[stylist] Non-fiction novels
Bridgit Pollpeter
bpollpeter at hotmail.com
Thu Oct 21 03:48:54 UTC 2010
A nonfiction novel is just a nonfiction work that is novel length, but
often it is more creative nonfiction (memoir, personal essay, etc)
incorporating fictional elements or techniques as opposed to a biography
or academic nonfiction.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of stylist-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 4:16 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 78, Issue 37
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Today's Topics:
1. Self Publishing (davidw)
2. Re: Self Publishing (Joe Orozco)
3. Re: Self Publishing (BDM)
4. Shameless Plug (Joe Orozco)
5. Re: Shameless Plug (Judith Bron)
6. Re: Shameless Plug (Joe Orozco)
7. Re: Shameless Plug (Donna Hill)
8. Re: Shameless Plug (Judith Bron)
9. Re: Self Publishing (Donna Hill)
10. Re: Shameless Plug (Anita Adkins)
11. Re: Shameless Plug (BDM)
12. synopsis (Bridgit Pollpeter)
13. Re: Self Publishing (Joe Orozco)
14. Changes plot synopsis (Bridgit Pollpeter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:51:12 -0700
From: "davidw" <dwermuth1 at earthlink.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Self Publishing
Message-ID: <35E8229A3E6949E9ACFC054C3F7E88EC at DHDBFM71>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hello Everyone,
I have been researching self publishing company's and there are so many
to
choose from. Being a first time author of my non-fiction novel I'd like
to
make the right choice.
Can someone recommend a company for printing paperback's with the
advantages
of distribution.
and or company's that don't shy away from first time author's.
Thanks,
David Wermuth
dwermuth1 at earthlink.net
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:55:51 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Self Publishing
Message-ID: <43C9B12D4E5F4797BEB081DAEDEEC4FD at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Try iUniverse. They're good if you keep them in line about what it is
you're willing to spend.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of davidw
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 2:51 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] Self Publishing
Hello Everyone,
I have been researching self publishing company's and there are
so many to
choose from. Being a first time author of my non-fiction novel
I'd like to
make the right choice.
Can someone recommend a company for printing paperback's with
the advantages
of distribution.
and or company's that don't shy away from first time author's.
Thanks,
David Wermuth
dwermuth1 at earthlink.net
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:39:33 -0500
From: BDM <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Self Publishing
Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20101020143828.02d02f78 at www.braddunsemusic.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
I only know of my cartoonist friend who used the below. But they seem
very fast, and do a nice job.
http://www.lulu.com/
Brad
At 01:51 PM 10/20/2010, you wrote:
>Hello Everyone,
>
>I have been researching self publishing company's and there are so
>many to choose from. Being a first time author of my non-fiction
>novel I'd like to make the right choice.
>
>Can someone recommend a company for printing paperback's with the
>advantages of distribution.
>and or company's that don't shy away from first time author's.
>
>Thanks,
>
>David Wermuth
>dwermuth1 at earthlink.net
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
><http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
>stylist mailing list
>stylist at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>stylist:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddu
>nsemusic.com
>
>
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>signature database 5549 (20101020) __________
>
>The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
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>
Brad Dunse
If you think the Tallahassee Bridge is a certain part of a Native
American song...
you might be a songwriter. --Anonymous
E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
Website: http://www.braddunsemusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1464323555
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/braddunse
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:41:23 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <AE64BDAD2F75441BAE30AE9AA5C45BAA at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hey all,
Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I finally put
the novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I still have
some tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make something
formal of this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel
free to provide feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my
service, let me know. I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from
the Stylist.
www.alphacommstrategies.com/
Best,
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:55:59 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <77A90D036E9F4C389EBCB48AF79A2A19 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
Joe, I just went there and it looks terriffic! One suggestion that
struck
me. Don't mention your costs on the site. You would be better off
saying,
"For a consultation and to discuss cost please..." Here you can put
your
contact link and/or phone number.
I like your non-profit group. Our vets deserve everything we can do for
them. Good going! Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:41 PM
Subject: [stylist] Shameless Plug
> Hey all,
>
> Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I finally
> put
> the
> novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I still have
some
> tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make something formal
of
> this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel free to
provide
> feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my service, let me
know.
> I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from the Stylist.
>
> www.alphacommstrategies.com/
>
> Best,
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonli
ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:00:11 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <872D8D972BE6444EA4CA73E5F944A29F at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Oh, Judith. Just when I'd decided to keep it you go and make me
second-guess myself! LOL I think I ultimately left it because I want
people to have a starting sense of how much they can expect to invest
for the service they request. I'll officially launch it later this
week, just thought I'd give fellow writers a chance to critique, but
we'll see if including a Fee Schedule kicks me in the butt!
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: Judith Bron [mailto:jbron at optonline.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:56 PM
To: jsorozco at gmail.com; Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Joe, I just went there and it looks terriffic! One suggestion
that struck
me. Don't mention your costs on the site. You would be better
off saying,
"For a consultation and to discuss cost please..." Here you
can put your
contact link and/or phone number.
I like your non-profit group. Our vets deserve everything we
can do for
them. Good going! Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:41 PM
Subject: [stylist] Shameless Plug
> Hey all,
>
> Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I
finally put
> the
> novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I
still have some
> tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make
something formal of
> this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel
free to provide
> feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my service,
let me know.
> I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from the Stylist.
>
> www.alphacommstrategies.com/
>
> Best,
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
their sleeves,
> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%4
0optonline.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:06:03 -0400
From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <4CBF4BAB.30901 at epix.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Joe,
Good going! Unlike Judith, I wouldn't recommend removing your prices.
Many people, myself included, get furious when prices aren't easy to
find. Making prospective customers contact you for prices may be a
strategy for developing a mailing list, but it comes with a cost that is
hard to measure.
Best,
Donna
Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4
Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org
On 10/20/2010 3:41 PM, Joe Orozco wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I finally
> put the novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I
> still have some tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make
> something formal of this little business venture. Anyway, check it
> out. Feel free to provide feedback, and if you or anyone you know
> could use my service, let me know. I'll cut you a deal if you let me
> know you're from the Stylist.
>
> www.alphacommstrategies.com/
>
> Best,
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org<http://www.nfb-writers-division.or
> g/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40e
> pix.net
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
> Database version: 6.16120
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>
>
E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
Database version: 6.16120
http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:10:28 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <DD0DC0811A7B4D3999166E421CF0102C at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
It can work both ways. I just shy away from sites where cost is the
first
thing that hits me in the face. Go to similar sites and see what they
do.
