Be Fearless: Appeal to Your Critique Pals

-
     
On my way toward the "e publishing" finish line, the requirement to write a 'synopsis' and a 'summary' of my book stalled my progress.  You would think these task would be easy,  especially after working for months sharpening my verbs, enhancing and adding dimension to my characters, and authenticating and burnishing the scenes of my book. Yet, day after day, draft after draft, frustration prevailed.

 What is a Synopsis?
The synopsis shows how the plot, theme, characterization, and setting converge to form the big picture. This document "needs to be concise, compelling and complete, all at the same time." (D. Matriccino, Writers Digest, February 1, 2010.) Read about writing a Synopsis. 

What is a Summary?
Book store buyers, agents, and editors are the summary's audience. Finding information on writing a summary for a novel is difficult. Few writers blogs about it, or haven't used a label to identify their experiences or information. Write Summary gives some ideas for writing the basic summary:
  1. write in present tense
  2. write in third person
  3. write to include cliffhangers and teaser
  4.  do not reveal any conclusion

Seek Peer Council
The tug of war between the blank screen and the printed page continuedfor months. Then, after hitting the bottom of my creativity well, I asked my critique group members for help. Why I didn't ask before? I can't answer that question, but I know the synergy of the group and the cold, honest truth, hit me like a Pacific Ocean wave.


Results
WOW! It was cathartic.  The first draft of the synopsis is complete. The summary, well I have a problem summarizing the entire story. This hurdle is personal and it too shall be conquered.




     

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Women's History Month: Inspiring Women

-
Image
When we talk about Women's History Month we think of Pocahontas and Sacajawea who helped the explorers of this country.  We think of Abigail Adams and Dolly Madison who were on the forefront of the beginning of this country.  We don't want to forget the great suffragists who worked for and won the right to vote for U.S. women.   We are reminded of  "Rosie the Riveter" and all the brave women of America who took over the "men's positions" in the factories.  The production numbers of these women are still noteworthy to this day. We honor the women who took those brave first steps to serve and continue to serve in the military. The first scientists, teachers, humanitarians, politicians, the list continues as we look for role models to inspire and encourage us.   Is there a scientist, teacher, or humanitarian who inspired you ?  Share these women with my followers, audience, and me. Sh
Read more

Challenge Sparks Inspiration

-
Image
      Finally a great break through! After weeks of trying to figure out how my main character Sophie goes back in time, an article about National Novel Writing Month ignites my imagination. The new book will tell the tale of how and why Sophie decided to leave Chicago, Illinois and go to Salt Lake City, Utah.  Now what was the catalyst that got my "little gray cells" firing on all cylinders?        It was the National Novel Writing Month's (NaNoWriMo) challenge. Writers around the world are invited to write 50,000 words of a brand new novel in 30 days. Nothing like a challenge to help me out of my puddle of self pity. A few days of mulling around a few concepts about Sophie's departure and my brain is  firing faster than the supercollider.       The hardest part is not staring the actually writing. According to the rules you can't start writing until November 1. You must have 50,000 words written by November 30 by 11:59 p.m.  So while I am waiting I am resear
Read more

December 2016 Book Review: Maeve's Times

-
Image
Warning to all writers who scribe thoughts on bits and scraps of paper and throw them in a box to rewrite later.  Those bits and scraps may be published posthumously.  Maeve Binchy's husband, Gordon Snell, found her "to do later" box. He built a biography of her life with her thoughts, articles, and ramblings. Maeve's Times  is dated and referenced making it easy to follow. Thank you Mr. Snell for sharing insights into her professional and personal life. Her spirit lives on with her words.  This author captured my attention with Copper Beeches.  Maeve Binchy wrote about what she saw, lived, and felt. Her stories reflected both Irish country and city life. Each book made me feel better about people. She wrote about hard times and working through them. She wrote about love and love lost. Her book Minding Frankie demonstrates a community pulling together to help a neighbor. Any of her titles are a "goodread."
Read more