Summary Help

[Jayde]

Need a little help finding the right words to summarize your story? Look no further!

 

The Rules:

• All Summary Help Requests should go in this thread. Do not create a separate thread for your Summary Help Request.
  
• To request Summary Help, post a brief description, or your current summary that needs improving, in this thread.
  
• While you're here, please take a look at the previous Summary Help Requests to see if you have any ideas to help out earlier posters.
  
• Help keep this thread clutter-free. Only post here with requests, clarifications of requests (ex:"I was hoping for something a little more comical"), or summary suggestions.
  
• To respond to a Summary Help Request, please quote the Help Request you are responding to, for clarity.
  
• If you would like the author to credit you for any Summary Help you gave them, please indicate so in your post.
  
• If you are a requester, please be sure to credit anyone who helps you who indicates they would like to be credited.
  

[Hobbit]

Ill start this topic off because hey I need help, new story and all.

 

Hi guys, so I am looking for a little help with a new story I am currently writing.

 

Okay, quick guide...

It's about Seamus Finnigans Daughter (April) but it is seen (mainly) through the eyes of her journal, but it is about herself and Lorcan and Lysander (the new Fred and George) going threw their schooling years together but April is a no body while her brother is a someone...

 

April and Lorcan hate each other and well as April has a strong dislike for their mum Luna (a teacher at Howarts). April is an outcast and the story starts with her describing how each year her birthdays have been terrible, but eventually the story will lead up to her 16 maybe 17th birthday (haven't decided yet) and she will finially have some decent friends and maybe a boyfriend - haven't decided yet...

 

but that's the gist please bare with me it's 2:30am here

I currently have...

 

 

Hi I'm April, and I wanted to tell you my life story through the pages of my journal...

but my Diary has been compromised by a mysterious person threatening to exploit my every word; so now I must take action into my own hands and work against them;

Somehow?

[Stella Blue]

Hmm. Sounds interesting! Some ideas...

 

The Catchy Hook style: this one I kind of made up some things (like the date), but can be adjusted to fit your story:

 

April's Journal, [4 September]

I have my journal back, but it's been compromised by someone who is trying to blackmail me. It's time I take matters into my own hands. Look out, Lorcan.

 

Or the Summary Style:

April Finnegan has never really been important; she slips between the cracks while her brother is the admired one of the family. But things begin to change in her [sixth] year when her secrets are discovered.

 

hopefully that'll spark some ideas for you, at the very least! Good luck!

[Hobbit]

I really like that last one, thanks heaps..

do you require credit hun ??

[startafire]

So I'll start by saying that the summary I have at the moment is a brilliant one I had someone else write for me at the start of the year. Unfortunately as I have gone on writing the story I find it a little too vague and feel like it should be a bit more captivating. I have tried endlessly to write a summary myself but I'm just terrible at them, simples!

 

Story Description

This story starts off in the point of a view of a girl named Charlotte, she lives in the forest with her mother, Mallory. We later find out its the forbidden forest but Charlotte doesn't have a clue about this. Also unbeknown to Charlotte is who her mother really is or if Mallory is really her mother. She has no memories before the age of seven and has lived in the forbidden forest for as long as she can remember.

 

Enter James Sirius Potter, a seventh year student who never backs down from a challenge and after being dared by his cousin to spend a night alone in the forest, takes the challenge like a true trooper. Although half way through his trek in the forest, he comes across a girl who has an uncanny resemblance to someone he used to know. He finds out she has lived in the forest her so called whole life and has a bitter hatred to all witches and wizards, not knowing she is one herself.

 

If you need any more description pleas let me know! This story is suppose to be a mystery romance of sorts and comes from both point of views of the characters.

 

Thank you!

[Guest dehlles]

So I'll start by saying that the summary I have at the moment is a brilliant one I had someone else write for me at the start of the year. Unfortunately as I have gone on writing the story I find it a little too vague and feel like it should be a bit more captivating. I have tried endlessly to write a summary myself but I'm just terrible at them, simples!

 

What an interesting premise! How about this...

 

 

When Charlotte crosses path with a wizard, she learns that not everything is what it seems, and that there's more outside her world of living in the forest.The lost memories prior to her seventh year of age, and the wizard, James Potter, are the keys to unlocking the answers Charlotte searches for.

 

 

 

How's that?

[dreamshadow]

Hey guys.

 

So I've been wanting a new summary for my main project, Haunting Shadows, for a while now. While I like the one I have now, I feel like it doesn't really fit the story?? I mean, it does, but something about it bugs me.

 

Here's what I have right now:

 

I can't afford to spiral into darkness.