I'm not an expert, just a free lance author, PR consultant and novelist.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
> Oh, Judith. Just when I'd decided to keep it you go and make me
> second-guess myself! LOL I think I ultimately left it because I want
> people to have a starting sense of how much they can expect to invest
> for the service they request. I'll officially launch it later this
> week, just thought I'd give fellow writers a chance to critique, but
> we'll see if including a Fee Schedule kicks me in the butt!
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Judith Bron [mailto:jbron at optonline.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:56 PM
> To: jsorozco at gmail.com; Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
>
> Joe, I just went there and it looks terriffic! One suggestion that
> struck me. Don't mention your costs on the site. You would be better
> off saying,
> "For a consultation and to discuss cost please..." Here you
> can put your
> contact link and/or phone number.
> I like your non-profit group. Our vets deserve everything we
> can do for
> them. Good going! Judith
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:41 PM
> Subject: [stylist] Shameless Plug
>
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I
> finally put
>> the
>> novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I
> still have some
>> tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make
> something formal of
>> this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel
> free to provide
>> feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my service,
> let me know.
>> I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from the Stylist.
>>
>> www.alphacommstrategies.com/
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
> their sleeves,
>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%4
> 0optonline.net
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonli
ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:13:38 -0400
From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Self Publishing
Message-ID: <4CBF4D72.3020200 at epix.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi David,
Congratulations for getting this far in the process! There are many
things to think about with self-publishing, and unless you already have
done so, I would advise reading "Getting Your Book Published for
Dummies" which is available as digital download and cassette from NLS or
some other book about how the publishing industry works.
I think that I Universe still makes you sign an exclusive contract,
whereas Amazon, for instance, doesn't. I'm in the midst of researching
this for my novel and it is a mind-numbing process. The other thing you
need to keep in mind is that the writer, regardless of whether it's
self-published or picked up by a publisher, is nowadays responsible for
more and more of the promotions. I recently bought an accessible e-book
called "Purple Snowflake Marketing" by Dave and Lillian Brummit, which
is a great resource.
BTW, what's a nonfiction novel?
Donna Hill
Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4
Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org
On 10/20/2010 2:51 PM, davidw wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been researching self publishing company's and there are so
> many to choose from. Being a first time author of my non-fiction
> novel I'd like to make the right choice.
>
> Can someone recommend a company for printing paperback's with the
> advantages of distribution.
> and or company's that don't shy away from first time author's.
>
> Thanks,
>
> David Wermuth
> dwermuth1 at earthlink.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epi
x.net
>
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
> Database version: 6.16120
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>
E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
Database version: 6.16120
http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:14:16 -0400
From: "Anita Adkins" <aadkins7 at verizon.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <22E4D643F2904CF491F32F6385205EF1 at AnitaAdkinsPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=response
Great website. I agree to leave the cost. I personally thought of
using
you for resume and cover letter writing in the future possibly, and I
would
want to know about what the cost would be rather than just plunging in,
and
so I feel leaving the prices is a beneficial part of the website for
customers.
Out of curiosity, do you need any volunteers to work for you? I do
enjoy
writing, and I would be happy to help in some way if I can do something
you
need and if time permits. Thanks. Anita
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: <jsorozco at gmail.com>; "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
> Hi Joe,
> Good going! Unlike Judith, I wouldn't recommend removing your prices.
Many
> people, myself included, get furious when prices aren't easy to find.
> Making prospective customers contact you for prices may be a strategy
for
> developing a mailing list, but it comes with a cost that is hard to
> measure.
> Best,
> Donna
>
> Read Donna's articles on
> Suite 101:
> www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
> Ezine Articles:
> http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
> American Chronicle:
> www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
>
> Connect with Donna on
> Twitter:
> www.twitter.com/dewhill
> LinkedIn:
> www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
> FaceBook:
> www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
>
> Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
> cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
> Apple I-Tunes
>
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4
>
> Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
> Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
> www.padnfb.org
>
>
> On 10/20/2010 3:41 PM, Joe Orozco wrote:
>> Hey all,
>>
>> Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I finally
put
>> the
>> novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I still have
some
>> tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make something formal
of
>> this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel free to
>> provide
>> feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my service, let me
>> know.
>> I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from the Stylist.
>>
>> www.alphacommstrategies.com/
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>> sleeves,
>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Writers Division web site:
>>
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
>
>>
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epi
x.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
>> Database version: 6.16120
>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>
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>
>
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>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
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------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:42:36 -0500
From: BDM <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com,Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20101020152707.02d05350 at www.braddunsemusic.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Joe,
Firstly, kudos to a very nice clean web site. It comes off very
confident and professional which makes the reader feel similar in a
decision to use your service. As for the pricing, posted or call for
it, I doubt you can please all on that. However, I will say if you
look at it, the buying public is so use to hearing "For only 3
payments of $19.99" or the other myriad ways pricing is touted from
the gas station pricing boards to how much the puppies are listed for
at the bulletin board of the local laundramat. If it were me I'd
err, if this would be erring at all, to post them in the area you
have set aside for pricing. I'd not put it on the main page for the
first thing to hit someone unless you are running a monthly promo or
something. I personally am the type who "needs" not "wants" but needs
to know the price of something before I'll even give it ears. If my
wife reads a house that's for sale, she'll start with how many
bedrooms, baths, the mature trees and etc. and I'll interrupt and ask
for the price, because if it it is out of my range or too expensive,
there is no point in wasting time reading any further. I will
literally find myself asking her "What was that now, how many
bedrooms and etc." after she's confessed the price, because I just
block it out by default. I just went through similar for a recording
studio I am considering, the first thing I went to find is the
prices, because if they are too high, they could tell me they are the
absolute best in town and the rest of the PR mantra, I'll not be
using them if they are out of my range, so why spend time reading
from link to link to link.
That said I wish you well on your venture.
Brad
At 03:00 PM 10/20/2010, you wrote:
>Oh, Judith. Just when I'd decided to keep it you go and make me
>second-guess myself! LOL I think I ultimately left it because I want
people
>to have a starting sense of how much they can expect to invest for the
>service they request. I'll officially launch it later this week, just
>thought I'd give fellow writers a chance to critique, but we'll see if
>including a Fee Schedule kicks me in the butt!
