Monday, March 1, 2010

10 Synopsis Dos and Don'ts from Writers Digest

Happy March! Beginning this month, I will put the weather forecast for St. Peters at the end of my posts rather than at the beginning, just to change things up a bit.

If you're thinking about writing a synopsis, here's a quick list of 10 keys for creating a better synopsis. The snappy and easy-to-understand list of 10 Synopsis Dos and Don'ts, written by Jane Friedman, is waiting for you on the Writers Digest site. The tips cover the hook, characters, details, the ending, the proper tense to use, and what not to include.

Later this week I will summarize what I learned from the talk Dakota Banks gave to Saturday Writers about "Book Proposals that Sell."

Stay tuned!
Donna

Today in St. Peters, MO: Mostly cloudy, high 41 degrees.
"March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb." I don't know who said that, but I'm hoping this month is more lamb than lion. (I must have lions on the brain after last week's field trip with Michael's fifth-grade class to watch the marvelous rendetion of the musical "The Wizard of Oz" at Incarnate Word Academy.)

5 comments:

  1. Dakota Banks did a fine job at the meeting on Saturday, to a very full house!

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  2. I hate writing synopsis. I have actually avoided sending to agents who want a synopsis. Isn't that sad? Thanks for the link with the tips. Margo

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  3. Donna,
    Thanks for this information. I have to learn to summarize. Happy March is right! I am waiting for warm weather.

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  4. Like the switching it up. Keeps your blog readers on their toes :-)

    Also like the synopsis tips. Not so much writing the synopsis.

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  5. Hi Pat, Margo, Linda, and Cathy,
    Darn those synopses--even the plural form makes one think. Why does a synopsis strike fear into the hearts of grown women like us?
    Donna

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