Comments on: Synopses and Babies

By: Lacey Devlin

Lacey Devlin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Ah ha so Felicity has the key! I must try this!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:29:00 +0000

Thanks Lacey! Actually, now that I said that I hate them, I’ve actually come to the conclusion that they’re not too bad. I’ve done an internal conflict one, like Felicity suggested, and it’s been hugely useful.

By: Lacey Devlin

Lacey Devlin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:10:00 +0000

My theory on synopses is that you could rewrite them forever. There's so many different ways to write them and so much they'd like you to show in such a small amount of words that just thinking about it can give you a synopsis block.

I'm sure it's no where NEAR as bad as you think :)

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Lucy – exactly! I think I got so wound up I put ‘They finally sort their sh*t out and stuff etc.’ Not exactly what the contest has in mind I’m thinking.
I’d dearly love some red wine now but since it’s 8am, that would be wrong. And bad.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Felicity - such a shame about laudanum. Can't help feeling I'm missing out somehow. Perhaps I should go the absinthe route? :-)
That's a good tip. Jenny knows what she's talking about eh?

Lorraine - why would it be annoying?? You like 'em I know! I've heard that for short category, the synopsis should focus on the emotional conflict only, external plot appearing only when necessary.

Joanne - kids will do that to you. I used to be able to hold my liquor, now after two glasses that's it for me.

Thanks Romy!

Suzanne - no new is definitely good news! Although the waiting sucks. And as to the number of projects, it helps that I don't have another job. And I make sure I write every single day, even if it's crap.

By: Lucy King

Lucy King — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:48:00 +0000

I hate synopses too. I always just want to put 'and then something exciting happens' but that's not very helpful.

(Red wine, yum, off to have some now!)

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Am hopeless re. synopses.

Cling to the thought that no news is good news. And also remember that they obviously like the way you write.

I'm so impressed by how many projects you have lined up - kind of puts me and my one ms (that I still haven't re-written but yet am pinning all my hopes on) to shame.

:-)

By: Romy

Romy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Hang in there for both waits. I’m sure both will have a joyful conclusion.

By: Joanne Cleary

Joanne Cleary — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Mmmm red wine … I think I could drink it whether it was cheap or not. Apart from the fact I only need a sniff and I’m hammered!

As for synopsis I don’t mind them. I did a course a while back that really helped to strip them down, like Felicity said. Although that doesn’t mean I am actually any good at them. 🙂

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:10:00 +0000

Fingers crossed it will be champagne you'll be needing :-)

I won't say anything about synopsis writing because it will only be annoying ;-)

As a matter of interest Felicity, did Jenny say that the synopsis we send them should be internal conflict focused or was it just an exercise in sorting out the conflict?