>
>Joe
>
>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves,
>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Judith Bron [mailto:jbron at optonline.net]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:56 PM
>To: jsorozco at gmail.com; Writer's Division Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Shameless Plug
>
>Joe, I just went there and it looks terriffic! One suggestion
>that struck
>me. Don't mention your costs on the site. You would be better
>off saying,
>"For a consultation and to discuss cost please..." Here you
>can put your
>contact link and/or phone number.
>I like your non-profit group. Our vets deserve everything we
>can do for
>them. Good going! Judith
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 3:41 PM
>Subject: [stylist] Shameless Plug
>
>
> > Hey all,
> >
> > Some of you know I do some freelance writing on the side. I
>finally put
> > the
> > novel project on hold to wrap up the website, and while I
>still have some
> > tweaks to make, I think it's now good enough to make
>something formal of
> > this little business venture. Anyway, check it out. Feel
>free to provide
> > feedback, and if you or anyone you know could use my service,
>let me know.
> > I'll cut you a deal if you let me know you're from the Stylist.
> >
> > www.alphacommstrategies.com/
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
>their sleeves,
> > some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Writers Division web site:
> > http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
><http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >
> > stylist mailing list
> > stylist at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for
> > stylist:
> >
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%4
>0optonline.net
> >
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
>stylist mailing list
>stylist at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddu
nsemusic.com
>
>
>__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
>signature database 5549 (20101020) __________
>
>The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
>http://www.eset.com
Brad Dunse
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation
E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
Website: http://www.braddunsemusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1464323555
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/braddunse
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:07:54 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP19735FBC639615800B96C90C45C0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
Your first para is good, but I lose interest after it. What you keep
creating is more of a book outline, but we do not need each detail for a
synopsis.
Like Joe mentioned, focus more on the themes and not specific details.
We want to be intrigued by this, not handed a Cliffnotes version of the
book. In other words, tease us! *smile*
I would keep this current first para because we learn that the main
character has a near death experience, which is very interesting, but
then we only need another couple of paras (if even that) to sum up the
concept of the book.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of stylist-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:00 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 78, Issue 36
Send stylist mailing list submissions to
stylist at nfbnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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You can reach the person managing the list at
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of stylist digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: synopsis (Joe Orozco)
2. Re: synopsis (Judith Bron)
3. Re: synopsis (Barbara Hammel)
4. Re: synopsis (Danielle Montour)
5. synopsis (Judith Bron)
6. Re: synopsis (Joe Orozco)
7. Re: synopsis (Danielle Montour)
8. Re: synopsis (Judith Bron)
9. Re: Synopsis (Watson, Katherine M)
10. Changes: a plot synopsis (Watson, Katherine M)
11. Re: Changes: a plot synopsis (Danielle Montour)
12. How to Write a Synopsis (Joe Orozco)
13. Re: Changes: a plot synopsis (Judith Bron)
14. Re: How to Write a Synopsis (Judith Bron)
15. Re: How to Write a Synopsis (Donna Hill)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:04:51 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <EC7B391371074A3D991A588BB5EC0806 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer. This is
what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a quick
Internet search:
***
"She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult series
about observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
mainstream world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche
audience, but Judith doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing its
ugly head again. But what do people hate?" She hopes to answer questions
about observant Judaism, their unique lifestyle and give her readers a
page turning reading experience that contains mystery, intrigue, good
guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life, and yes, death. This book will
give her readers a riveting novel that the young adult, or perhaps adult
reader, Won't be able to put down!"
***
That, I think, is intriguing.
Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if the
synopsis you've prepared lives up to this claim?
1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of incidents.
First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character reacted
like this...
2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much enthusiasm.
You
wrote:
***
"They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
***
Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
Remember the novel audience is significantly different from your
synopsis audience.
3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is fascinating.
Flush out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in should
not be a shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a
chapter-by-chapter outline. The synopsis, according to what I
understand you need to submit, should be a panoramic view of the themes,
trials and brief character sketches the reader might encounter. If I
may offer a bit of advice, try to aim for the tone of a movie trailer.
Think of the words the narrators use to convince you to watch the
upcoming movie!
It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state.
Because of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether. Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron"
<jbron at optonline.net> wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the book?
Thanks, Judith Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York,
begins our
novel with a
near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
foster mother,
Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the accident.
Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer,
her parents
and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school
football team.
Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that
she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands
more about
her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
identity as a
Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey
to find out
just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned
when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to
bring her out
of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since entering her
present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by
the poverty
shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has
ravaged her
body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an
Almighty she has
believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken a
mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time
in her life
she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome
her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has
only been a
part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually
her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an observant
Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about
her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
living as an
observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a
family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi Levy,
Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove,
and the lives
of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York
become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by her
parents has
become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
bedrooms Jennifer
clings to these possessions left by her parents and talks to them. She
eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the
small book and
letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter
that her Hebrew
name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah. The
principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the
small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things and
tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him
later that day
to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his
safety deposit box
at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi
who, since her
mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences more
turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get
hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They
take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
the criminals
proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of the
beds, tries
to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors' drinking party and
spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
abductors fall
into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her
arms off, slides
off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel
brings her
into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but
Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter
becomes known to
Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly revealed
identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she
has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of
who and what
they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painful
questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:20:18 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <0D09DA54256B406E99980896779B5052 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
Joe, I don't even remember which article or write up that excerpt was
taken
from. I don't think it's a bad memory, just a selective one. I'll take
this version back to the drawing board. Thanks, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Judith,
>
> You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer. This
> is what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a
> quick Internet search:
>
> ***
>
> "She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult series
> about observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
> mainstream world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche
> audience, but Judith doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing
> its ugly head again. But what do people hate?" She hopes to answer
> questions about observant Judaism, their unique lifestyle and give her
> readers a page turning reading experience that contains
> mystery, intrigue, good guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life, and
yes,
> death. This book will give her readers a riveting novel that the young
> adult, or perhaps adult reader, Won't be able to put down!"
>
> ***
>
> That, I think, is intriguing.
>
> Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if the
> synopsis
> you've prepared lives up to this claim?
>
> 1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of incidents.
> First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character
> reacted like this...
>
> 2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much enthusiasm.
> You
> wrote:
>
> ***
>
> "They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
> the criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
>
> ***
>
> Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
> Remember the novel audience is significantly different from your
> synopsis audience.
>
> 3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is fascinating.
