Hi Guys

Obviously, at the boards, there's lots of stories going on. Unfortunately not everybody has time to read them all, so my question is...

What's a good way of catching the attention of a reader to a specific story?

I don't think I have to tell everyone that I'm a glutton when it comes to trailers (bring 'em on, people!!), but I think for me the biggest draw to a story is word of mouth. I do think written teasers would be a good idea, though. Kind of like archive blurbs?

Sara

I need an option for 'all of the above'. <G>

Actually, I have to admit that these days, the thing that will hook me is reading the feedback folder and getting intrigued by the comments. I don't have time to follow most of the long stories at the moment, but that has made me go check out the odd vignette here and there.

LabRat

Usually trailers or the feedback folder. My reading time is limited (as opposed to just making the odd post like this), so I've been depending on the feedback folder to tell me if a story is something I might like.

Jen

I love trailers, and they *have* been able to tempt me into giving a shot at a story. The other methods, not so much.

The thing is, lately I've found myself in a not-in-the-mood-to-read state. It's been going for almost a year, actually I try to keep up with the short fics being posted (can't not read at all, that's me we're talking about!), though, so often just seeing how short a fic is is enough to make me read it. (Though I bet this is not what you wanted to hear...!)

Anyways - my vote goes to trailers.

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

P.S.: Oh, I forgot - and fanfic posters, too.

I like trailers very much, but not everyone is able to make them. With written teasers this is different, writing won't be a problem to anyone. And if all of the readers wait for the comments on the story, their won't be anyone reading it, finally.
I think that written teasers would be a very good idea.

I voted for trailers, because that definitely attire my attention to a story I wouldn't have had time to read otherwise. Posters do the same for me as trailers.

But there is other things that draw my attention to a story. I often start to read a story just because I like the title or because I find the title intriguing. The title of a story do a lot for me.

Of course, that's not my only criterias to read a story, but they are the most important ones. I already started to read some stories because someone told me that was good on IRC or here, on the boards.

But I rarely read the fdk folders, except for the stories I write myself, or for the stories I'm already reading. But I almost never look the fdk folder for story that I don't already know, no matter if the title thread is good

The same with the written teaser. I rarely take a look, except if I'm planning to read the entire story because something (trailer, poster, title, or advice - or, I have to admit, if that's from an author I love ) already interested me.