tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post8685937168172374975..comments2023-05-12T06:37:48.238-04:00Comments on Manuscript Mavens: Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Synopsis?Erica Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-5572051591484717892007-11-22T18:06:00.000-05:002007-11-22T18:06:00.000-05:00I can story board before I write b/c I have the fr...I can story board before I write b/c I have the freedom to move the sticky notes wherever and to have a scene that just says "Chaos ensues". I can't write a synopsis in advance because I don't know exactly how things will play out. Although, writing a synop ahead of time would definitely be a useful skill to learn!Erica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-14840349675675136942007-11-21T18:22:00.000-05:002007-11-21T18:22:00.000-05:00I'm actually ok with writing synopses, too. One of...I'm actually ok with writing synopses, too. One of the things I like about our storyboards is that -- oh, wait. That was going to be my blog tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>*looks shifty-eyed*lacey kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864831060027009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-86473824934635654912007-11-21T12:50:00.000-05:002007-11-21T12:50:00.000-05:00I laughed at what you said about writing the paper...I laughed at what you said about writing the paper before the outline. Teachers who used to required this, because it was part of the writing process and must be followed for you to make any sense at all always annoyed me. Because I would usually get an A on said paper, having done exactly what you said you used to do! Write the paper, write the outline, then pass in the outline, then the paper! Retarded! <BR/><BR/>With fiction, I do find it helpful to write the synopsis out at some point during the actual story writing stage. But, like you, I have to be careful of doing it too soon, or all the pleasure of writing goes out the door for me. I usually write close to a hundred pages before starting a synopsis, and by that time I at least know which threads I'm weaving together!<BR/><BR/>Just last night, I set out to write this scene where my hero and heroine would have a fight over something that's been building between them. She's usually such a spitfire, and I could totally picture her lighting into him and raking him over the coals. BUT when I wrote it, she was so hurt, all she could do was cry :( It turned out much more powerful and sexy that way, and her reaction affected him much deeper than if she'd called him names. Minor turning points can be hard to predict!Celestehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05763211746654246650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-46836979401804356242007-11-21T12:45:00.000-05:002007-11-21T12:45:00.000-05:00Pantser. I tried plotting. It just confused me...I...Pantser. I tried plotting. It just confused me...<BR/><BR/>I used to hate the synopsis. I believe I once said I wanted to dangle the man who invented it by his ankles off a very high bridge. (could have been a woman... so don't shoot the writer. I am an equal opportunity synopsis killer)<BR/><BR/>They do get easier with practice. Now I write them when the book is about 95% complete... then maybe I do some plotting to help me see the end.<BR/><BR/>I call my pantser ways creating a 'skeleton' of my story. I write out the bones of it (major scenes) then go back and add all the connective tissue.<BR/><BR/>So far it works. Now, don't get me started on back cover blurbs...Jennifer Linforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13301074863198334749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-51663429834631652032007-11-21T12:04:00.000-05:002007-11-21T12:04:00.000-05:00There are four words I think of when I think about...There are four words I think of when I think about the darned synopsis.<BR/><BR/>Hate, hate, hate, and--oh, yes, that would be: hate.<BR/><BR/>I hate writing them before I have written the book. I hate writing them after I have written the book. I hate writing them while I am writing the book. <BR/><BR/>I would not write them with a fox. I would not write them in a box. I would not write them with a spoon. I would not write them on the moon. I would not write them here or there. I would not write them anywhere.Courtney Milanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585322886111438759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-3895495991086387402007-11-21T11:16:00.000-05:002007-11-21T11:16:00.000-05:00If a teacher required an outline be submitted befo...<I>If a teacher required an outline be submitted before the paper, then I wrote the paper, wrote the outline, turned in the outline, then turned in the paper. Because until I wrote the paper, I could never predict what I was going to say until I actually said it.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm with you, Jacq! Guess that makes me a pantser, right?<BR/><BR/>Sometimes when taking exams I would decide where I wanted my essay to end up and write the last sentence (mentally) first. Then I would start with a topic sentence postulating my conclusion, and proceed to get from here to there. It never failed to get an A - the teachers thought I was so brilliant! (hehe)<BR/><BR/>But that was regurgitating other people's stuff, not my own. I'm still a pantser when it comes to my own stuff.Bill Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828998021246511869noreply@blogger.com