 

After a tragic summer, Catherine Lawrence comes back to Hogwarts for her sixth year looking to move forward. Instead, she's haunted by ghosts and memories that won't leave her alone. As she descends further into darkness, she continues to isolate herself, but one person might be able to save her from her fortress - if only she let him.

 

The story follows my MC in her sixth year at Hogwarts, which happens to be during the Goblet of Fire and follows her struggle to cope with the death of her best friend.  There's a lot of mystery around that night, and she's being haunted by his ghost (or is she?), and she's struggling to survive the year. She doesn't open up to people easily and she starts the year off on very rocky terms with her brother and her ex-boyfriend (her brother's best friend).  To make a long story short, there's a lot of drama, a TON of angst, art helps her cope if she'd actually draw, and maybe a little bit of hope and the possibility of a cute romance (I feel like "cute" downplays it, but it will be adorable). Fred plays a very, very large role in this story (although he's been kind of quiet thus far) if that helps at all.

 

Let me know if you need more info and any suggestions would be super helpful! Thank you

[firewhiskey_ginger]

So I've been wanting a new summary for my main project, Haunting Shadows, for a while now. While I like the one I have now, I feel like it doesn't really fit the story?? I mean, it does, but something about it bugs me.

 

Okay, first of all, I'm adding this to my list of things to read *runs and favorites story* I think the only problem with your summary is that it's vague, and some more concrete information would help Your banner has three male characters on it, so maybe saying exactly who could save her from darkness would help potential readers understand the story better. Also I love that she is actually haunted by a ghost, and the current summary seems more like a metaphor than really saying "Yo this girl is being followed by a clear spooky person."

 

I'm actually awful at summaries but I'm going to take a stab at it.  What about something like:

 

"Get some sleep. Insomnia isn't romantic."

 

In the wake of her best friend's death, Catherine Lawrence tries to untangle the mystery surrounding that night in July, 1994. While Hogwarts hosts the TriWizard Tournament she is isolated in sleepless obsession. As she struggles to decipher if the ghosts haunting her are real or imaginary, Catherine fails to notice those who reach out. But Fred Weasley could be the one person to save her from her fortress.

 

So it needs a lot of work and I have no idea if that's even what you're looking for.  I read the first chapter to find that pull quote and I have to say, it's brilliant! I'm hooked.

[firewhiskey_ginger]

Hello!  Sorry for the double post, but it's been so long I hope that it's okay!  I am here to ask for help with the summary for my story, Periphery!  I kind of like the current summary, but feel that it's a little too vague.  Here is the current summary:

Quote

Chloe never asked to become a member of the First Order. She didn't ask to join in the fight against Voldemort; to betray her mother's paralyzing fear of the magical world. She didn't ask to watch her friends die by their own hands. It only took standing in the wrong place, at the wrong time, to change history—and history still needed a martyr.

Some major themes that this summary leaves out: Chloe being attacked by a group of Slytherins called the Black Adders, who scarred her--literally--for life.  Her loving Sirius from afar for over 20 years, always fringing on the group of Marauders but never truly being included, whilst also being asked to put her safety on the line and fight Voldemort with them.  Sirius's unrequited love for the ill-fated Marlene McKinnon, and Chloe's own confusing feelings towards her friend.  All the while she is balancing her struggles with being loyal to the Order an being loyal to her aging parents, who are suffering from paranoia and dementia.

Basically I was going for vagueness in the summary because there isn't enough room--I would consider putting a full summary within the story, if you are having trouble describing it within the word limit.

Thank you so much to anyone who might help with this!

Sarah

[Renacerá]

Hi Sarah!

Okay, so, thoughts:

I like the way that your summary is sort of vague. I think it actually helps draw interest for the story. But I do think there's some awkward phrasing that can be cleaned up to make it even more tantalizing. So below are some ideas/suggestions/drafts. Let me know what you think and I can try to rethink/rework them as well!

Thoughts:

• The "First Order" immediately reminded me of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so I was a little confused off the bat and might eliminate that from the summary to take out some of that confusion.
• I think clarifying some of her loyalties (e.g. Sirius, the Order, etc.) may also help.

Below, you'll find a draft of a summary. I hope it helps! Let me know if you have questions/want to bounce ideas off me!

Good luck and happy writing!

Best,
Emily

 

 

Draft:

Chloe never asked for life to take these turns. She didn't plan to fight against Voldemort, to betray her parents' paralyzing fear of the magical world, to watch her friends die one by one...but the world wasn't such that she could have it another way. Her secret love for Sirius Black, her loyalty to the Order of the Phoenix, her trauma and scars have shaped her. She may not have planned it, but one moment, one simple action changed history, and Chloe must live with the consequences.

