Writing a summary, how do you do it?

Summaries can be a bit difficult to write especially when an author is writing a rather complex fanfic. For instance, I had a really hard time coming up with a summary for my second book in the Rogue Officer series: A Sacred Trust Broken. I wasn’t sure whether to include the Cardassian’s in the summary or just the Federation spy/informant for them. To me though, its all about the action and drama that’ll hopefully bring in the audience. Continuing from where Chaos Erupts left off it can be found on the Archive here:

A Sacred Trust Broken

*First two chapters are up.*

And what about the story summaries of others draws you in?

What draws me in to other’s stories summary-wise is what the premise has to offer,  is there action, drama, angst, romance, that sort of thing. Or if there are certain favorite characters from a series I really like, and original one’s too. Good and effective summaries that lead into the thicker plot of the story almost always have me hooked within the first chapter. It’s amazing how author’s have a way with words, and there are so many of us who want our works to be read and praised.  I know a lot of author’s over on the Archive I’ve yet to dig into their stories. There are just so many amazing stories to be told in the trekverse.

Reviewing: what you love to see in a review,  what you love to give in a review, what you want to do for your own reviewing skills in the future?

What do I love to see in a review?

If someone reviews a work of mine, I like a well-rounded constructive one. One entailing what was good and what needs some work. Particularly if I don’t get characters quite correct. I strive to make all my readers happy by posting different scenarios. It helps keep things balanced story wise.

What do I love to give in a review?

Same thing as the answer to the 1st question. I do my  best to give a well-rounded review with what I liked and what could be improved in a story.  Punctuation that kind of thing. Praise is often the best tool you can bestow to a fellow author.  We all tell stories that we want out there to be told and giving well-rounded reviews helps make them better in the long run.

What do I want to do for my own reviewing skills in the future?

Let’s see: Make them as detailed as possible and not make them a one or two liner. I’m getting better at telling other authors about how I loved the scenery they used in a story and the atmosphere. The emotions portrayed by each character, and how I felt like I was actually there living the scene with them.  It’s all about the substance you put into a review and what you get out of it as the reviewer, not only you, but hopefully the author as well.