tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post3899979782053713314..comments2023-05-12T06:37:48.238-04:00Comments on Manuscript Mavens: More Synopsis PonderingErica Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-89241049730886998952008-01-29T17:49:00.000-05:002008-01-29T17:49:00.000-05:00Thanks Lacey! As the former writer of really bad s...Thanks Lacey! As the former writer of really bad synopses (I know for a fact it killed at least one potential contest final), I feel so good to have shaken that monkey off my back. <BR/><BR/>Carrie, your post made me think of another good part of writing a synopsis - along the lines of it being a sales tool. Writing it is sort of like selling the idea to yourself. Like you said, you wrote one paragraph of one for a story and went, "uh, no." The synopsis is great story radar!Darcy Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14819984559001912841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-56833591909520357072008-01-29T17:30:00.000-05:002008-01-29T17:30:00.000-05:00I'm with you in thinking of the synopsis as just a...I'm with you in thinking of the synopsis as just another sales tool. As I've been judging GH entries, I've seen first-hand how much a synopsis can tell you about the author's skill set. A good synopsis--one that's written snappily and clearly explains the plot with clear character arcs and conflict--can get me to overlook some mechanical flaws in the actual chapters that would otherwise make me beat my head against a wall.<BR/><BR/>So, a synopsis is an important sales too. It's probably not THE most important one (a full manuscript that actually DOES what the synopsis promises is even moreso), but it can certainly improve (or alternatively, torpedo) your chances.Jackie Barbosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02904049760374126059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-7506990323596212712008-01-29T15:08:00.000-05:002008-01-29T15:08:00.000-05:00Thanks b.e. -- so glad you found it helpful!! And...Thanks b.e. -- so glad you found it helpful!! And thanks Bill for setting me straigh on the plural of synopsis -- I knew someone would come to my rescue.<BR/><BR/>Lacey -- you're exactly right, it's all about the writing. And a synopsis should try not to get in the way of the writing :)Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-74089133444713660002008-01-29T14:23:00.000-05:002008-01-29T14:23:00.000-05:00For the record, I thought Darcy's was great. It do...For the record, I thought Darcy's was great. It does all the things you said without being massively confusing.<BR/><BR/>When I was a judge, Carrie, I noticed the same thing. A bad synopsis can really, really kill a good entry - but in the scheme of things, it's the writing that makes or breaks you.lacey kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864831060027009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-65120533419080026682008-01-29T11:48:00.000-05:002008-01-29T11:48:00.000-05:00synopses? what is the plural of that word?!You got...<I>synopses? what is the plural of that word?!</I><BR/><BR/>You got it right. One synopsis, two synopses. From the Greek, meaning with a single eye. Cf. the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), which all tell basically the same story (based on the missing source "Q"). John's Gospel, written considerably later than the others, is in a category by itself.<BR/><BR/>Homework: Do a synopsis of the Synoptic Gospels. For extra credit, do a synopsis of "Q", pulling together all the stories and parables that appear in all 3 Gospels. Then append the results to your application for Divinity School. :-)Bill Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828998021246511869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-37094389658145231322008-01-29T09:20:00.000-05:002008-01-29T09:20:00.000-05:00OMG, Carrie, that was a great post. I'm getting t...OMG, Carrie, that was a great post. I'm getting to the point where I have to write a synopsis for my WIP and I always dread it. I always put them off as long as possible. I slave over them and worry over them until I drive myself batty. Finally I get to the point where I'm satisfied, but the stress of getting there makes the process so un-fun. From now on, I'll try not to stress so much and take your advice to look at it from another perspective. Thanks for your help. =oDB.E. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336115135400388268noreply@blogger.com