Common Synopsis Issues

When soliciting agents or publishers, the synopsis is one of your most important tools. It’s a direct reflection of you, your writing skills, and therefore, your manuscript. Yes, synopses are not easy to write – “if I could have written it in one page, I wouldn’t have written 300...” Just the same, if someone doesn’t want to read 300 – you have but one page in which to inspire them. Sure, I understand, but think of your synopsis as your book’s resume. If the resume stinks, your book won’t get the job.

Here are some of the most common Dos and Don’ts I’ve noticed when it comes to synopses, not in any particular order:

#1 – Being mysterious or cryptic does not draw in the reader, it makes them work harder to try and figure out what’s going on. Never make extra work for an agent or publisher!

#2 – Just because it’s a synopsis doesn’t mean the rules of formatting go out the window. If it’s a paragraph, indent.

#3 – Agents and publishers and readers want to know “who, what, when, where and why.” If your synopsis doesn’t get that across, you have a problem, especially if you’re taking readers to another planet, dimension, or era.

#4 – If it doesn’t impact the story, leave it out. Don’t be wordy and don’t clutter the synopsis with unnecessary details.

#5 – Don’t confuse the reader. I’ve noticed many synopses go in circles, completely disorganized and constantly introducing new characters and details that should have been used to lay things out earlier. See #4.

#6 – Sometimes there’s not enough information. “Joey is under a heinous curse.” Really? What makes it heinous? What is it? Who did it to Joey...and why? Here’s another – “this comic suspense novel” – yet nowhere in the synopsis does it sound remotely humorous. What makes it funny?

#7 – Important characters should be introduced early on. See #3 and #5.

#8 – The “Lost in Space” rule: if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Paranormal, and you make something up, let’s call it Pishkinata, and you constantly mention it in the synopsis – then explain what it is. It turns out that Pishkinata is a planet filled with cute fluffy white dogs and the main character lives there – well then, we want to know that.

#9 – Ask yourself – does your synopsis make someone want to read the book? Give the synopsis to someone who has NOT read the book and ask them to honestly tell you what the book is about and if they’d be interested in reading it after seeing the synopsis. If they say yes, then ask why. You might be surprised by the answer.

#10 – Ask yourself – does your synopsis accurately reflect your story? Give the synopsis to someone who has read the manuscript and ask them to honestly tell if they think it follows the storyline.

#11 – Tenses: I’ve noticed a lot of people tend to shift back and forth between past and present tense on their synopses. I understand it can be confusing, writing your manuscript in past tense and your synopsis in present tense – but you need to be consistent.

Remember, whoever is reading your synopsis wants to know who the main characters are, what their motivation is, and what the major points of conflict are. If you have an outline for your project, take the key, pivotal points and use those in your synopsis.

Many agents and publishers will have guidelines on their web sites detailing how they want the synopsis – how many pages, etc. Make sure you do as they ask. If you don’t, you’re basically illustrating that you can’t follow instructions and that you’re going to be difficult to deal with. See Item #1. And good luck!

Creating Vs. Organizing

Question:  I am pretty much a mood strikes/emotional type writer, but I also like to edit and be organized.  I'm finding that definitely gets in the way...

Answer:  What person doesn't want to be organized? But I think in this case, it's more important to be creative than orderly.  Don't put pressure on yourself to do both at the same time.  I truly believe that creation and editing/organization cannot happen at the same time. The former is emotional while the latter is analytical. Not gonna happen (IMHO).

Author Blog Hop - Good Character with a Dash of Bad...

Okay, now I'm getting the hang of this! Thank you Angelika Devlyn for steering me in the right direction. 
Yesterday I was supposed to post this author question and give my answer as part of the Blog Hop: Thursday, June 23rd 2011:

QUESTION: When creating a main character, is it better to start with a good girl/guy with a drop of "bad", or a bad girl/guy with a drop of "good"? Question provided by author Lara Z

MY ANSWER: I personally don't create main characters that way. I look at what the character's main goals are. I look at what they're willing to do to achieve them. Then I put the obstacles in their way - how will they handle them? I believe a character's motivation directly impacts their decision-making, and their interpretation of "good versus bad."

If the perfect opportunity arises to torture, then murder someone who has done something heinous to a "good" character (let's say her name is Lily) - and she knows there's NO way she can get caught - why shouldn't she take advantage of that? To the reader, that's probably BAD, but in Lily's head, it may be the only way to survive. Does that make HER bad?

I think perhaps the true answer to this question is: if you want a good character to do bad things - what weaknesses do you give them? The same recipe goes for a bad guy doing good.

Thanks for visiting me on the Blog Hop!

Doggy Tales -- The Amazing Mr. Pish -

Doggy Tales -- The Amazing Mr. Pish -

Guest blogs are a great way to get free exposure. Not only that, they're a great opportunity to "meet" other writers, and to write about something that interests you.

If you have the opportunity to write a guest blog, take it!

I Can't Make Myself Write...

Question:  Please tell me how I can finish a fiction book... I've got great ideas, but I get to the 3rd chapter and pfffttt... any tips???

Answer: 
#1 - Don't write it in order. Write the scenes that move you or interest you the most, then connect them later. (unfortunately that's how I write all the time)

#2 - Just write. Don't edit until afterwards. You can always take out anything you don't like later, and you can always add to it. Just get the foundation down.

#3 - If you have writer's block, take a song that fits the mood of the book or scene and listen to it incessantly until you "catch the mood". I had to do that once and it worked well. I was on the last scene of my rewrite and I couldn't make myself do it.

Meet Suspense Novelist and Children’s Author K.S. Brooks (and her dog, Mr. Pish!)

The link below goes to a Skype Interview I had with Lauren Barnes of WriterViews.com.

Meet Suspense Novelist and Children’s Author K.S. Brooks (and her dog, Mr. Pish!)

Contests: A Great Way to Get Free "Publicity"

Online contests are a great way to get free publicity.  Of course, it's only free if you choose a contest with no entry fee.  They are out there.  These contests can be for anything - book trailer videos, book covers, etc.  These are not usually for the actual book/story itself (most book contests do have entry fees FYI - since reading and judging is involved).

Many of these contests have lenghty waiting periods - because they're free - but get yourself in the queue and eventually you'll get there.  All you have to do is upload a copy or provide a link to your work and fill out an online form.  Easy!  Then your book cover/trailer/whatever will be exposed to the followers of the site, plus as you send the request to your "lists" to vote for your material, that will serve as a valid excuse to contact them and will remind them your book is out there.  Ask them to ask a friend to vote as well, and the next thing you know, new people will be familiar with your book.  Remember, your competitors will be doing the same thing - providing even more exposure to your work.  So even if you don't win, you still win. 

Meanwhile - The Kiss of Night book cover is up for a Sassy Brit award! Please go to their site, and on the right, please check the box next to #5 – The Kiss of Night, then click on the Vote button just below the 10 entries. THANK YOU!!!


It’s super easy and you don’t have to log in or become a member or anything like that. It just takes 2 clicks and you’re done!

http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-2011-book-cover-award-voting-now.html

If you’d like to see the book covers up for the award, you can watch the Sassy Brit’s video here: http://youtu.be/z2yIVO9EX_0

If you want to skip the video and just see the cover for The Kiss of Night, that can be viewed here: http://www.agentnight.com/KissofNight.htm or below.

Thank you for your support!!