Writing a Synopsis

Do you find it hard to write a synopsis? Having to summarize on one page what your entire story is about? Yikes! Members of my critique group and I groan and moan whenever the word “synopsis” is brought up. I think we’d rather write a dozen chapters than one synopsis. But, as you know, we all have to write one sooner or later. 

On the website, synopsisdefinition.com, a detailed definition of synopsis is offered, including the following: “In general, a synopsis reduces a novel, transforming it into a lifeless structure, without action, plot, and the detailed description of characters and the small, succulent details of a book. Some say that a synopsis is even hard to write than a novel, due to the difficult process of distillation of a heavy book.”  Wow! See what I mean? There’s more! Click on the link for more on what a synopsis entails. 

However, do not despair. There’s help. Everywhere. Here’s only one link that you might be interested in that focuses on this topic. “Writing a Synopsis from the Ground Up,” by Dee-Ann Latona LeBlanc is pretty interesting because she uses “a sequence of synopses in the following sizes: 

1. A single sentence.
2. A single paragraph.
3. A single page or shorter.
4. The expanded version.”

LeBlanc's article is very helpful.

Aguas Frescas

 
Never try to chase trends. Write what you love, and write the best book you can, and worry about publication later.” – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Book Signing Success

Well, my book signing was a success. It was well attended and I signed quite a few books. My sincere thanks to all who showed up to support me. I had an enthusiastic crowd who asked really good questions about the writing process. I genuinely enjoyed the event and hope you did too.

Book Signing

Now back to work. I am in the middle of reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print, by Renni Browne & Dave King. I won this book at our last SCBWI local chapter meeting. An author from Austin gave us a presentation on “revision.” The book came highly recommended by the author who said he used it during his revision. I took the title down, intending to buy the book as soon as the meeting was over. But, lucky me, I won it instead! So …. I shall put my middle-grade manuscript, Dulce’s Quest for the Crown, aside for a few days … or weeks … and focus on what the book has to say about editing.

 Click on the bottom two links to take a look at bookcases and tables made entirely out of BOOKS! Yes, books. Some people can be so creative.

 

Tables and Bookcases

"A good picture book begins with delight, ends with wisdom, humor, warmth, or love, and means more than it says." -- Barbara Williams

Author Book Signing

Got home and a pleasant surprise awaited me. My hardcover copies of my picture book, Alicia’s Fruity Drinks/Las aguas frescas de Alicia, had arrived. Even though this is my fourth book, the excitement of holding the latest book in your hands never diminishes. I ran my fingers over the smooth cover and stared in admiration at the gorgeous illustrations that author/illustrator Laura Lacamara created. So, thank you, Laura, for making “our” book so special.

 If you’re in the area, please come by and join me at the book signing:

Sunday, June 10, 2012

4 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore

San Pedro Crossing

321 NW Loop 410, #104

210-342-0008, San Antonio, TX

 

                                           

 "Writing is a pleasure, and I feel that if I did not enjoy writing, no one would enjoy reading my books." -- Beverly Cleary

Picture Book or Magazine Story?

Not sure if your story is a picture book or a story for a magazine? Author Christine Kohler has an excellent article, "Is Your Story a Picture Book or Short Story for a 'Zine?," regarding this topic on the Institute of Children’s Literature newsletter. She touches on the number of pictures that should be “implied in the text” for a picture book. “Magazine articles require fewer illustrations,” she writes. 

In a picture book, she continues, "a story is … told as a sequence of illustrated scenes.” Short stories in magazines, “… do not depend upon the illustrations for clarification.” Read Kohler's entire article to figure out where your story fits. 

School Visit

Elizabeth Bluemle posted a great article, “Standout MG and YA Covers This Month,” plus pictures of book covers on the Publishers Weekly Shelftalker blog. Take a look.

"The longer you put off getting serious about writing, the longer you put off success. Procrastination is a writer's biggest enemy." -- Barbara Seuling

Critique Groups

I want to talk about critique groups today. As I’ve mentioned before, I belong to two local critique groups whose feedback I greatly appreciate. My two groups are usually right on target when it comes to showing me what needs to be revised in my manuscripts. A few months ago, I was invited to join an online group. I hesitated at first. Online? Not see each other face to face? How would that work out? 

 

I had met a couple of the writers in that online group at writers’ conferences, but the rest I had never met. I accepted the invitation with some trepidation. But I had nothing to fear. Rules were set up by the person who initiated the whole thing. The rest of us tweaked a few things here and there. We were all finally in agreement about how this would work out. And it has! From Florida to Arizona to California and Texas, we have submitted our work, gotten it critiqued via email, and kept the schedule going. It’s been fun and every month I look forward to those emails with stories that have helped me progress in my own writing. 

San Jose Rose Garden

The Austin SCBWI has a brief description of what a critique group is. They mention the “sandwich” method, which I’m sure many of you have heard before. Critique etiquette and group parameters are also addressed. Join a writing group in your area and form a critique group. You’ll not only make lifelong friends, but you’ll get valuable feedback.  

“Does your story contain character conflict, change, and growth? If you are just relating a series of events that involve one or more characters, your story is likely underdeveloped.” – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

School Visit

I just got back from an inspiring school visit in San Benito, Texas. The energy and enthusiasm of the students never fails to rejuvenate me. I had a great time. I was amazed when during a tour of the school, I witnessed kindergarteners writing stories in their own little journals!

It was also great seeing the acres and acres of cotton, onions, tall stalks of corn, and even giant sunflowers growing in that part of the Rio Grande Valley. At one of the Mexican restaurants there, I had the most delicious aguas frescas cantaloupe drink. Reminded me of my book, Alicia’s Fruity Drinks/Las Aguas Frescas de Alicia, where my main character creates her own natural juice drinks and shares with her soccer teammates. I had tried the strawberry, watermelon, pineapple, and lemon aguas frescas before, but never cantaloupe. Really refreshing!

School Visit

Here’s an interesting blog, Literary Rambles, which spotlights children’s book authors, agents, and publishers. You can search for an agent by age category, i.e., picture books, middle grade, or young adult. Neat blog!

Junie B. Jones early chapter books have been around for 20 years and have sold in the millions. Read a feature article, Random House Celebrates Junie B. Jones’s 20^th Anniversary, by Sally Lodge to learn how this series of books got started.   

“A journal can be an invaluable tool for recording ideas, impressions, and anecdotes for future use. It can also help your career by instilling in you the habit of writing regularly.” – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Querying your manuscript

Just returned from San Jose, California, where I visited their famous Rose Garden. As soon as I walked through the entrance, the fragrance from hundreds of roses was intoxicating. The weather was perfect for viewing the Rose Garden in all its glory. Very nice visit!

San Jose Rose Garden

Now let’s talk about queries. How much personal information should you include in your query? What is important and what isn’t? Mary Kole, associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, writes on her Kidlit blog, Biographical Information in a Query, that “there are two things you should focus on in your bio: professional writing credits and information relevant to the project at hand.”

But what if you don’t have any publishing credits? Kole writes: “If you haven’t published or won anything, don’t sweat it.” She then goes on to advise what to do. On this post, Kole also covers POV in Queries, Identifying Genre, and Query Formatting. If you’re ready to query your manuscript, it might be a good idea to read Kole’s post. 

Here’s an actual query letter that author Nathan Bransford, wrote to an agent (it worked) for his book, Jacob Wonderbar, which is due out this month. 

Best of luck with your query!

"This morning I took out a comma, and this afternoon I put it back again." -- Oscar Wilde