Plot Synopsis Project

This was jpsorrow's idea: he realized that one of the things writers get asked fairly frequently is "Hey, how do you write a plot synopsis?" So today, several writers are publishing a synopsis sample -- to allow newer writers out there to get a sense of what sold a novel.

For those who don't know the selling process, a writer generally doesn't send out the whole novel to a publisher or agent first (though there are exceptions to that); rather, you send a 'proposal package' that consists of a cover letter, sample chapters, and a synopsis. In fact, sometimes (especially for agents) you must even take a step back and first send out a one page 'query letter' to even get to the proposal package step. The sample chapters in the proposal package generally give the editor an idea of the writing skills, characterization, 'voice,' and narrative flow; the synopsis 'sells' the book as a whole -- therefore, writing a decent synopsis is vital to marketing your novel.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure, I loath writing synopses. I want to write the damn book, not an outline. Plus, the way I write, I don't have a CLUE what happens in the middle of the book, and only a vague idea of the ending. Writing a synopsis is as fun as a trip to the dentist to me. Writing a synopsis opens my creative veins and lets the energy flow away from me to be lost forever.

But... unless I want to have every book written before I try to sell it, it's also a necessary evil. So I grit my teeth and curse and moan and wail... and do one.

Here's one of mine: this is the actual proposal synopsis that sold the NESSANTICO CYCLE to DAW Books -- of which A MAGIC OF TWILIGHT is the first book.

( Cut for length, pure and simple... BEWARE, though -- there are HUGE plot spoilers for A MAGIC OF TWILIGHT in this! Pass on by if you don't want to see them. )

**********

Now, if you're interested in reading other synopses, here's the list of people who are in on this one-day project. Enjoy!

Plot Synopsis Project participant links:
Patricia Bray (pbray): http://www.sff.net/people/patriciabray/synopsis.html
Chaz Brenchley (desperance): http://desperance.livejournal.com
Mike Brotherton: http://www.mikebrotherton.com
Tobias Buckell: http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2008/02/01/ask-me-a-question-was-crystal-rain-sold-as-part-of-a-series/
S.C. Butler (scbutler): http://scbutler.livejournal.com
Barbara Campbell: www.barbara-campbell.com/inside.htm
David B. Coe (davidbcoe): http://davidbcoe.livejournal.com
Jennifer Dunne (jennifer_dunne): http://jennifer_dunne.livejournal.com
Diana Francis (difrancis): http://difrancis.livejournal.com
Gregory Frost frostokovich): http://frostokovich.livejournal.com
Felix Gilman: http://www.felixgilman.com/wordpress/
Jim C. Hines (jimhines): http://jimhines.livejournal.com
Jackie Kessler (jackiekessler): http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog
Mindy Klasky (mindyklasky): http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com
Misty Massey (madkestrel): http://madkestrel.livejournal.com
C.E. Murphy (mizkit): http://mizkit.livejournal.com
Naomi Novik(naominovik): http://naominovik.livejournal.com
Joshua Palmatier (jpsorrow): http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com
Maria V. Snyder: http://blog.myspace.com/mariavsnyder
Jennifer Stevenson (smokingpigeon): http://smokingpigeon.livejournal.com
Michelle West (msagara): http://msagara.livejournal.com
Sean Williams (ladnews): http://ladnews.livejournal.com

There’s also a book available that has other samples of plot synopses in it. It’s called I Have This Nifty Idea: Now What Do I Do With It? [Amazon; Mysterious Galaxy], edited by Mike Resnick. Check it out for more samples!

RIP: Al Curry

I just learned that Al Curry died in his sleep last night. He was 59 years old. I am... stunned.

Al was a long-time Cincinnati fan, writer, and musician. He put out, for a time, a fanzine called Gnomenclature, which reflected his eclectic and humorous point of view on life. He was an excellent raconteur -- he had the Irish gift of blarney and could tell a tale better than anyone. He wrote the occasional story -- and I'm convinced that if he'd actually worked at marketing some of them, he could have been published in a professional market, as you could hear that wonderful speaking voice in his writing. Al was a definite Eire-phile; he actually lived for a few years in Ireland. Most recently, Al was living in Ann Arbor.

In recent years, Denise and I only had sporadic contact with Al, but for several years we were fairly close. Al was talented, funny, and somewhat bigger than life. It only makes sense that the bean sí would come for him on St. Patrick's Day.

Goodbye, Al -- we'll lift a dram of good Irish in your name, my friend!