways, it's not like lots of people are reading it right now.