Story introductions - yes or no?

[Djmac1031]

Many thanks to those who've contributed to this thread. There's some really useful pointers for a newbie such as me.

I'm seriously thinking of adding a standard intro at the start of each submission, similar to an allergen warning on food.

This story may contain Hanky-Panky!

That should about cover it

Thanks in advance for the warning.

I'm a Hanky man myself, so I'll probably skip any stories with too much Panky.

 

[Mogrem]

Good evening.

I notice that some submissions on Lit have introductions before the story proper starts.

Do you do this?

Pros and cons?

Thank you.

I'm no expert, but if you're struggling with the standard, "let your story reveal the background naturally" advice, then a basic hack's trick is:

1. Write your story, starting with a punchy opening scene of course.
2. Then write your intro filling in all the background you worried you hadn't conveyed in the story and stick it at the top (after all its so much easier to write a mini-encyclopaedia entry than it is to deftly weave it in to narrative).
3. Then cut the start of the punchy opening scene out and paste it above your intro.
4. Write a simple segue from that into the background intro ("How did I get here, knee deep in aligators getting sucked off by my best friend's elderly solicitor, you ask?")
5. Then after the intro-dump is done you leap back into the bulk of the action.

Hackery is under-rated. Its much faster to write.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I use intros for one thing only.
To thank people who have helped me.
I feel it is important to acknowledge people who have generously donated their time and talent.

That's not an intro, it's just an acknowledgement. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I don't count on people reading the tags before they read the story. I feel like the tags are mostly for search purposes, although some folks may use them differently.

First you have a title. Granted many titles are vague. Next you have a description, yes the descriptions are rather short and could be longer. Then there are tags, but the tags you have to click on the story to see. But all in all, after title description and tags you still need a disclaimer (which you also need to click on the story to see, what's going on?

 

[Djmac1031]

But all in all, after title description and tags you still need a disclaimer (which you also need to click on the story to see, what's going on?

There are certain categories that trigger certain readers.

The most controversial ones are incest, cheating and Non Con.

So I understand some writers wishing to make clear right up front that their story contains something a reader may wish to avoid so there's no misunderstanding.

 

[joy_of_cooking]

I have a pair of 750-word stories pending. The first is BDSM and includes this snippet:

"Twenty-four hours, little boy. Or you'll wish it was only a crop, and only on your ass."

"Mistress is merciful!"

"Remember, this is all in your head. The laws of man hold no sway. Nor those of physics. The only limits here are those of your own filthy imagination."

I shuddered, recalling the nightmarish fever dreams that passed for erotica in some parts of the internet. Oh, would that those authors had provided content warnings!

(Because haven't we all been there? ...no? oh. anyway...)

The second is NC/R. It starts with

<em>Content warning: threat of serious injury, but only in a dream, and not fulfilled.</em>

and ends with

<em>Believe it or not, this was less disturbing than the original scene. Don't read Richard K. Morgan late at night, folks.</em>

 

[joy_of_cooking]

More seriously, it's hard to imagine myself ever writing scat or raceplay, but I'd definitely warn people about those.

Over in the best-stories thread a couple people are pretty enthusiastic about Social Studies which starts off

this is written strictly for raceplay enthusiasts, so if offensive language irks you in the slightest, please read no further.

...and I didn't, and I thank the author for that.

 

[bumpercars]

First you have a title. Granted many titles are vague. Next you have a description, yes the descriptions are rather short and could be longer. Then there are tags, but the tags you have to click on the story to see. But all in all, after title description and tags you still need a disclaimer (which you also need to click on the story to see, what's going on?

I'm not sure if you're replying to the right person - I was answering a question about how tags are used. Here's my earlier statement about what I put at the beginning of my stories:

I include a one-line content warning where appropriate, but nothing else. I want the title and subtitle to provide all of the information you need to get started - the story should do everything else.

A content warning is not an explanation or an enticement; it's a flag so that people who will hate or be triggered by an element of your story know what's coming. The title and description might tease these elements but not outright state them, and the tags are often ignored, so immediately before the story is the best place for it.

Broadly speaking I agree with you that a story shouldn't require outside explanation, and that authors who feel like their stories fail without such an explanation should work on folding the information into the story instead. But other introductions contain information that might be interesting but isn't necessary - most published books with introductions, for instance.

 

[MelissaBaby]

That's not an intro, it's just an acknowledgement. Nothing wrong with that.

I think some of the discussion in this thread is murky because we aren't all thinking of the same thing as an "introduction."

In my view, trigger warnings, disclaimers, acknowledgements, links to previous chapters in a series, etc., do not constitute an introduction. In my mind, an introduction is commentary on the story itself.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I think some of the discussion in this thread is murky because we aren't all thinking of the same thing as an "introduction."

In my view, trigger warnings, disclaimers, acknowledgements, links to previous chapters in a series, etc., do not constitute an introduction. In my mind, an introduction is commentary on the story itself.

Yes, exactly. I myself have given a quick line of credit off the top, that has nothing to do with the content and is in no way a preface nor an intro.

 

[yukonnights]

I use them. For me it is a combo of a back cover type brief premise and a place for trigger warnings. A quick way for a reader to see whether they may be interested before they have to read too far.

You beat me to the draw, but this is exactly why I put Introductions on my stories. I think it gives a potential reader something that's somewhat of a common courtesy to help them decide if the story is / isn't what they're looking for. One need not be overly detailed or elaborate in order to give folks a heads-up before they dive in.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You beat me to the draw, but this is exactly why I put Introductions on my stories. I think it gives a potential reader something that's somewhat of a common courtesy to help them decide if the story is / isn't what they're looking for. One need not be overly detailed or elaborate in order to give folks a heads-up before they dive in.

