The Dreaded Synopsis--To My Fellow Writers

Ah, the synopsis.

Sure, after sitting down to write that cursed query, which makes us compress our story into one or two teaser paragraphs, forces us to forget subplots, and drives us absolutely insane with draft after draft, we finally get the chance to write the full story for the synopsis, instead of those two limiting paragraphs.

And then we realize----The Cursed Query has NOTHING on The Dreaded Synopsis.

Even now the damn thing is haunting me and I'm on the 4th draft or so...I've pretty much lost count. All I can say is I know how you feel.

It starts off fine, you think, "Hey, I've got this." And then you realize you passed the one page mark three pages ago.

Be concise--bare bones--yet keep it interesting with a hook.

Over time this website has helped me. It isn't perfect and a lot of the real synopsis examples are of romances, but they have helped.

Do with this site what you wish--hopefully it helps.

Helpful Sites for Writers

Hello all!

I figured I'd put together a list today of some great and helpful sites. Along with an explanation of them.

Great database of agents:

http://www.agentquery.com

www.querytracker.net

www.writersmarket.com Although this requires buying a subscription.

Great information on how to write Queries:

http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

http://www.charlottedillon.com/query.html I personally love this site because it has TONS of links for query writing and will even show you winning samples of romance queries.

She also has a great one for a Synopsis: http://www.charlottedillon.com/synopsis.html

Seriously, just browse her site and you'll be sure to find something for you, even though most queries and such are for the romance genre you can easily apply them to your own work.

~Wonderful Writing Communities Online~

www.key-publications-network.socialgo.com I'm head of the YAWR(Young Adult Writers Rock) group there. It is an amazing online critique group for writers. Check it out you won't be disappointed.

http://writersdigest.ning.com/ This is the writer's digest community

Great E-zine

www.viciouswriters.com ---> soon to be renamed.


Check em' out. If I'm missing any feel free to post some other helpful sites :]