Synopsophobia

The ed has let me know that she’ll get to my chapters by the end of the week. Big yays! However, when I let her know that my synopsis is now no longer quite so correct, she requested an updated one. Not so big yays. Was this a stupid move on my part? At the moment, currently wrestling with giving her an updated one, I’m thinking that’s a resounding yes! Sigh.

The main problem is that it seems to be the general consensus that the partial is more important than the synopsis. Naturally the eds want to know you have a decent story but everyone says that eds understand it can change and are a little bit willing to let things go in this area. Maybe I’m wrong but after having my previous synopsis picked to shreds, I can say that some eds pay more attention to synopses than others. And since that appears to be the case here, I need to make sure my synopsis is as good as I can get it – can’t risk her not wanting to see the rest due to doing a crappy job.

Which brings me to my other main problem – I’m not very good at them. A while ago I thought I had the knack – until the ed picked it apart and I realised I didn’t. It’s so annoying. I know the story so well that I keep trying to include every emotional permutation, overcomplicating things, focussing on the wrong reactions, all sorts of irritating stuff. I know what you need to have in them, I’m just so paranoid about not doing a good enough job that I’m probably over compensating. Definitely a huge case of synopsophobia. I’m telling myself that the pain I’m suffering now will be worth it in the long run and that it will only benefit my story, but sadly that’s not much help now.

Anyway, in much happier news, the release date of MaiseyYates‘ fabulous debut book for Presents/Modern is imminent and the Sisters are having a party. So do pop over for some champagne. In fact, if you love ebooks then His Virgin Acquisition will be available on the M&B site from Thursday, a whole month early! Super big yays for Maisey! You rock girl. Want to write my synopsis for me?? 🙂

19 thoughts on “Synopsophobia”

  1. No, you certainly are not. I’d rather write ten books than one synopsis. Blurbs are great…can do those all day long. They’re actually fun to me. But the word “synopsis” makes me break out in a cold sweat.

    Best of luck with yours, Jackie, and fingers are crossed you get excellent news from the editor! 🙂

  3. Jackie, you don’t want me to write your synopsis…you want your editor to like it. I am one of the lucky ones whose ed recognizes that I wrtie CRAPPY AWFUL SYNOPSES and doesn’t pay that much attention to them. 🙂

    Also…Yay!! Thanks for posting about my party! So excited to see it up on the M&B site…I may die.

  4. Maisey – can I have your editor then? Nah, only kidding, I do like the one who’s working with me. She’s fab. But tough.
    Don’t die. You have too many books to write. When it goes up, I’ll put the link in the title. 🙂

  5. Sorry chickie, will not write your synopsis – hate ’em, was lucky I was not asked to resubmit one with my revisions – considering the sotry was HUGELY different to the original I sent in…

  10. Jackie:

    Sometimes you have to do things the hard way. (Ya I know, it sucks)
    I too, wrote such a long synopsis that I sat back and finally said “I’m writing my book all over again.” But, having said that, writing a long one helped me look at each paragraph and decide how I could just convey what I needed, or, if I even needed the paragraph at all.

    I’m a good one to talk tho’, my ms and syn is probably just arriving on a editors desk as we speak. I’ll have to let you know if what I did sucked or not 😀

  11. at least she’ll tell you what is wrong and you can keep going with it!
    Yay for getting to your chapters by the end of the week! Good luck xx

  12. Woah – lots of comments!

    Lacey – yeah, they are evil. And I won’t hear back about my chapters until the synop is done.

    Caroline – thanks for the hugs. I need ’em!

    Susan – yay, another person who can’t stand them. Woohoo!

    Wendy – good luck with your stuff on the eds desk! One good thing about a synop is that it does clarify things huh? Or at least, in my case, show you that you need to clarify things!

    Kerrin – I’m more worried she’ll tell me what’s wrong and I won’t keep going with it because she won’t request any more. 🙂

  13. Oh Jax..I hope your ed overlooks the synopsis and super-loves your story instead !!!!

    Synopsis and me – have a long standing agreement, not to look at each other in the eye. So I have no idea what a synopsis is 😉 I’m not going to fret over the one that is staring at me!

  15. chin up chick – the waiting is painful isn’t it. I’ve no words of wisdom on synopsis writing, I don’t think i’ve read one single person ever say that they enjoy them, but they are a necessary evil aren’t they.
    Lots of luck with hearing back, i’m hoping for really good news for you. x

  16. Thanks Joanne. Nope I don’t know of anyone who likes them either. But if I ever find someone who does, I shall strangle them. 😉 Kidding. Not.

  17. Hi,

    C’mon you’ll breeze through and in a week or two you’ll be thinking it wasn’t so bad!

    After all, we’re all testimony to the fact you’ve been hammering away at your ms, all the while battling through inner angst and suffering almost as much as your characters: no doubt!

    I feel for you re synopsis – have just spent forty-eight hours very nearly non-stop working on one. I have no idea why but it’s proved to be the most difficult to date. 😉

    best
    F

  18. Francine – yeah, I have no idea why they’re so difficult either. I think it’s the fact that every word counts and I’ve learned – to my cost – that you can’t just chuck something in there if you haven’t thought about it enough. Sigh. But thanks for the faith. Have sent it now.

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