The Importance of Story Layouts

Personally, I don't like using the premades. Everybody uses them and they just aren't... right.
So in other words I make mine myself.

If someone has a picture in the background and then where the story is it's transparent, it doesn't work out on my screen like it does on others because mines very small. Just saying that if you are going to make a layout try checking with other screens or people because sometimes they look good on one screen but not so good on another. You could lose yourself a potential reader just because of that.

I think the layouts are very important.

xXBite.MeXx:

Personally, I don't like using the premades. Everybody uses them and they just aren't... right.
So in other words I make mine myself.

If someone has a picture in the background and then where the story is it's transparent, it doesn't work out on my screen like it does on others because mines very small. Just saying that if you are going to make a layout try checking with other screens or people because sometimes they look good on one screen but not so good on another. You could lose yourself a potential reader just because of that.

I think the layouts are very important.

Perfectly said

^ I agree with the above two. Layouts make the story just like the clothes make the man.

:cute:

dance little liar.:

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.

I used to make shitty layouts, up until I started seeing these gorgeous layouts and then I started actually put time into them. I enjoy making layouts. If I can get the layout done, I feel like I can get the story done. Sometimes the pictures I use help me with the story. I hate the default layout, and won't read a story in it. I also dislike the premades so I won't read any with that either.

layouts are very important to me. i don't read stories that have crappy layouts, and i think they're important, because they draw in the readers

I don't think they're as important as everyone makes them out to be, but I won't read a story if it has a layout that hurts my eyes, such as neon text on a black background.

Some people just aren't good at making layouts, and there's a few pre-made layouts that are cute, so I don't mind if someone uses a pre-made.

I make my own layouts, but if a pre-made just happens to match what I'm going for, then I'll use it.

To me, personally, for my stories, layouts are incredibly important. To me, a layout is the way I want to present my story to the readers. I try to take time on my layouts and my banners to present the story in the way I wish it to be presented.

So... all this talk about layouts for stories being pretty and such made me inspired.

I only arse around with layouts when I have the time. I can never be bothered. I don't see the point in being overly bothered.

I don't mind when someone uses a premade if it fits the story though.
Granted, this may be a bias. I do get slightly annoyed when people are like "premade layouts? ew, they're gross" because one of mine is used quite frequently. And I don't think it's an awful layout.

However, I do detest it when someone uses a premade and then uses image tags for a banner and it doesn't fit in with the dimensions of the premade. It just looks sloppy.

The Murder Artist:

I love making layouts, I like to capture the theme of the story in it, or make it interesting so it lures people in to read it.

And I find it difficult reading a story with a default layout, their just not apealling to me, no offence to the people who made them

I agree with most everyone here - making your own layout not only is fun, but also another great way to think about the story itself. It makes you think about what sort of look represents your story, sort of like a bookcover if it had been published. The pre-made layouts are sometimes too generic, and as a reader, it doesn't really tell me what sort of story I'm about to read.

ChemicallyImbalanced:

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.

Yeah, that's what I think. And do.

I personally think that for an internet story, the layout is almost like the cover of an actual book. I've always wanted to make my layouts like I would design a book cover. Which is to say, the layout (in my opinion) is sometimes what catches the readers eye. I know that if I see some gosh-awful layout, I'm going to be turned off by that story.

Only my opinion. Lol.

Lee-Ev:

Yeah, that's what I think. And do.

I personally think that for an internet story, the layout is almost like the cover of an actual book. I've always wanted to make my layouts like I would design a book cover. Which is to say, the layout (in my opinion) is sometimes what catches the readers eye. I know that if I see some gosh-awful layout, I'm going to be turned off by that story.

Only my opinion. Lol.

Agreed! If you put so much time into making the layout, it's worth it if the reader sticks around (at least initially, lol).

dru's dreamworld.:

I don't mind when someone uses a premade if it fits the story though.
Granted, this may be a bias. I do get slightly annoyed when people are like "premade layouts? ew, they're gross" because one of mine is used quite frequently. And I don't think it's an awful layout.

I've realized that one of the premades you've made is probably the only time I'll read the story if they use it.

I'm extrememly prejudice against premades. I don't think they're gross, I don't think they're bad. I just don't like them. Especially the default one. I just can't stand... plain. :/

I'm sure the story is fine and all, even great, but it's a turnoff. If it isn't readable or the colors aren't a good idea, then it's another turnoff. But I just prefer author-made layouts. :P

I LOVE to make my own layouts, even for stories I haven't made yet. And as for people putting time into it, I think you just got to practice and you can make a really good layout in 5 minutes or less. I've made so many that I can make a great one (if I do say so myself) in 2 minutes. :)

I have more layouts than I do stories.

^ Me too!

But that's, of course, because I make them for the stories I haven't posted yet. (Even for ones I haven't even started writing yet. xD)

I love layouts, but I hate when they're over the top.
I hate using images for backgrounds, unless they're stock, like a wallpaper pattern or something. I've just always had issues with an image in the background. (Of course there are exceptions, but they're rare.)
When I make layouts, I generally use a small banner for the title, and then pull colors from the banner to use in the layout. I prefer when everything flows together nicely.

On a slightly unrelated note, I can't stand layouts with text that is huge. I hate reading a story when the text is this big.
Honestly, it's just unnecessary. Stop it.

I personally don't care about layouts on the stories I read.

Layouts on my stories, however... I have to have it perfect. A banner to match, cordinating colors. No premage layouts at all.

I have one story that I absolutely HATE the layout for. I don't have a banner for it... which is the biggest problem. I just can't find the right picture for it.

So, for me, layouts only matter if it's my story. Don't know why. :3

My old story had a premade but I thought it kind of matched the story. That was when I didn't know how to make my own layout. But all my other stories have layouts that I made. :)

For the stories I read, layouts are important. And I prefer dark text on light background, instead of the other way around. I also prefer when there's a plain background just behind the text, and the patterned background is on the rest of the page. The default one and premades are okay, but the story has to be good. I don't like it when the layout doesn't match the story. I also kinda hate the obviously repeating pictures as backgrounds. Ugh, such eyesores. >.<