Topic: Formatting bugs in Content & Chapter Summaries

I've pointed this problem out before, but it has yet to be fixed. There are formatting bugs in the Content and Chapter Summaries. I write a well-formatted summary that's structured and easy to read, and it gets clobbered by the formatting bug (random line breaks and html tags). This seems like it ought to be an easy fix, unless there is some unknown purpose to this behavior. It makes the site's main feature, the inlines, look sloppy the moment you click to read a chapter. I think it would make a better first impression for new users if the inlines looked solid.

Thanks
Dirk

Quote Post 1

Re: Formatting bugs in Content & Chapter Summaries

It could just be me, but I think the easiest fix would be to do away with the summaries. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to read a summary of what they are about to read. Why not simply read the story? I suppose someone's time might be too limited to read the entire story, but if that is the case, then it could be done in more than one sitting.

From my perspective, the only reason to read a summary would be to skip reading the story and perhaps do a regular review based upon the summary. I wouldn't (don't) make it that easy by providing such a summary. And it does solve any summary formatting problems -- which of course I didn't heretofore know existed. Just my thoughts. At any rate, good luck with the formatting. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 2

3 Reply by Dirk B. (edited by Dirk B. 2018-08-06 03:46:30)

Re: Formatting bugs in Content & Chapter Summaries

The main reason I use the book summary is to attempt to draw the reader to my book, beyond just what the picture and book name can give. It's like the back cover of a physical book.

The main reason I use the chapter summary is to provide guidance about changes I'm making on the fly (e.g., I changed my characters' Imperial titles part-way into the book and didn't want to keep using the old titles for the rest of the draft; I also didn't want to go back and republish the early chapters with the title changes). Too expensive. So I say in the summary "Going forward, I've changed the the titles of my Imperial characters. From now on, the Emperor is referred to as Augustus, the Empress as Augusta, etc. I'll clean up the early chapters in the next draft."

Quote Post 3

Re: Formatting bugs in Content & Chapter Summaries

A quick fix might be to place a note in bold letters at the beginning of the chapter per se until such time as the formatting might be corrected. Probably more people would see it and read it that way. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 4

Re: Formatting bugs in Content & Chapter Summaries

Dirk B. wrote:

I've pointed this problem out before, but it has yet to be fixed. There are formatting bugs in the Content and Chapter Summaries. I write a well-formatted summary that's structured and easy to read, and it gets clobbered by the formatting bug (random line breaks and html tags). This seems like it ought to be an easy fix, unless there is some unknown purpose to this behavior. It makes the site's main feature, the inlines, look sloppy the moment you click to read a chapter. I think it would make a better first impression for new users if the inlines looked solid.

Thanks
Dirk

You could send a note to Sol and ask about this.

Quote Post 5