> Flush
> out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in should not
be
> a
> shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a chapter-by-chapter
> outline. The synopsis, according to what I understand you need to
submit,
> should be a panoramic view of the themes, trials and brief character
> sketches the reader might encounter. If I may offer a bit of advice,
try
> to
> aim for the tone of a movie trailer. Think of the words the narrators
use
> to convince you to watch the upcoming movie!
>
> It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Judith Bron
> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
>
> I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because
> of her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional
> relationship.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
>
>
> I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether.
> Lori On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron"
> <jbron at optonline.net> wrote:
>
> From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
> To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
> <stylist at nfbnet.org> Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is
> more along the lines everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you
> think it sells the book? Thanks, Judith
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our
> novel with a
> near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
> foster mother,
> Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the
accident.
> Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left by
> Jennifer's
> long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer,
> her parents
> and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
>
> Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
> team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
> reveals that
> she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands
> more about
> her own identity.
>
> The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
> identity as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her
> journey to find out
> just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
> being orphaned
> when she was two.
>
> Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
> reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring
> her out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
> entering her present school the year before. Pessi's life is
> complicated by the poverty
> shrouding her once affluent family.
>
> Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
> her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an
> Almighty she has
> believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken
a
> mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time
> in her life
> she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
> to overcome
> her devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only
> been a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
> Eventually
> her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an observant
> Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about
> her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
> living as an
> observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a
> family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi
Levy,
> Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
> Jenna, New York
> become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by her
> parents has
> become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
> bedrooms Jennifer
> clings to these possessions left by her parents and talks to them. She
> eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the
> small book and
> letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter
> that her Hebrew
> name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
> shyly tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
> Channah. The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls
> the small packet
> out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things
and
> tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
>
> Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
> day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his
> safety deposit box
> at the bank.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who,
> since her mother's illness and death has become a class leader,
> experiences more turmoil over the change that is about to take place
> in her family.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
> get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
> street. They
> take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
> the criminals
> proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of the
> beds, tries
> to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors' drinking party and
> spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
> abductors fall
> into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her
> arms off, slides
> off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
> the door.
>
> She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
> bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
> her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
> police, but
> Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
>
> Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
> known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
> revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the
> same person she
> has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
> what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
> Painful questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
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> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:50:51 -0500
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <SNT139-ds7B69B7A04A828024CBC73EB5B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
This is the idea I was thinking of though for ordering things. Has
Jennifer
even bonded with her foster family? If not, you could just say
something
about her feeling out of place in the world and leave Randy out and
Sheila
out.
This attempt was much better than the first.
Barbara
...
Yesterday is
A path well-trod,
A familiar lane
Through sacred sod,
A road we travel
Too often, I fear,
For there are the good times
When things are hard here,
...
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:04 AM
To: <jsorozco at gmail.com>; "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the
> lines
> everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the
book?
> Thanks, Judith
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our novel
with
> a near death experience and questions about her identity. Her foster
> mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the
> accident. Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects
left
> by Jennifer's long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about
> Jennifer, her parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to
their
> daughter.
>
> Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
> team.
> Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer reveals
that
> she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands more
about
> her own identity.
>
> The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
> identity as
> a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find
> out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since being
> orphaned when she was two.
>
> Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
> reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring
her
> out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
entering
> her present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by
the
> poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
>
> Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
> her
> body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she
has
> believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken
a
> mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in her
life
> she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to
> overcome her devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only
> been a
> part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
> Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in
an
> observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent
> on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting
her
> placed with a family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work
out,
> and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their
home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna,
> New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by
her
> parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
> bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her parents and
> talks to them. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language
that
> both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to learn
from
> the letter that her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
shyly
> tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
> The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
> packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
> things and tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
>
> Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
> day
> to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit
> box at the bank.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never
> accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who,
since
> her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more
> turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
> Criminals
> get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street.
> They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
> criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of
the
> beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors'
drinking
> party and spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
> abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding
her
> arms off, slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins
> hopping to the door.
>
> She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
> bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her
> into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the police,
but
> Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
>
> Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
> known
> to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed
> identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person
> she has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who
and
> what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful
> questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/poetlori8%40msn
.com
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:29:58 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com,Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbdf1d0.4bfde50a.4d6e.fffff01b at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
I like the synopsis a lot better now, however, the view keeps
switching between Pessy and Jennifer, and then some other
characters, and the transition between them is a little rough.
Maybe Making it flow a little better might help.
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:04:51 -0400
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Judith,
You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer.
This is
what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a
quick
Internet search:
***
"She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult
series about
observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
mainstream
world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche audience,
but Judith
doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head
again. But
what do people hate?" She hopes to answer questions about
observant Judaism,
their unique lifestyle and give her readers a page turning
reading
experience that contains
mystery, intrigue, good guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life,
and yes,
death. This book will give her readers a riveting novel that the
young
adult, or perhaps adult reader, Won't be able to put down!"
***
That, I think, is intriguing.
Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if
the synopsis
you've prepared lives up to this claim?
1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of
incidents.
First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character
reacted
like this...
2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much
enthusiasm. You
wrote:
***
"They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
***
Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
Remember
the novel audience is significantly different from your synopsis
audience.
3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is
fascinating. Flush
out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in
should not be a
shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a
chapter-by-chapter
outline. The synopsis, according to what I understand you need
to submit,
should be a panoramic view of the themes, trials and brief
character
sketches the reader might encounter. If I may offer a bit of
advice, try to
aim for the tone of a movie trailer. Think of the words the
narrators use
to convince you to watch the upcoming movie!
It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional
relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis
altogether.
Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is
more along the
lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells
the book?
Thanks, Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our novel
with a near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
foster mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after
the
accident.
Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left
by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer, her
parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that she can't begin an emotional relationship until she
understands more about her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's identity
as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer
and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her
out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
entering her
present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by the
poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has
taken a
mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in her
life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to
overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only been
a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant
Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer something
about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her
placed
with a
family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and
Rabbi Levy,
Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left
by her parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her
darkened bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her
parents and talks to
them. She
eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the small book
and letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter that
her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name.
