Comments on: The Fine Art of Synopsis Writing https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/ Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:50:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-734 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:50:49 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-734 Glad to hear it’s helpful, Suzanne. Just remember the KISS principle and keep it simple. 🙂

]]> By: Suzanne https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-733 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:39:24 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-733 This is SO helpful. I’m about to re-write my synopis (again) and need all the advice I can get.

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-732 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:04:06 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-732 Ooh, Michelle, thanks for that. I admit, I’m still finding my way around the whole active/reactive stuff. It’s hard keeping so many little balls in the air – I guess that’s why writing category is so difficult!

]]> By: Michelle Styles https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-731 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:51:51 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-731 action/reaction
It depends on who started the incident and the why.
For example if the incident is started by someone hitting the heroine, and the hero jumps into save her, he is reacting. He has not caused the incident. He needs to proactive. And how is the hero jumping into a pond going to make things worse emotionally for the both of them.
It is the turning points that need to be active.

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-730 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:52:48 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-730 Lucy – Yeah, writing the synop first is good. A couple of months ago I would have said nah, you don’t need to do that, but having come to grief several times… I think if you do it knowing that it’ll probably change as you write, then at least you’ve got a vague idea about where to go.
And as for your hero, hmmm… It’s tricky. I would say he’s acting because he’s making a decision to do something. It’s the conscious decision that makes it an action rather than a reaction. At least, that’s what I’m thinking now. I’m quite new at this so I may be wrong!

Hi Chris – thanks for posting! Always nice to know people get something out of this. Sharing knowledge can only be good for everyone (which is the librarian in me coming to the fore!).
As to why I decided to start the blog, well, I wanted to be in contact with other writers and since everyone is in different parts of the world and have busy lives, a blog seemed like a good way to update people and for people to keep in touch without having to spend time emailing. As to bothering me, don’t worry, I love hearing from people!

]]> By: chrissmith17a https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-729 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:02:58 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-729 Jackie – I’m becoming as addicted to these pages as I am to the Subcare forum! As I’m hovering around synopsis-writing, this is so useful and helpful – and so generous on your part! Thanks also for posting news of the Harlequin competition, which otherwise wouldn’t have impinged on my fuzzy awareness….
I have already asked you some silly questions on the Subcare forum, and wanted to avoid bothering you, so delved into your archives, to see if I could find something which would tell me why you decided to write a blog?? I couldn’t find it, hence my query. – Maybe I am congenitally lazy; maybe I have had too many years of associating writing output with tangible money. I ask because I suppose I am still trying to determine for myself whether I do belong to the ‘tribe’ of writers, or whether their DNA is slightly different. I’d love to hear your rationale, when you have a spare second away from Twitter/ Subcare – oh, and your MS….
Sorry about another question!
Thanks, Chris

]]> By: Lucy King https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-728 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:38:19 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-728 Hmm, a synopsis before writing the story? So that’s where I’m going wrong. I tend to write before thinking which is why I’ve got into such trouble.

Btw, I’ve been meaning to ask about the acting/reacting thing you mentioned a couple of posts ago. Would be interested to know how you’d differentiate between the two. In my WIP my hero thinks my heroine has been lamped by a drunk guy in a pond and leaps to her rescue. Is that action or reaction, do you think?

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-727 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:25:49 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-727 Thanks Michelle. Yes, that puts it very nicely indeed.

]]> By: Michelle Styles https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-726 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:26:13 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-726 Yes, use your chapters to sell your voice and the synopsis to sell the story. Many times, the editors are just looking for confirmation that the story is one which will fit the guides. It is all about showing the spine of the story rather than the flesh.
And a synopsis can help before you write, even though you made end up laughing as I often do for having put into so much external plot.
It is one page single spaced to getto the heart of the matter.

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/the-fine-art-of-synopsis-writing/#comment-725 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:44:31 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=536#comment-725 Actually Becca, I think the key thing I was doing wrong was going over the top in trying to show my voice! The synopsis should sell your story, but it’s your chapters that should sell your writing. At least, that’s what I got from Michelle’s advice.
Anyway, glad to be of use. It sounds trite but it’s not until you make mistakes that you learn stuff, and I’ve certainly made a lot of mistakes! Hope that means I’ve learned heaps. 🙂

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