Hi everyone!
Hope you're all having a great weekend. I sure have. :)
Now, as always, I've been brainstorming a few post ideas. And this is my lastest. To keep things interesting and interactive, I've decided to give you a chance to control the content and discussions posted on this blog. Metaphorically speaking, I'm handing you the remote. I'll be on all the channels, but it's your pick.
So here it.
The Ask Whitney Blog :)
You, my readers, whether you be published authors, aspiring authors or readers of Romance, send me your questions.
As a reader you might want to know something as trivial as whether your favourite author drinks tea or coffee or if they like cats or dogs.
As an aspiring author you might want to know what readers like, what they want. You might have some questions about submitting how to your novel, or even about what to expect when you become a published Author.
As a published author you have the freedom to send me some challenges. You might want to know how much our readers are willing to pay for an e-book or you be seeking some tips from editors.
Whatever your questions are, I want them. Send them in. Post them on this blog, send me a message on goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7442262-whitney-k-e) or drop in and leave a comment on my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whitney-K-E-Aspiring-Romance-Writer/311522372250495).
I can't wait to see what you guys throw at me! I start this week, so keep an eye out for my first response. :)
Whitney
Showing posts with label Synopsis writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Synopsis writing. Show all posts
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Thursday, 12 April 2012
My Battle with the Synopsis
As some of you may know, the Valerie Parv competition opens for entries at the end of this month. As a newbie writer, I aim to enter at least one competition a month for the value of the feedback. Of course, it's great when you get a place and even better when you're No.1, but when you sitting a little lower on the ranks, that feedback is your gold star. I've had some great feedback and truly, sometimes it's what keeps you going.
Anyway, to enter the Val Parv Award I need a synopsis that will be judged. I've never done a synopsis and I tell you what, now thati have i can say its easier writing a novel!
Thankfully, I was a little prepared. I'd done my research. I searched a few sites and I took their best points and used them. The week before my editor requested a summary of my novel and so the job was more or less, half done.
Now, to write the 1k word synopsis for the 130k word novel...
It wasn't easy. It was hard. Very. I had so much to write and yet I couldn't fit it in. I need to say this and I need to say that, but I just couldn't get those words to form the way I wanted them to. I felt like I wasn't giving my plot justice.
And then, my computer crashed. BLACK went the screen and GONE was my synopsis. I wasn't happy.
So, I rebooted my evil, demise-plotting computer back up and I searched, hunted that synopsis down. I found it eventually - after the panic attack and the mental break-down, of course - but I still had to finish it.
1215 words later and I was finished. A first draft of course as I need to cull some words, but hey! it's a start.
So a few tips to help you when you write your synopsis:
- Summarise Your Chapters - That way you'll know where you're going. It's harder to ride a bike blind is it not?
- Highlight the Highs and Lows - These points are the bones of your synopsis. Use them.
- Brainstorm Some One Line Hook - If my research is correct, start your sysnopsis with an opening hook. It'll draw in the reader and you'll get a gold star for it. And if you can, maintain that exciting persona, maintain that voice.
- Present Tense - Always write in present-tense, no matter what tense your novel is in.
- Update Your Computer - Don't let what happened to me happen to you.
And remember, your synopsis is NOT a blurb, is an evocative re-telling of what happens in your novel.
I hope this has help someone and I hope whoever you are that you don't experience any of the technical difficulties I did.
Happy reading/writing everybody!
Whitney
Aspiring Romance Writer and owner of an Evil, conspiring computer
Anyway, to enter the Val Parv Award I need a synopsis that will be judged. I've never done a synopsis and I tell you what, now thati have i can say its easier writing a novel!
Thankfully, I was a little prepared. I'd done my research. I searched a few sites and I took their best points and used them. The week before my editor requested a summary of my novel and so the job was more or less, half done.
Now, to write the 1k word synopsis for the 130k word novel...
It wasn't easy. It was hard. Very. I had so much to write and yet I couldn't fit it in. I need to say this and I need to say that, but I just couldn't get those words to form the way I wanted them to. I felt like I wasn't giving my plot justice.
And then, my computer crashed. BLACK went the screen and GONE was my synopsis. I wasn't happy.
So, I rebooted my evil, demise-plotting computer back up and I searched, hunted that synopsis down. I found it eventually - after the panic attack and the mental break-down, of course - but I still had to finish it.
1215 words later and I was finished. A first draft of course as I need to cull some words, but hey! it's a start.
So a few tips to help you when you write your synopsis:
- Summarise Your Chapters - That way you'll know where you're going. It's harder to ride a bike blind is it not?
- Highlight the Highs and Lows - These points are the bones of your synopsis. Use them.
- Brainstorm Some One Line Hook - If my research is correct, start your sysnopsis with an opening hook. It'll draw in the reader and you'll get a gold star for it. And if you can, maintain that exciting persona, maintain that voice.
- Present Tense - Always write in present-tense, no matter what tense your novel is in.
- Update Your Computer - Don't let what happened to me happen to you.
And remember, your synopsis is NOT a blurb, is an evocative re-telling of what happens in your novel.
I hope this has help someone and I hope whoever you are that you don't experience any of the technical difficulties I did.
Happy reading/writing everybody!
Whitney
Aspiring Romance Writer and owner of an Evil, conspiring computer
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