The Importance of Story Layouts

How important are layouts in reading stories? Do you prefer the pre-made ones or would you rather an author make their own? How about the default layouts? Do they make you hit backspace?

I don't really like the premade ones that much.
I really don't mind the default one, actually. It's clear to read.

However, I do think it's nice when the author has made their own layout.
Unless it's got a horrible, neon, flashing background or I can't read the writing.
Garish/clashing colours annoy me too.
I'll only switch to default if it's a good story.

I don't really care about the layout as long as it's readable. Sure it's nice if the author has made their own layout, but I'm more into the writing rather than what decorates it.

I don't mind default layouts. I hate when layouts make it hard to read and it's a turn-off. If the writing is good, I'll switch to default layout. But to me: If you have a sloppy looking layout, you probably write sloppy too.

For me, layouts don't matter that much

Hmm. Well, I like to make ones for my own stories as nice as I can, just 'cause I enjoy making things look pretty. :XD
But, if I have trouble with a layout someone else has made, then I'll just hit the default. No biggy.

Actually, to be honest I'd rather have to default a sloppy layout than see a premade layout. I mean, they're nice and are great for people who can't make them all that well, but you just see them all the time, it gets a little boring.

I like the attempt to personalise the story, even if it's not that great.
At least the effort's there.
:cute:

Well, I've made three of the pre-made layouts, so I don't mind them.
But I make my own. I have over two hundred or something.
More layouts than actual stories.

I hate the default layout. I don't want to read anything on it.

I like layouts because they show that the author has taken the time to think about how their story should be presented.

I hate layouts that hinder from the reading of the story. It's not that hard to figure out that we can't read black font on a black background.

For me, layouts are as important as the story.

I make them for my own stories, and I might spend an entire day looking for the right colours or pictures, cause I want it to look as proffessional as I can.

I don't pay any attention to the layouts, only if it's really hard to actually read the story. I HATE reading stories with a black background and the font is an equally dark color. That just kills it for me, and then I'll just hit the back button.

I think the layout is pretty important. Like, not super important, but I wouldn't read a book with a cover drawn by a three year old with an unreadable title, so why should story layouts be any different?
I dislike the default layout, so I pretty much don't read anything if I have to default it.
I try to keep my layouts simple and easy to read :XD

I've been driven from stories before because of the layout. I tried to read one with a bright green background to the text the other day... I think I got to chapter two before I stopped.
Also, layout where the text is such a similar colour to the background that you have to highlight the text to read it .
& animated backgrounds... no.

I prefer to make my own layouts, though some of the premades are okay. I'll only use them for one-shots though. With my layouts I keep to subtle colours and not too much complications. And if I use a background image, one that tiles properly >.< I don't know why that gets to me, but it does. Probably because before I was a Mibba writer I was a CreateBlog layout & graphics maker.

I think a layout is like a cover to a book. It is the thing that captures your attention and makes you want to see what it is about. Though I do not think it is to important because I have found interesting books without amazing covers. Though I know that eccentric covers that disgusted me turned me away immediately. =) Less it more.

I really like when an author has made their own layout but it isn't a huge issue to me if they use a pre-made layout. All of them are easy to read, so you don't have to worry about clashy colors or anything.

I really have a problem when people make a picture of a band or something their background. Usually it just looks... odd, and is kind of distracting to read.

I really enjoy making layouts. I think it adds a nice touch to the story.

I must admit, I hate backgrounds that aren't tiled properly or have been resized so the picture is blurry. It just bugs me. Animated backgrounds...no...just no.

You can check out the layout to my story I'll Keep You Safe. if you want. I made it two days ago and I think it looks pretty good. :)

As long as a layout isn't too distracting or in completely contrast with the story, layouts don't matter too much to me.

I just hate it when there's a million things going on outside of the story itself. It's hard to read the story when your eye keeps drifting to the pretty pictures on the side.

Also, I hate when the layout is made so that the writing is in some unreadable color or a color that makes my eyes hurt after reading a very chapter (pretty much meaning neon colors or dark colors on a dark background and vice versa).

I don't really like any of the pre-made layouts. Not that there's anything wrong with them- I just don't like them. I always made my own.

I like when people have made their own. It just makes the story seem more put together.

I prefer layouts that don't have pictures as backgrounds, considering most of the time they kind of mess them up (or are distracting). Patterns look best - at least in my opinion.

Lies for a Liar:

I've been driven from stories before because of the layout. I tried to read one with a bright green background to the text the other day... I think I got to chapter two before I stopped.
Also, layout where the text is such a similar colour to the background that you have to highlight the text to read it .
& animated backgrounds... no.

Yeah, I've clicked away from many stories because of things like that. I don't understand how anyone could think that looks good. :cheese:

I've always made my own. The premade ones never appealed to me much, even though I might've used one once.
Usually, if the layout is ugly or I can't read anything, I won't even bother hitting default, because mainly I don't like the default.
I like to spend time on mine. I've always thought of layouts like covers, and I like to make things look presentable.

It depends on the story. I usually make my own layouts because it's fun and I can show even more creativity. :) What I can't stand about some layouts is when the text is over a picture making it readable and unreadable in some places I get annoyed with that.

If the background to the story area is bright green and the font is bright pink, I'll just click off the story right there. I love if the person made a colour scheme. :cute:
Also, I don't like band members as the backgrounds; it's a little distracting.

I think the layout is pretty important. I'll still give stories a chance if they use the default or a premade, but I do prefer it when they put the time into making one that fits pretty well with the story.
I make my own layouts and try really hard to fit it with the story.

To put it bluntly I probably won't read a story with a crappy layout.
I don't like most of the default ones so I guess I prefer it when the Author has made it. A decent one though of course.