The Power of Story Descriptions · 5:43pm Apr 17th, 2013
Undoubtedly, one of the most important things you can do for your story is write a top notch description for it. This is your ad, and it really makes or breaks whether people want to invest their time into your hard work. Admittedly, this is one of my weakest areas as a writer. I never get writer's block on stories, but I will sit there for a long, long time looking at those long and short form boxes while I cudgel my brain for something insanely interesting to say. I don't really ever feel like I succeed there. I usually just end up with something I feel is servicable.
So, while researching tips on this, I came across one of those RULES OF WRITING: Don't use a question in your story description. These sorts of things make me want to tear my hair out, and I don't have that much of it.
See?
Anyway, the person advising this noted the rule, and several people following vigorously defended it, saying that couldn't stand to see questions in story descriptions. However, none of the parties involved said why this is a terrible thing that everyone hates.
Personally, I hate things like this because it starts out as reasonable advice and then get turned into some sort of sacred law that people use to dismiss stories out of hand. I'm guessing you aren't supposed to use a question because it's a cliche thing to do. That doesn't mean it can't be used effectively, though. These people are basically saying that they would pass over a story with a question in the description simply because it had a question in the description. That is obtuse to me. Now, they are probably exaggerating some. After all, Checkmates is my most popular story, and it has a question in the description, but it makes me wonder how many people didn't read it because of that.
I guess what I'm getting at is that I wish people could look at these things individually, instead of using arbitrary rules to judge them. But what is a reader to do then? You have to have some sort of filter. I don't really mind if you read a description and pass on a story because you don't care for it. It just irks me that people might say, "Oops, he violated rule #67 - No story quotes in the description. Pass."
I'm with you on this, if only because I can explain why I use questions in my descriptions. Sometimes, it's used as a joke (Show of hooves, who thinks that's a bad idea? ~ Gator Season). Other times, it is used to build intrigue and suspense (Who is the mistress, and who is the servant? ~ I Dream of a Genie with a Light Brown Mane). Heck, in my second-most popular (and personal favorite thus far) story The Do Dilemma, most of the description is made up of questions as a humorous way of presenting the synopsis. So, they can work in the right hands.
There's an old saying of not judging a book by its cover, and that is done a lot around here. Sometimes it's for good reason (I've seen plenty of stories where the description is just "This is a story about my OC, please read!" To that I say very poor, must try harder.
), but other times it's not. I'm a bit indifferent about this aspect myself, but I certainly see your point. 
Personally, I have no problem at all with questions in the description. I think it's a totally valid thing to do- you're showing the plot of your story, by illustrating the question that the story will answer.
I agree with you there; I'd never skip over a story just because it has a question in its description. That's just straight-up judging a book by its cover.
I've always thought questions in descriptions can be a bit overused and cliche – "Will Rainbow Dash be able to overcome [insert problem here]?" Yes, she most likely will, as evident by the lack of a Tragedy tag. Using them to build intrigue and suspense is done a bit too much, so feels rather cheesy. In a comedic sense, though, they can be great. i.e., where the narrator breaks the fourth wall a bit; "This is a great idea, isn't it? . . . No, it is not."
I guess it's just a balance. Checkmates was a good example of questions-in-descriptions done right.
Also, it goes without saying: Dat hair. (Congratulations, Juggernaught, you're the new Thunderlane!)
1015099 I LOVE THUNDERLANE!!!
Man, if I shipped, I'd ship Thunderlane and Cloud Chaser! Such awesome hair!
Anyway, this falls in the same category with me as people that walk away from a story for minor grammar errors. If something that minor can turn you off, maybe you are just bored with pony stories.
On the other hand, there are roughly one billion stories available. With such a wealth, can people really be villified for turning down stories with even minor problems when there are probably 10 perfect ones in the wings? It doesn't seem fair, but that is a reality.
1015073 Yeah, it seems so to me, too. I want to say that I hate the laws of writing, but really, I don't. What I find distasteful is that people consider them laws and not suggestions. I don't see a problem using a question if it fit well, just as I didn't see a problem with using RUUUUUUUN in A Door Jam, despite it being poor writing (apparently). Trying to fit stories into pre-approved slots instead of just reading them drives me bonkers.
1015071 I have absolutely no problem with people reading a story description like "My OC meets Celestia and then rulez Equestra!!!" and deciding to pass. That's all I really want. Just for people to actually read and evaluate, rather than to check off a mental list of do's and dont's. I wouldn't pass on a story that sounded interesting just because they mispelled a word or two. I'd certainly take that as a caution, but if it sounded interesting, I'd still give it a shot. I feel like these people aren't giving things a fair shake, but as I said to Statoose, that's kind of understandable. With so many stories to choose from, who settle when you can scroll down to something perfect in a matter of seconds?
1015099 I suppose when building intrigue and suspense through questions, it's what kind of questions you ask that determines the cheesiness level. Usually, questions that don't directly ask the reader what the outcome will be like the end of an Adam West Batman episode tend to be less cheesy. For instance, in my own example above, the "Who is the mistress and who is the servant?" dilemma doesn't really play a part in who succeeds and who fails in the end.
Of course, that can easily come off as pretentious nonsense, which is at the opposite end of the spectrum.
1015140 I agree with that, well said!
1015121 Thunderlane and Cloudchaser are indeed an enjoyable pairing. Too bad I've yet to come across a decent fic about said couple. (I'd totally read your hypothetical Thunderlane/Cloudchaser fic.
)
Speaking of which, what ever happened to that shipfic you mentioned you'd found yourself writing a while back? Nothing come of it, I suppose?
1015164 I just haven't written it yet. I actually commissioned art for it, because if the fic works, it will be a really good one. I wanted a quality image to go with something I feel could be a gem in my portfolio. Anyway, that guy is taking forever (but I've told him not to hurry as I'm working on other stuff), so I don't have the art. I figure once I get it, I'll have to start on that. I was actually thinking about starting it while I'm sitting around recovering from surgery next week. We will see. I don't want to get sidetracked away from this current story and never finish it.