It would be handy if there was a little more room for a story's promo, before you're into the story itself. Something you could avoid if you wanted to - I never like giving anything away in an introduction to a story (I think I've only ever done it once, maybe twice). I still think it's catering to the overly delicate, though.

 

[Britva415]

I still think it's catering to the overly delicate, though.

Well, like others have said, it could also be that the author is the overly delicate one or else they wouldn't care about risking one-bombs and negative comments.

 

[KachinaDoll]

I sometimes include an author's intro. Readers can scroll past if they want. It's no big deal.

 

[MyBareTorso]

I use them. For me it is a combo of a back cover type brief premise and a place for trigger warnings. A quick way for a reader to see whether they may be interested before they have to read too far.

This is exactly what I do too. Plus, I use an intro to mention if this new story carries on with some plot points from earlier stories.

 

[BobbyLaker]

I'm no expert, but if you're struggling with the standard, "let your story reveal the background naturally" advice, then a basic hack's trick is:

1. Write your story, starting with a punchy opening scene of course.
2. Then write your intro filling in all the background you worried you hadn't conveyed in the story and stick it at the top (after all its so much easier to write a mini-encyclopaedia entry than it is to deftly weave it in to narrative).
3. Then cut the start of the punchy opening scene out and paste it above your intro.
4. Write a simple segue from that into the background intro ("How did I get here, knee deep in aligators getting sucked off by my best friend's elderly solicitor, you ask?")
5. Then after the intro-dump is done you leap back into the bulk of the action.

Hackery is under-rated. Its much faster to write.

Good tip - thank you

 

[BobbyLaker]

I think some of the discussion in this thread is murky because we aren't all thinking of the same thing as an "introduction."

In my view, trigger warnings, disclaimers, acknowledgements, links to previous chapters in a series, etc., do not constitute an introduction. In my mind, an introduction is commentary on the story itself.

Good points.
I should have clarified that I meant an intro to the story itself, similar to the back-cover text others here have referred to.

Reading the other helpful comments in this thread, has got me thinking about the use, or not, of the other warnings, disclaimers etc. to which you refer.

Thanks.

 

[BobbyLaker]

This is exactly what I do too. Plus, I use an intro to mention if this new story carries on with some plot points from earlier stories.

Thanks.
I would certainly make it clear if the work was a sequel or part of a series.

 

[jsmiam]

There’s a regular here who, all in good humor, has author’s notes longer than some stories. They’re amusing to see. Forget the story, how long are the notes!

But. There’s nothing wrong with an intro. I suggest brief, though. I mostly use them to negate the common misconceptions a reader will have, so mostly for friendly “advance warning” notification of anything perhaps unexpected for a category. A sentence or theee can do the job. “This is part of the 750 word event, so it’s short, you Dumass!” (Italics part not actually included). Pretending your author’s note ends in “, you Dumass” can be a good method though. ;-)

You’ll notice unlike other things, few of the authors here label them as deal breakers for reading. Welcome and do whatever feels right for you.

 

[Winter_Fare]

I'm not a fan of long introductions or elaborate footnotes, but the site recommends them in some cases. I've had a cursory note added to the front of my stories by the editor before, and since then I often stick an "enter at your own risk" notice if it seems appropriate.

 

[Duleigh]

Good evening.

I notice that some submissions on Lit have introductions before the story proper starts.

Do you do this?

Pros and cons?

Thank you.

I used to jump into the story. Recently I started doing an intro, in the past couple of stories I also added epilogues. *shrugs* It's something I do, no reason why, I just do it.

Refer to Duleigh's Demandments

Duleigh's Demandment #9. If it doesn’t feel right – don’t do it.

 

[dmallord]

About one-third of my writing has opening statements. At first, I followed the Lit concept of telling readers 'all characters are over 18 blah blah' and what flavor of sexual activities they would encounter. Later, I dropped that since I saw most of the stories I read didn't do that.

In a number of the chapter stories, especially those with some time between them, I used an intro on what transpired in the previous chapter and started the story with that remark.

As I recall, I've had two or three comments that my setup openings were unnecessary... 'just don't' and get on with the story.

At this point, I follow the crowd and leave them out. No one complains about that! So I'm good without them. However, if I have a character from another story appear, I mention that and point out the story's title [inticement to read that story - it works. I've had several readers comment they went off to read that story as well.]

Lastly, I mention that my favorite editor has reviewed the story. Credit is due, always.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I always do a mini bit.

I’m with Springsteen on this as a see my readers as people I’m chatting to. I’m telling them a story and as such I like to make an opening statement before I do.

But there’s no right or wrong on this issue. It’s what works best for each writer.

 

[Voboy]

In other words, writing to not be read ... hrmm, interesting choice.

I've encountered many, many books in my lifetime that were not what I expected they'd be when I checked them out or purchased them. In those cases, I'd have LOVED it if someone had warned me off them.

I just don't see how providing the readers with more information is so unforgivable to you. Plainly, you don't like this phenomenon; as a reader? I do. As a writer? It plainly hasn't hurt my audience. So how's about avoiding broadly proscriptive judgments and just letting the OP know you're not a fan? Might be more constructive.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I just don't see how providing the readers with more information is so unforgivable to you. Plainly, you don't like this phenomenon; as a reader? I do. As a writer? It plainly hasn't hurt my audience. So how's about avoiding broadly proscriptive judgments and just letting the OP know you're not a fan? Might be more constructive.

You didn't really read my post very well, you only saw a front that you wanted to see. I suppose that I should have put an intro on my post to explain to you how to read it.

And could you repeat that but about 'your audience's please? I couldn't hear it very well through the loud noise of your ego.