Do Layouts Matter? - Comments

If I am reading on here and the layout is hard to read I just use the default. Literally though out of all the things Dujo has added, the default has made my life so much better layouts only matter to me when they are my own.

I like layouts but I don't read stories based on layouts.

Layouts really matter to me. 9 out of 10 times, I won't read a story if it doesn't have a layout... and if the layout is hard to read then I won't even bother giving the story a chance. But to be fair, I'm the same way with books. If the cover looks less than appetizing, I have no desire to read it. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but...

If I'm completely honest with myself, they really do. I don't know why but on this site I won't read a story if it has the default layout. If the layouts hard to read or too over the top I won't read it either. It doesn't have to be a crazy awesome layout, but it just can't be too offensive to the eyes either lol.

Layouts are a huge must for me, but only because I find that the default layout is too wide (most layout widths are set at 500/550/600px, but the default is 800px) for my liking, and the blue background makes everything too bright. I'm guilty of judging stories by their layout, but I know that I've read some fantastic ones that have the default, and the only reason that I'd read them was because I had read them on a different site to begin with. That's just me, though.

Layouts are also kind of the finishing touch for me. I figure that if you put a lot of work into something, you would want to make it look the best it can be. I know that most people on Mibba prefer to have a nice, clean layout when reading something.

I can't stand most layouts because I have bad eyes so it's hard for me to see the words a lot of the time. There are very few that I will tolerate because I can actually read with them on.

I'm with Synical - I don't mind if they have a layout or not, but if they have wacky neon colours or dark writing against a dark background, it bugs me. I've learned to push the "default layout" button though, so I'm getting better at this.

All of my stories have the same layout, just with a different banner - they're done at a width that I like, in a colour scheme that I find isn't distracting, and with a pattern that I like. Simple. I find if people add too much florish to their layouts, it distracts from the actual story.

They shouldn't matter. You don't see real authors using decorated pages to write and publish a story on. I don't relate a layout to effort. Grammar, POV, detail and all that is what real effort is. Layouts is just for creativity because you can't really make an actual cover for your story. You just go on Google and find a picture.

Honestly, it doesn't bother me if they have a layout or not. In fact, I'd rather there be no layout instead of some wacky neon background with equally bright neon text. Layouts that have gifs as a background make me dizzy and distract me. However, if the story is good enough I'll either read it anyway or highlight everything with my mouse. It helps a little. But overall, published books don't have backgrounds and layouts so I personally feel people should appreciate the choice to be able to use them here for their stories if they want.

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It seems a lot of people don't like to read stories without layouts because they're hard to read or if the stories do have layouts, it seems like they put more effort into their story.

I, personally, am a little wary when I open a story that doesn't have a layout or, equally so, has a poorly done layout. I realize that not everyone is skilled with coding - I certainly am not and have to use a cheat sheet to create even basic layouts. But I feel like it gives it a little something extra. It shows that you put time and effort into it. It's like, if you publish a novel, it's not just going to be a stack of white paper stapled together in the top left hand corner. You're going to make it look nice so people want to pick it up, browse through, read a bit - just generally draw them in.

To me layouts are the finishing touching, if a story doesn't have a layout I'll try to read it but give up shortly after. It may be sad but as a staff member I won't use a story in my article if it has no layout. I can't help it but eh

I am a bit particular about stories in this way. The default layout width hurts my eyes and I despise reading stuff on it. But if a story doesn't have one I email the url to myself and open it on my iPod.