[Witty Wayfarer]

I'm looking for help on a summary for my newest story.

Petra Hendrix has an interesting last two years of Hogwarts ahead of her with her friends Marcus Flint and Arielle Chambers. Throw in a long coming proposal and a wedding,  twin sisters who share everything except magical talent, the possibility of becoming an animagus, N.E.W.Ts and a budding romance with her friendly academic rival Roshan Shafiq.

 

The story starts in 1991 (which is their 6th year, although Marcus has to repeat his last year.) and ends in the mid 2000s.

[toomanycurls]

I really like the sentence after "throw in a long..." That's really captivating and interesting list of things to look forward to reading. 

The only part that doesn't 100% jive for me is connecting what's interesting about the next two years outside of  everything that comes in the second sentence. I feel like the summary is supposed to be "here's a bit of already interesting stuff going on. throw in all of these twists" but I don't have enough to know what the baseline interesting stuff is. 

Gah, I don't know if this is helpful. 

[Witty Wayfarer]

1 hour ago, toomanycurls said:

I really like the sentence after "throw in a long..." That's really captivating and interesting list of things to look forward to reading. 

The only part that doesn't 100% jive for me is connecting what's interesting about the next two years outside of  everything that comes in the second sentence. I feel like the summary is supposed to be "here's a bit of already interesting stuff going on. throw in all of these twists" but I don't have enough to know what the baseline interesting stuff is. 

Gah, I don't know if this is helpful. 

It was a bit helpful.  Maybe it should go:

 

Throw in a long coming proposal and a wedding,  twin sisters who share everything except magical talent, the possibility of becoming an animagus, N.E.W.Ts and a budding romance with her friendly academic rival Roshan Shafiq. This is what Petra Hendrix has to deal with during her last two years of Hogwarts and beyond.

[sibilant]

1 hour ago, Hufflepuffbookworm1990 said:

It was a bit helpful.  Maybe it should go:

 

Throw in a long coming proposal and a wedding,  twin sisters who share everything except magical talent, the possibility of becoming an animagus, N.E.W.Ts and a budding romance with her friendly academic rival Roshan Shafiq. This is what Petra Hendrix has to deal with during her last two years of Hogwarts and beyond.

This is better, but “Throw in...Roshan Shafiq” still feels incomplete and might even be a fragment (not positive about the grammar rules there). I would try to combine this sentence with the one you wrote. Also, generally, the last sentence of the summary should be that sinker that really gets the reader interested, and saying that this is what Petra has to deal with doesn’t really do that (and is a little redundant, since you just explained that this is everything she’s dealing with!). I would say something like, “Throw in a long coming proposal.... and her friendly academic rival Roshan Shafiq, and Petra’s in store for a life-changing sixth year.” This doesn’t really signify that the story will carry on past her sixth year, but I think that’s okay. Basically, you need some sort of concluding sentence  

BTW, I’m really interested in this story and especially like seeing Roshan’s name... what’s his ethnicity? Indian? Arab? Only asking because I’m Indian and I love seeing Indians & Asians represented in fics, since most of the time, they’re not  Diversity generally extends so far as African Americans, LGBTQs, etc, but surprisingly, I haven’t read many fics with Asian/Oriental characters featured! But, I digress.

[Witty Wayfarer]

21 minutes ago, forever_dreaming said:

This is better, but “Throw in...Roshan Shafiq” still feels incomplete and might even be a fragment (not positive about the grammar rules there). I would try to combine this sentence with the one you wrote. Also, generally, the last sentence of the summary should be that sinker that really gets the reader interested, and saying that this is what Petra has to deal with doesn’t really do that (and is a little redundant, since you just explained that this is everything she’s dealing with!). I would say something like, “Throw in a long coming proposal.... and her friendly academic rival Roshan Shafiq, and Petra’s in store for a life-changing sixth year.” This doesn’t really signify that the story will carry on past her sixth year, but I think that’s okay. Basically, you need some sort of concluding sentence  

BTW, I’m really interested in this story and especially like seeing Roshan’s name... what’s his ethnicity? Indian? Arab? Only asking because I’m Indian and I love seeing Indians & Asians represented in fics, since most of the time, they’re not  Diversity generally extends so far as African Americans, LGBTQs, etc, but surprisingly, I haven’t read many fics with Asian/Oriental characters featured! But, I digress.

 

Yes, Roshan is an Indian halfblood Slytherin and Marcus' male best friend. The title I have in mind is 'Light and Stone'  maybe that can help.

