Comments on: Get Published, Part 10 – Writing a Killer Synopsis (the first of two installments) http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments Novel Writing Tips & Fundamentals - Storyfix.com Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:01:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Get Published, Part 10 – Writing a Killer Synopsis (the second of two installments) http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2059 Get Published, Part 10 – Writing a Killer Synopsis (the second of two installments) Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:40:49 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2059 [...] from yesterday’s post… if you didn’t read it, click here (or scroll down if you’re already on the site) first, then come back to finish [...] [...] from yesterday’s post… if you didn’t read it, click here (or scroll down if you’re already on the site) first, then come back to finish [...]

]]> By: J.Morgan http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2056 J.Morgan Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:59:35 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2056 Thanks for this and I can't wait for that sample as well. It helps to see what you mean. As always great post. Thanks for this and I can’t wait for that sample as well. It helps to see what you mean.

As always great post.

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2054 Larry Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:01:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2054 @Bruce -- brilliant. Thanks for contributing that gem. Spot-on brilliant. @Adam -- I think the focus on query letters is because it is assumed the story description is embedded it it. It's a mindset thing -- to describe your story within a letter, vs. a true synopsis, are different animals (even when the latter gets stripped down an that's becomes the embedded element). Making this leap is huge. Nice work going there. @Sean -- have had my share of "shudders of horror" as well. Hang in there, keep fighting the good fight. @Bruce — brilliant. Thanks for contributing that gem. Spot-on brilliant.

@Adam — I think the focus on query letters is because it is assumed the story description is embedded it it. It’s a mindset thing — to describe your story within a letter, vs. a true synopsis, are different animals (even when the latter gets stripped down an that’s becomes the embedded element). Making this leap is huge. Nice work going there.

@Sean — have had my share of “shudders of horror” as well. Hang in there, keep fighting the good fight.

]]> By: Bruce H. Johnson http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2053 Bruce H. Johnson Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:55:08 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2053 Yet Another Possibility: Start creating your short and long synopsis as part of the initial structure design. This "forces" in the design in the beginning. Not suitable for hard-line pantsers, I'm afraid. As you run back and forth among the Six Core Competencies, keep the synopsis updated. The big advantage of doing this, in my opinion, is that it keeps the "big picture" in front of you all the time. During the actual writing/review phases you can reference back to these to ensure you're keeping on track. If you're wandering off track, you can either shove the writing back to where it belongs or revise the synopsis. In Tech Writing/programming, etc., these might be considered to be the Requirements Document. Yet Another Possibility: Start creating your short and long synopsis as part of the initial structure design. This “forces” in the design in the beginning. Not suitable for hard-line pantsers, I’m afraid.

As you run back and forth among the Six Core Competencies, keep the synopsis updated. The big advantage of doing this, in my opinion, is that it keeps the “big picture” in front of you all the time. During the actual writing/review phases you can reference back to these to ensure you’re keeping on track.

If you’re wandering off track, you can either shove the writing back to where it belongs or revise the synopsis. In Tech Writing/programming, etc., these might be considered to be the Requirements Document.

]]> By: Adam http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2052 Adam Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:27:14 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2052 "Be clear, though – it isn’t the query letter that will convince them. It’s the synopsis." In all the research i've done, this has never been stated (hell, even mentioned) before. It's always the query letter that is talked about, and the synopsis is treated as an afterthought. Thanks for this tip, as i'd not given much thought to the synopsis before, and that would probably have caused me endless problems in the future. Just goes to show that you can't afford to have any chinks in the armor when they are looking for a reason to say no. Looking forward to the next post for this. “Be clear, though – it isn’t the query letter that will convince them. It’s the synopsis.”

In all the research i’ve done, this has never been stated (hell, even mentioned) before. It’s always the query letter that is talked about, and the synopsis is treated as an afterthought.

Thanks for this tip, as i’d not given much thought to the synopsis before, and that would probably have caused me endless problems in the future. Just goes to show that you can’t afford to have any chinks in the armor when they are looking for a reason to say no. Looking forward to the next post for this.

]]> By: Sean Platt http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2051 Sean Platt Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:03:11 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2051 Ha, I wish I'd known you a couple of years ago. The first query letter I ever wrote gave the agent, "shudders of horror." Though reading it now it gives me the same sorts of shudders as well. Ha, I wish I’d known you a couple of years ago.

The first query letter I ever wrote gave the agent, “shudders of horror.” Though reading it now it gives me the same sorts of shudders as well.

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2050 Larry Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:16:21 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2050 @Byrce -- about sharing a synopsis... absolutely. When I wrote the post, that was my intention, and I have the link already in place in the second half of this thing. I'm out of town as I write this, which means I'm not at my "home" computer, where the sample in question is stored. So I don't have it right now. Hence, I bought myself a day to have someone send it to me -- true confessions -- by splitting this into two halves. So if all goes according to plan today, that'll arrived, the second half of this post will go up and the sample will be available. @Byrce — about sharing a synopsis… absolutely. When I wrote the post, that was my intention, and I have the link already in place in the second half of this thing. I’m out of town as I write this, which means I’m not at my “home” computer, where the sample in question is stored. So I don’t have it right now. Hence, I bought myself a day to have someone send it to me — true confessions — by splitting this into two halves.

So if all goes according to plan today, that’ll arrived, the second half of this post will go up and the sample will be available.

]]> By: Bryce http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-10-%e2%80%93-writing-a-killer-synopsis-the-first-of-two-installments/comment-page-1#comment-2049 Bryce Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:56:11 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1918#comment-2049 I want you to know that even though I haven't been commenting, I've really been enjoying this series. Thanks for writing it. Do you have an example of a synopsis that you'd be willing to share, or have you seen one around the web that has the cryptic description of the end? I want you to know that even though I haven’t been commenting, I’ve really been enjoying this series. Thanks for writing it.

Do you have an example of a synopsis that you’d be willing to share, or have you seen one around the web that has the cryptic description of the end?

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