She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things and
tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit box at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who, since
her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more
turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her
family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on
one of the beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her
abductors' drinking
party and
spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her abductors
fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her arms
off, slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping
to the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still
tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed
identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same person
she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in
their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful
questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
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er%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <60CC3B4167884551BB4B4C55A061BA03 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks around
the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a corridor that
seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly her long deceased
mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the
constant anti Semitic derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with
her mother. But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who you are,
and what you are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but
minutes later slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her injured
foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers the strange
messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only possessions left
by Jennifer's parents, a little book with an inserted paper written in
foreign writing. The messenger handed Sheila the items and left. After
closing the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a man
walking away from the house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival
of what should have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the
items in her possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer
on her seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is talking
to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive personality, Pessi
disagrees with her mother about getting involved with the girls at
school. Pessi insists that it's her life and if she wants to be alone
so be it. She stomps out of the house like a belligerent child leaving
her mother on the sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken
home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school. Her
classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the protective shell
Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is a bout to change
forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to help
her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the mattress.
Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's remains begging her to
say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she has
believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life she has her
solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to overcome her
devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in
getting her placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work
out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their
home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in Jenna
become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a fixture in
Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language
that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to
learn from the letter her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She tells
the principal her Hebrew name. The principal asks her how she knows
this and Jennifer pulls the small packet out of her backpack. The
principal pales when she sees these things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet in a
safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna street.
They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party. When her abductors fall
into a drunken slumber Jennifer works off the ropes binding her arms,
slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing with her
newly revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not
the same person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lives. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and what
they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula
questions experienced by teenagers everywhere.
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:15:24 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <5DC2A634551B4807ACD3A794DC14C921 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
It's coming along really well. I would start off by informing the
reader that that there are two characters so they know not to get
side-tracked by the mention of two girls. Maybe you could relocate the
last paragraph to the top of the synopsis. Rephrase it of course so
that it reads more smoothly.
Also, this sentence is positioned rather randomly:
*Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
never accept this.*
I think I get the back and forth you're trying to achieve, but it's a
little dizzying. I would focus on one girl, then the other, and then
tie it up neatly with ominous tones of, "what will happen to these girls
who must struggle to find their identity..." If I weren't in a rush,
I'd give you a better sample, but I think you get what I mean.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 5:02 PM
To: Stylist
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car,
looks around the strange place she ended up in. In front of
her is a corridor that seems to be lit with flickering candles.
Suddenly her long deceased mother is talking to her.
Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the constant anti Semitic
derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with her mother.
But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who
you are, and what you are!" Jennifer tries to change her
mother's mind, but minutes later slams back into her body,
aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with
her injured foster daughter. While heading to her car she
remembers the strange messenger a few months earlier who
delivered the only possessions left by Jennifer's parents, a
little book with an inserted paper written in foreign writing.
The messenger handed Sheila the items and left. After closing
the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a
man walking away from the house. Now she thought about
Jennifer's survival of what should have been a deadly accident.
She wondered about the items in her possession that the
messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her seventeenth
birthday. The story begins with all this mystery surrounding
an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg
is talking to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive
personality, Pessi disagrees with her mother about getting
involved with the girls at school. Pessi insists that it's her
life and if she wants to be alone so be it. She stomps out of
the house like a belligerent child leaving her mother on the
sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school.
Her classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the
protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life
is a bout to change forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room
to help her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on
the mattress. Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's
remains begging her to say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. For the first time in her
life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she
tries to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish
identity. Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting
her registered in an observant Jewish summer camp hoping that
the camp can teach Jennifer something about her roots and
identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on living as an
observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her
placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work out,
and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into
their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove,
and the lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish
Girls' school in Jenna become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a
fixture in Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn
the Hebrew language that both the small book and letter are
written in. She is able to learn from the letter her Hebrew
name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew
name. She tells the principal her Hebrew name. The principal
asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet
in a safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from
a Jenna street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like
a hunted animal and the criminals proceed to have a drinking
party. When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer
works off the ropes binding her arms, slides off the bed and,
braced on her now free hands begins hopping to the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall
where another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's
true identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time
dealing with her newly revealed identity. She can't deal with
the fact that she is not the same person she has lived with for
the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic
changes in their lives. Both characters have to come to an
understanding of who and what they are in a world filled with
danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula questions experienced by
teenagers everywhere.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for stylist:
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o%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:50:08 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbe20b9.a26fe50a.587a.30d4 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Nice! That's really good! I like it.
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net
To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks
around the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a
corridor that seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly
her long deceased mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life
is dismal due to the constant anti Semitic derisions by her
classmates, wants to stay with her mother. But her mother tells
her that its not yet her time to stay. She has to learn, "To
live. To love. To hope. To know who you are, and what you
are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but minutes
later slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her
injured foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers
the strange messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only
possessions left by Jennifer's parents, a little book with an
inserted paper written in foreign writing. The messenger handed
Sheila the items and left. After closing the door Sheila ran to
her window to watch him drive away, but no car appeared on the
street or driveway. She couldn't see a man walking away from the
house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival of what should
have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the items in her
possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her
seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is
talking to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive
personality, Pessi disagrees with her mother about getting
involved with the girls at school. Pessi insists that it's her
life and if she wants to be alone so be it. She stomps out of
the house like a belligerent child leaving her mother on the sofa
in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school.
Her classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the
protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is
a bout to change forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to
help her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the
mattress. Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's
remains begging her to say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she
has believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life
she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered
in an observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach
Jennifer something about her roots and identity. Jennifer
returns from camp intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again
Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a family in Jenna.
This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father,
agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and
the lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls'
school in Jenna become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a
fixture in Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn
the Hebrew language that both the small book and letter are
written in. She is able to learn from the letter her Hebrew name
is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew
name. She tells the principal her Hebrew name. The principal
asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet
in a safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a
Jenna street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a
hunted animal and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party.
When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works off
the ropes binding her arms, slides off the bed and, braced on her
now free hands begins hopping to the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the
police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing
with her newly revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact
that she is not the same person she has lived with for the past
17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic
changes in their lives. Both characters have to come to an
understanding of who and what they are in a world filled with
danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula questions experienced by
teenagers everywhere.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for stylist:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/hypoplex
er%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:46:47 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <949B2C8F3C0D4EDE9BFEDBC5FB65E005 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=response
Thanks Danni, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danielle Montour" <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Nice! That's really good! I like it.
