Synopsis

The synopsis.  The thing feared by writers almost as much as a query.  Or maybe that's just me.  A friend over at Compuserve had a great guideline for writing a synopsis.  This woman knows writing, and not only that but she can articulate it in a way that's easy to understand.  Here's what she said about writing a synopsis.

Open the synopsis with the main character, whoever that is. Give some clue as to the setting. Introduce the main external conflict and the main internal conflict. 

Follow both arcs, external and internal, from beginning to end. Include two or three major turning points, then the climax and resolution. Leave out any character or event that is not directly relevant to the synopsis story. That includes sub-plots. Use as few characters as possible and only name those who play a role in this version of the story.

In other words, simplify, simplify, simplify. No one reading it should have any trouble following the story or understanding what is at stake. Synopses are not just about what happens. They're about why things happen. The emotional core. Make sure you include that.

I may even be able to do that.  The idea of simplifying and just picking the main arc for the synopsis echos the guidelines for writing your pitch or query.  Find the core conflict, the catalyst that starts the story and use that arc.  I guess after writing 80K plus words it's hard to simplify but it's gotta be done.  Hope this helps anyone else that's working on a synopsis.  And if you are, good luck. 

What's your story about anyway?

I’ve been meaning to put something in my profile about my current novel.  I’ve been waiting until I can write the perfect paragraph.  Or at least not a sucky one.  You see I’ve been burned before. 

I do the rounds of the agent and publisher blogs.  I’ve seen them repeatedly telling us to perfect our one line and one paragraph pitch.  Intelligent as always I put it off.  You see I’m a stay at home mom.   My water cooler gossip happens with cartoon characters and my board meetings are at the changing table. Nobody I know in person asks about my writing other than “You still working on that?”  Except my mom and The Engineer and they already know more than they want to.  So who is going to ask “what’s your story about?” 

Then my cousin discovered I was writing a book.  She called and asked the fateful question.   Now, if I had listened to all the wonderful advice I would have had a breathtaking, smooth, enticing answer.  Instead I stumbled and mumbled, “You see he wants…. But she’s really…. And then they go to this place….That sounds kinda dumb but believe me it’s really interesting.”  That’s the point when I got the sharpie marker and wrote LOOSER on my forehead.  Then I got to work.

 I’m still trying to find the right turn of phrase, something that doesn’t inspire me to write on myself.  Hopefully I’ll get something up soon, especially now that I’ve finished the plot rewrite. (Hooray!)

What about you?  Want to share your pitches?  I’m still looking for good examples to copy…I mean learn from.