Comments on: Write a powerful synopsis http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:24:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.3-beta1 Comment on Write a powerful synopsis by: Barbara W. Klaser http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1406 Thu, 29 Dec 2005 03:24:09 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1406 Eric, I know, huh? I can barely spell it myself. Violetismycolor, we need all the sympathy we can get. ;) Reenie, one page? That's great! Miss Snark's remarks were succinct and provided a lot of helpful hints. "Plot, characters, and turning points." (I hope I'm quoting her correctly, it's from memory.) I like that tidbit. Hey, Mark, welcome back. You win for the shortest synopsis in history. Eric, I know, huh? I can barely spell it myself.

Violetismycolor, we need all the sympathy we can get. ;)

Reenie, one page? That’s great!

Miss Snark’s remarks were succinct and provided a lot of helpful hints. “Plot, characters, and turning points.” (I hope I’m quoting her correctly, it’s from memory.) I like that tidbit.

Hey, Mark, welcome back. You win for the shortest synopsis in history.

]]> Comment on Write a powerful synopsis by: Mark http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1405 Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:31:36 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1405 Synopsis: Rome rose then fell. The end. Synopsis:

Rome rose then fell.

The end.

]]> Comment on Write a powerful synopsis by: Reenie http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1404 Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:40:49 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1404 I don’t get the flap about writing a synopsis. I look at it as a game of sorts, as though I am writing an extended book jacket. My bad luck is that I must write a great synopsis, but a crappy book. Many agents have asked for my manuscript after reading my synopsis, but I still have no takers. Am currently waiting to hear back from one that expressed an interest. I love Miss Snark’s site. Clearly, the biggest pitfall to successful synopsis writing is too many details. It must be tight, no fat. I have bucked tradition by keeping my synopsis to one page. I figure (correctly, I believe) that no agent wants to read a 4 or 5 page synopsis that is bogged down with details. Of note, I have never had an agent tell me my synopsis is too short. The current guidelines are outdated. With the deluge of queries received, agents don’t have time for long synopses. Just my unpublished opinion. I don’t get the flap about writing a synopsis. I look at it as a game of sorts, as though I am writing an extended book jacket.

My bad luck is that I must write a great synopsis, but a crappy book. Many agents have asked for my manuscript after reading my synopsis, but I still have no takers. Am currently waiting to hear back from one that expressed an interest.

I love Miss Snark’s site. Clearly, the biggest pitfall to successful synopsis writing is too many details. It must be tight, no fat. I have bucked tradition by keeping my synopsis to one page. I figure (correctly, I believe) that no agent wants to read a 4 or 5 page synopsis that is bogged down with details. Of note, I have never had an agent tell me my synopsis is too short. The current guidelines are outdated. With the deluge of queries received, agents don’t have time for long synopses. Just my unpublished opinion.

]]> Comment on Write a powerful synopsis by: violetismycolor http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1402 Tue, 27 Dec 2005 05:35:38 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1402 I always wonder how people can capture a story in such few words but with enough power to get someone really excited about what they are going to read. Glad I don't have to do that... I always wonder how people can capture a story in such few words but with enough power to get someone really excited about what they are going to read. Glad I don’t have to do that…

]]> Comment on Write a powerful synopsis by: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1401 Tue, 27 Dec 2005 04:39:07 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/26/write-a-powerful-synopsis/#comment-1401 I don't know if I can stand to even look at synopsises (sp. synopsisi???) Ugh. I can't even spell them. Who wants to rehash what they've already written, in a form which isn't intended for actual reading (but rather evaluation)? Of course I have done a few. I hope that agents and editors might realize (what I think is true) that synopsis writing skill probably has no bearing on novel writing skill and just look at the synopsis to see what the novel contains and how it is, generally, arranged. I don’t know if I can stand to even look at synopsises (sp. synopsisi???) Ugh. I can’t even spell them. Who wants to rehash what they’ve already written, in a form which isn’t intended for actual reading (but rather evaluation)? Of course I have done a few. I hope that agents and editors might realize (what I think is true) that synopsis writing skill probably has no bearing on novel writing skill and just look at the synopsis to see what the novel contains and how it is, generally, arranged.

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