 

[mydearfoxy]

I really enjoy writing summaries so i'm just going to go for it and please feel free to ignore me

Quote

 

Petra Hendrix and her twin sister share everything... except magic. But Petra won't let that stand in her way. She's entering her final Hogwarts years with a plan: hang with her best friends Marcus and Arielle, ace her NEWTs, become an animagus, and accept a marriage proposal that's been planed for years.

Unfortunately, Petra's plans have a way of going awry - especially when her long-time rival, Roshan Shafiq, starts to turn into something more. Not to mention, the Boy Who Lived has apparently arrived at Hogwarts. Great.

This is going to be one hell of a ride.

 

I added the line about Harry bcs I assume those events will come up given the timeframe you mentioned, but you could definitely take that line out.

[Witty Wayfarer]

 

12 minutes ago, MuggleMaybe said:

I really enjoy writing summaries so i'm just going to go for it and please feel free to ignore me

I added the line about Harry bcs I assume those events will come up given the timeframe you mentioned, but you could definitely take that line out.

Petra Hendrix and her twin sister share everything... except magic. But Petra won't let that stand in her way. She's entering her final Hogwarts years with a plan: hang with her best friends Marcus and Arielle, ace her NEWTs, become an animagus, and accept a marriage proposal that's been planed for years.

Unfortunately, Petra's plans have a way of going awry - especially when her long-time rival, Roshan Shafiq, starts to turn into something more. Not to mention, the Boy Who Lived has apparently arrived at Hogwarts. Great.

This is going to be one hell of a ride.

 

I really like that but Petra isn't the twin. She has two younger twin sisters (in Ginny's year who haven't started yet) .  While the proposal is between her biological dad and his long time girlfriend (her sisters mother)

[suzy turquoise blue]

Hello! So, because my brain enjoys torturing me, I've accidentally ended up with a new project for NaNoWriMo. Oops.

 

I'm having trouble summarising it, though, so I'd appreciate some help. The story is A Scandalous Affair, and there's one line I really like - "In a house of secrets, can the truth ever set you free?" - but it's totally not necessary to use that line if it doesn't work with the summary. The basic plot:

 

Spoiler

 

The story revolves around the three Black sisters: Callidora Longbottom, Cedrella Weasley, and Charis Crouch, and their parents, Arcturus and Lysandra. It is Christmas 1945 - Gellert Grindelwald has been defeated, dashing hopes of a pure society in wizarding Britain - and months after Cedrella has been disowned from her family, the death of their cousin Marius Black has thrust them under the Ministry's microscope, and exposing one of Arcturus' most dangerous secrets: after Marius was disowned by his parents for being a Squib, Arcturus secretly took him in and raised him in secret, desperate for the male heir his wife never gave him.

 

The Aurors are convinced that Marius' murder is connected somehow to Arcturus and Lysandra, and their three daughters are dragged into the investigation. Each of the five has secrets that could destroy themselves and the other people -- A Scandalous Affair has its name because when/if the truth is exposed, it will be considered scandalous, and because two affairs feature in the story with absolutely devastating consequences.

 

I'd really like a summary to focus on the sisters and how their relationships are not what they used to be; they aren't close, they're divided in belief/blood/wealth/pretty much everything and this murder has brought them together in a way they never expected or wanted. Of course, I'll credit whoever's summary I use, and I'd really appreciate any attempts at all! 

[Guest Rumpelstiltskin]

I'm going to give it my best shot, Isobel! 

In the aftermath of Grindelwald's downfall, tensions between the Black sisters are on the rise. A division in their beliefs has a rift in Callidora, Cedrella, and Charis's once otherwise concord relationship. With a family secret brought to light and a gruesome murder unfolding, the sisters are reunited, brought together in ways they never expected. In a house of secrets, can the truth ever set you free?

or

Black sisters Callidora Longbottom, Cedrella Weasley, and Charis Crouch's lives are upended as they are dragged into a murder investigation that risks exposing their family's otherwise disreputable secrets. Despite the division in the sister's beliefs that have driven a wedge between them, they are forced together to protect the family's affairs whose exposure would be met with devastating consequences. 

--------
 I don't know if either of those helped at all (hopefully they were at least a little helpful)! 

[suzy turquoise blue]

Oooh thank you so much for your suggestions, Rumpel, they've been really helpful and have inspired a summary:

 

Callidora Longbottom. Cedrella Weasley. Charis Crouch.

 

In the aftermath of Grindelwald's downfall, tensions between the Black sisters are on the rise. With a killer on the loose, the Aurors are digging deep into the family secrets in the hope of discovering who murdered their cousin -- but in a family held together by the web of deception that each of them helped to weave, the truth is murky at best.