>
> Danni
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net
> To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
> Subject: [stylist] synopsis
>
> Does this work? Judith
>
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks
> around
> the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a corridor that
> seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly her long deceased
> mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the
> constant anti Semitic derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with
her
> mother. But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She
> has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who you are, and
what
> you are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but minutes
later
> slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
>
> Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her
> injured
> foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers the strange
> messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only possessions left
by
> Jennifer's parents, a little book with an inserted paper written in
> foreign writing. The messenger handed Sheila the items and left.
After
> closing the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no
> car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a man
walking
> away from the house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival of
what
> should have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the items in
her
> possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her
> seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding
> an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
>
> Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is
> talking to
> her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive personality, Pessi
> disagrees with her mother about getting involved with the girls at
school.
> Pessi insists that it's her life and if she wants to be alone so be
it.
> She stomps out of the house like a belligerent child leaving her
mother on
> the sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
>
> That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school. Her
> classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the protective shell
Pessi
> has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is a bout to change forever.
>
> One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to help
> her
> only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the mattress.
Totally
> bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's remains begging her to say
> something.
>
> Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she has
> believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life she has
her
> solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to overcome her
> devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
> Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in
an
> observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent
> on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting
her
> placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work out, and
Rabbi
> Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna
> become entwined forever.
>
> The small book and letter left by her parents has become a fixture in
> Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew
language
> that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to
learn
> from the letter her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
tells
> the principal her Hebrew name. The principal asks her how she knows
this
> and Jennifer pulls the small packet out of her backpack. The
principal
> pales when she sees these things.
>
> Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet in a
> safe
> place.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never
> accept this.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
> Criminals
> get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna street.
> They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
> criminals proceed to have a drinking party. When her abductors fall
into
> a drunken slumber Jennifer works off the ropes binding her arms,
slides
> off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to the
door.
>
> With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
> another
> hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
>
> Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
> identity
> are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing with her newly
> revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the
same
> person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lives. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what
> they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula
> questions experienced by teenagers everywhere.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/hypoplex
> er%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonli
ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:45:36 -0500
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu>
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Synopsis
Message-ID:
<EDBE9878551309429B866E05149A18ED4AC3A0A867 at exchmb1.uww.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
This is better, although some sentences still sound awkward. (I.E.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she has lived with for the past 17 years. Could be: Eventually,
Jennifer is freed and finds out about the contents of the letter.
Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly revealed identity. She
struggles with the fact that she is not the same person she thought she
was for the past 17 years.)
Think about your main conflict. (This was the "hook" you used in
your query letter to that publisher.) Base everything in your synopsis
off that main theme. I don't think you will need to mention the readers
or the novel itself in the synopsis. Just start with the main conflict,
stating it, along with the resolution, in a few sentences at the
beginning of your synopsis, then go from there. I hope you find this
helpful. --Katie
------------------------------
Message: 27
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:40:50 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <C9B70F9E06084868A7C2DB20A46E8CE5 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because
of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether. Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the book?
Thanks, Judith Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York,
begins our novel with a near death experience and questions about her
identity. Her foster mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be
with her after the accident. Sheila's flashback to the day she received
the only objects left by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer, her
parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that she can't begin an emotional relationship until she
understands more about her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's identity
as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her
out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since entering
her present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by the
poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has
taken a mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in
her life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only been
a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in
getting her placed with a family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't
work out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into
their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left
by her parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her
darkened bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her
parents and talks to them. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew
language that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able
to learn from the letter that her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things and tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit box at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who, since
her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on
one of the beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her
abductors' drinking party and spends the time reviewing school work in
her mind. When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works
the ropes binding her arms off, slides off the bed and, braced on her
now free hands begins hopping to the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu>
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID:
<EDBE9878551309429B866E05149A18ED4AC3A0A869 at exchmb1.uww.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello everyone,
Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw mine
out there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy novel, titled
"Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Does this make you
want to read the book? --Katie
Changes Plot Synopsis
Main Conflict:
Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf. She avoids
phasing unless it is the time of the full moon-or unless absolutely
necessary. While attending college in present-day Denver, Colorado,
circumstances force Casey to accept her duel nature.
Synopsis:
On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
Justine, invites Casey to go to a club with her and her boyfriend, Tony,
that night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony at a restaurant
beforehand. She is horrified when she discovers that Tony isn't human.
He doesn't eat anything at dinner, and his scent is too sweet. Casey
struggles to keep her inner wolf in check, so she doesn't change into a
wolf in the middle of the crowded restaurant.
Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She is
rescued by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is attracted to Nate;
this is the first time she meets others of her own kind.
The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf when
Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her, her mood
shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine, but it doesn't
change Justine's feelings for Tony.
The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown, and
come across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf, and he
knows that she is, too. She is glad to have found another like her. Nate
also tells Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with him when he phased
once. He fears that he may have bitten her, and that Marissa may be a
werewolf. They go to Marissa's dorm and discover she is still human.
Nate accidently phases in front of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey
hopes Marissa will just wake up and think it was a bad dream.
The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream. She finds
Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has figured out that Nate
is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey about it; Casey is reluctant
to share, although she likes Marissa.
The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina, from a
vampire.
Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is similar to
that of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine that he is a
hybrid-half human, half vampire. Justine's love for him is unchanged.
The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date". Georgina
tells Casey that she is moving out immediately because she knows about
Casey's duel nature. Casey accidentally phases in front of Georgina,
almost killing her.
Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf. Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need of a
new roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with her. Marissa
agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging around Casey. She gets in
a car accident while moving her things to Casey's apartment. Nate gives
Marissa his blood, saving her life, but the blood changes Marissa into a
werewolf.
A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes Alpha. She
discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's emotions, and she has an
influence over whether the twins change forms.
Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as Alpha.
Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of a
guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was found in
a dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made aware of how
different she is from humans because of her instincts, and wonders if
werewolves have an immortal soul. Marissa and Nate come up with no
concrete evidence proving that they have souls. Casey is concerned about
where she will spend eternity, and whether she can still be friends with
Justine, even though they are members of different species.
A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from Justine's
cell phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina. Georgina informs Casey
that she has captured Justine, and Casey figures out that Georgina is
now a vampire. Casey and the twins are able to save Justine before
Georgina drinks her blood, but Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also
bites Casey, but Tony arrives and is able to suck both of their blood
clean.
The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack Marissa and
she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since Casey is her Alpha.