 

---

 

It feels somehow incomplete, though? I tried to add some more, but the bit after the dash feels like a good ending, yet I can't find anywhere in the middle to insert more information? I really like that first summary of yours, Rumpel, but the more I think about the story, the less it feels like Callidora, Cedrella, and Charis are working together and more just confronting each other about the lies that they've told, and running around trying to protect what secrets they have left, and dealing with the consequences of what has come to light.

 

I really appreciate your suggestions so far, they've been super helpful and inspired this shell of the summary I have now, which is way more than I had. If you have any more suggestions though, or if anyone else does, I'd really appreciate it! <3

[Witty Wayfarer]

I need help with another summary (this might happen a lot since I work on multiple stories at once)

 

Wendy Brown, seeker for the Fitchburg Finches doesn't expect to cross paths with Charlie Weasley when she plays in the Holyhead Harpies vs. Fitchburg Finches holiday match in 2000. A bond forms over their shared Quidditch talents. The bond soon turns into much more but too late since Wendy is back in the States.

 

I was playing with the title idea 'Learning to Fly' or something similar. Since Wendy is Lavender's cousin, her parents play a small part (mainly to disapprove of Wendy's choice of career and her friendship with Charlie.)  I'm keeping Lavender dead (movie canon) . 

[Guest Rumpelstiltskin]

@esmeraude I do agree that the summary ends extremely well with the content following the em-dash (as emphasis is thus placed on that portion). If you're feeling as if the summary is incomplete, have you considered separating the content following em-dash from the second sentence and inserting more information?

Ex: 

Callidora Longbottom. Cedrella Weasley. Charis Crouch.

In the aftermath of Grindelwald's downfall, tensions between the Black sisters are on the rise. With a killer on the loose, the Aurors are digging deep into the family secrets in the hope of discovering who murdered their cousin. [Insertion of additional information to complete the summary.][perhaps in one or two sentences and being able to tack on the em-dash or some variation of the em-dash following the blurb] -- but in a family held together by the web of deception that each of them helped to weave, the truth is murky at best.

I'm not sure if that formatting will work for you or not.

 

@Hufflepuffbookworm1990 What about something like:

Playing for the Fitchburg Finches has allowed Wendy Brown to meet a vast variety of different people but none quite like Charlie Weasley, who she met during a match against the Fitchburg Finches. Sharing a love for and talent in Quidditch was more than enough to create a strong friendship but what happens when that friendship begins transforming into something more?

 

[Witty Wayfarer]

36 minutes ago, Rumpelstiltskin said:

@Hufflepuffbookworm1990 What about something like:

Playing for the Fitchburg Finches has allowed Wendy Brown to meet a vast variety of different people but none quite like Charlie Weasley, who she met during a match against the Fitchburg Finches. Sharing a love for and talent in Quidditch was more than enough to create a strong friendship but what happens when that friendship begins transforming into something more?

I like that a lot. Thank you.

[BookDinosaur]

@esmeraude i'm mostly bouncing off the ideas rumpel and you have already put forward, but this is something i came up with:

Quote

The bond between sisters is meant to be strong, but the Black sisters are divided in nearly every way imaginable. In the aftermath of Grindelwald's defeat and dashed hopes of a pure society in wizarding Britain, the tension between them is only rising.

When their cousin is murdered, the Aurors start digging deep into Black family history in the hope of finding his killer. Callidora, Cedrella, and Charis [the sisters, if you prefer] find themselves drawn inexorably into the investigation and back towards each other, but all of them are hiding things - and in a family held together by a web of deception they all helped to weave, can the truth ever set you free?

alternatively, you could keep the last paragraph information-based and ask the question last, going with something like

Quote

..., but all of them are hiding things. In the Black family, secrets are a serious business, and the web of deception is one they all helped to weave. If the truth is exposed, the consequences will be devastating. [or some other dramatic result you know will fit better] [or just don't put in that last sentence, idk if i like it xD]

In a house of secrets, can the truth ever set you free?

or mash up the two of them in a better way! it's your summary  whatever you choose, i hope this helped!

[suzy turquoise blue]

@Rumpelstiltskin and @BookDinosaur, you guys are incredible. Your suggestions were awesome, and I've blended them together to create a summary I actually like, so thank you both! Credit and cookies will be given!! 

In the aftermath of Grindelwald's downfall, tensions between the Black sisters are on the rise. With a killer on the loose, Callidora Longbottom, Cedrella Weasley, and Charis Crouch find themselves drawn inexorably into their cousin's murder investigation, while the Aurors dig into secrets that should never be told, including the ones kept six foot deep -- and in a family held together by the web of deception that each of them helped to weave, the truth may not be what sets you free.