When Casey arrives, she finds another werewolf, Jenae, waiting with
Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive. Tony thanks Casey for saving Justine
and invites her and Nate to go out with them that night. Casey accepts,
although she is suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night, he
gets Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just in
time. He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey that he
plans to go home and work at a hospital to earn money for medical
school.
The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for saving
her from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him. Later that
morning, Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and admits his love
to her. This makes Marissa angry because she feels like Nate is leading
Casey on. Casey goes out for coffee with Jenae to find out more
information about her, since Jenae wants to join Casey's pack.
Meanwhile, Marissa attacks Nate, forcing him to leave before originally
planned.
Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and while they
are at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun at Casey, but Jenae
jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet instead. Casey accepts Jenae
into her pack as she dies.
Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah, a human
who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the time, Casey
tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself, and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual wolf
who almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the differences-in
his mind-that exist between humans and wolves. Casey decides she likes
being human better, because she feels the human world gives her goals to
achieve and a more purposeful life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate
while he is at work. Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to
Casey.
The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire captures
Savannah, and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's rescue.
When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space. Everyone
except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is unaffected because
she is blind and cannot see the illusions created by the vampire. When
Casey attacks the vampire, his movement frees the others from his
visions. Casey's pack destroys the vampire.
The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the vampire
killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she isn't damned for
eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted herself as a werewolf.
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:25:58 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbe6f6f.8e4ee50a.33fd.0675 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
Well, this synopsis seems more like a list of events than a
flowing transitional piece between each character's life. I
would like to read the book, and understand what you are saying,
however, I'd deliver it different, for example, even
"Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf."
might be a good starting sentence to your main synopsis.
HTH
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Hello everyone,
Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw
mine out there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy
novel, titled "Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Does this make you want to read the book?
--Katie
Changes Plot Synopsis
Main Conflict:
Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a
blind person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a
werewolf. She avoids phasing unless it is the time of the full
moon-or unless absolutely necessary. While attending college in
present-day Denver, Colorado, circumstances force Casey to accept
her duel nature.
Synopsis:
On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
Justine, invites Casey to go to a club with her and her
boyfriend, Tony, that night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony
at a restaurant beforehand. She is horrified when she discovers
that Tony isn't human. He doesn't eat anything at dinner, and
his scent is too sweet. Casey struggles to keep her inner wolf
in check, so she doesn't change into a wolf in the middle of the
crowded restaurant.
Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She
is rescued by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is
attracted to Nate; this is the first time she meets others of her
own kind.
The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf
when Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her,
her mood shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine,
but it doesn't change Justine's feelings for Tony.
The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown,
and come across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf,
and he knows that she is, too. She is glad to have found another
like her. Nate also tells Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with
him when he phased once. He fears that he may have bitten her,
and that Marissa may be a werewolf. They go to Marissa's dorm
and discover she is still human. Nate accidently phases in front
of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey hopes Marissa will just
wake up and think it was a bad dream.
The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream.
She finds Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has
figured out that Nate is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey
about it; Casey is reluctant to share, although she likes
Marissa.
The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina,
from a vampire.
Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is
similar to that of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine
that he is a hybrid-half human, half vampire. Justine's love for
him is unchanged.
The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date".
Georgina tells Casey that she is moving out immediately because
she knows about Casey's duel nature. Casey accidentally phases
in front of Georgina, almost killing her.
Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf. Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need
of a new roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with
her. Marissa agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging
around Casey. She gets in a car accident while moving her things
to Casey's apartment. Nate gives Marissa his blood, saving her
life, but the blood changes Marissa into a werewolf.
A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes
Alpha. She discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's
emotions, and she has an influence over whether the twins change
forms.
Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as
Alpha.
Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of
a guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was
found in a dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made
aware of how different she is from humans because of her
instincts, and wonders if werewolves have an immortal soul.
Marissa and Nate come up with no concrete evidence proving that
they have souls. Casey is concerned about where she will spend
eternity, and whether she can still be friends with Justine, even
though they are members of different species.
A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from
Justine's cell phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina.
Georgina informs Casey that she has captured Justine, and Casey
figures out that Georgina is now a vampire. Casey and the twins
are able to save Justine before Georgina drinks her blood, but
Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also bites Casey, but Tony
arrives and is able to suck both of their blood clean.
The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack
Marissa and she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since
Casey is her Alpha. When Casey arrives, she finds another
werewolf, Jenae, waiting with Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive.
Tony thanks Casey for saving Justine and invites her and Nate to
go out with them that night. Casey accepts, although she is
suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night, he gets
Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just
in time. He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey
that he plans to go home and work at a hospital to earn money for
medical school.
The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for
saving her from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him.
Later that morning, Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and
admits his love to her. This makes Marissa angry because she
feels like Nate is leading Casey on. Casey goes out for coffee
with Jenae to find out more information about her, since Jenae
wants to join Casey's pack. Meanwhile, Marissa attacks Nate,
forcing him to leave before originally planned.
Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and
while they are at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun
at Casey, but Jenae jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet
instead. Casey accepts Jenae into her pack as she dies.
Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah,
a human who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the
time, Casey tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself, and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual
wolf who almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the
differences-in his mind-that exist between humans and wolves.
Casey decides she likes being human better, because she feels the
human world gives her goals to achieve and a more purposeful
life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate while he is at work.
Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to Casey.
The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire
captures Savannah, and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's
rescue.
When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space.
Everyone except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is
unaffected because she is blind and cannot see the illusions
created by the vampire. When Casey attacks the vampire, his
movement frees the others from his visions. Casey's pack
destroys the vampire.
The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the
vampire killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she
isn't damned for eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted
herself as a werewolf.
_______________________________________________
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:49:41 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
Message-ID: <BCCAD78B50754350BB9C924F58412AF0 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
How to Write a Synopsis
by Marg Gilks
Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then marketing
a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment like "I hate
writing synopses."
I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself. Now
I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to write
than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd words into
a few pages. But it's important.
The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package and,
as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished with the
same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with the cover
letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the manuscript. If they
don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they won't even glance at
your chapter samples.
The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is purchased),
and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual bookstore
browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far from
actuality.
"Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and do
well. But how?"
One Step at a Time
Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it down.
Do it step by step.
The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
write a synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The
best time to realize this is just before you sit down with your
manuscript for the final reading preparatory to declaring the thing
completed.
Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph summary
of what happened where, and to which character, in that chapter.
Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
Symbolism you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you
were slogging away at the computer for all those months? (The
subconscious mind is a wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You
may just discover your one-line story summary that agents and editors
like so much, if you didn't know what it was before. Or even if you
thought you knew what it was, before (surprise, says the Muse, you were
wrong).
What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
outline, what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading,
and since chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor
with editors and agents, this will likely remain one of your most
valuable writing tools, and that's about it. Don't throw this away when
you've done your synopsis, either. You may know the story intimately
now, but you do forget details over time. You may decide to revise the
novel in the future, and this outline will help you. I've used mine to
make sure I'm not duplicating character names from one project to the
next. (The subconscious mind can also booby-trap you.) Reading an
outline is much easier than leafing through or rereading an entire
novel.
Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are doing,
basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more manageable
packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important plot points
in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only those
events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major way.
We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones your
reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right now, we
are striving for bare-bones.
"Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
ever."
Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
that right now.
Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
synopsis:
Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that will
pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to buy the
book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a feel for
how it's done.
You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your friend.
You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot him and
that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that sounds
like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things like, "The
good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the evil Dr. Death,
the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr. Death, falls,
somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him with the Good Guy
Death-ray to save the world."
That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
enthusiastic. Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to pick
up the manuscript and find out how this happens! How can you make your
synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main character and his or her
crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote briefly from the novel
itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's emotions and
motivations, those points that explain why a character does something,
but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste of it into
the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
the story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
summary by using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a
sample of your writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel
will be like, so give it your all.
Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
story that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your
cover letter. Editors and agents like having this distillation; not only
will it pique their interest, but it's something they can use when
presenting the novel to the buying board. It's also something you can
use, the next time someone politely asks you, "What's your novel about?"
"Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good as
the novel!"
Shalts and Shalt Nots
But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be longer
than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and agents, busy
people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten pages. The
busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider two pages
ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight page. If
you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry if it's ten
or more pages long
-- but it had better be gripping.
Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the first
three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four. Don't leave
out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to request the full
manuscript in order to find out what happens. What they will do is
decide you're an amateur.
No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
Jerry went to the bullfight.)
Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should single-
or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side, double-space;
it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your synopsis much as
you did your novel, or a short story.
The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's also
advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view character
by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the character's name.
Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this way:
not only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're honing your
writing skills at the same time.
Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:02:03 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID: <8CE371F3E7A74E4AAA97CB5F8C83329D at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=response
I agree that it sounds like a list of events. What drove me nuts was
the
constant reference to days (Monday, Tuesday etc.). It is a list of
events.
Try to make it more creative.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danielle Montour" <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
> Hi,
> Well, this synopsis seems more like a list of events than a flowing
> transitional piece between each character's life. I would like to
read
> the book, and understand what you are saying, however, I'd deliver it
> different, for example, even "Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is
okay
> with herself as a blind person, but she has trouble accepting herself
as a
> werewolf." might be a good starting sentence to your main synopsis.
>
> HTH
>
> Danni
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu
> To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
> Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
>
> Hello everyone,
> Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw mine
> out
> there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy novel, titled
> "Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Does this make you
want
> to read the book?
> --Katie
>
>
> Changes Plot Synopsis
>
> Main Conflict:
> Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
> person,
> but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf. She avoids
phasing
> unless it is the time of the full moon-or unless absolutely necessary.
> While attending college in present-day Denver, Colorado, circumstances
> force Casey to accept her duel nature.
>
> Synopsis:
> On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
> Justine,
> invites Casey to go to a club with her and her boyfriend, Tony, that
> night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony at a restaurant
beforehand.
> She is horrified when she discovers that Tony isn't human. He doesn't
eat
> anything at dinner, and his scent is too sweet. Casey struggles to
keep
> her inner wolf in check, so she doesn't change into a wolf in the
middle
> of the crowded restaurant.
> Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She is
rescued
> by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is attracted to Nate; this
is
> the first time she meets others of her own kind.
> The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf when
> Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
> Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her, her mood
> shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine, but it
doesn't
> change Justine's feelings for Tony.
> The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown, and
come
> across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf, and he knows
that
> she is, too. She is glad to have found another like her. Nate also
tells
> Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with him when he phased once. He
fears
> that he may have bitten her, and that Marissa may be a werewolf. They
go
> to Marissa's dorm and discover she is still human. Nate accidently
phases
> in front of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey hopes Marissa will
just
> wake up and think it was a bad dream.
> The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream. She
finds
> Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has figured out that
Nate
> is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey about it; Casey is reluctant
to
> share, although she likes Marissa.
>
> The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina, from
> a
> vampire.
> Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is similar to
that
> of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine that he is a
hybrid-half
> human, half vampire. Justine's love for him is unchanged.
> The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date". Georgina
tells
> Casey that she is moving out immediately because she knows about
Casey's
> duel nature. Casey accidentally phases in front of Georgina, almost
> killing her.
> Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf.
> Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
> The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need of a
new
> roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with her. Marissa
> agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging around Casey. She gets
in
> a car accident while moving her things to Casey's apartment. Nate
gives
> Marissa his blood, saving her life, but the blood changes Marissa into
a
> werewolf.
> A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes Alpha.
She
> discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's emotions, and she has
an
> influence over whether the twins change forms.
> Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as Alpha.
> Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of a
> guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was found
in a
> dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made aware of how
> different she is from humans because of her instincts, and wonders if
> werewolves have an immortal soul. Marissa and Nate come up with no
> concrete evidence proving that they have souls. Casey is concerned
about
> where she will spend eternity, and whether she can still be friends
with
> Justine, even though they are members of different species.
> A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from Justine's
cell
> phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina. Georgina informs Casey
that
> she has captured Justine, and Casey figures out that Georgina is now a
> vampire. Casey and the twins are able to save Justine before Georgina
> drinks her blood, but Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also bites
Casey,
> but Tony arrives and is able to suck both of their blood clean.
> The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack Marissa
and
> she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since Casey is her
Alpha.
> When Casey arrives, she finds another werewolf, Jenae, waiting with
> Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive. Tony thanks Casey for saving
Justine
> and invites her and Nate to go out with them that night. Casey
accepts,
> although she is suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night,
he
> gets Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
> memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just in
time.
> He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey that he plans
to
> go home and work at a hospital to earn money for medical school.
> The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for saving
her
> from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him. Later that
morning,
> Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and admits his love to her.
> This makes Marissa angry because she feels like Nate is leading Casey
on.
> Casey goes out for coffee with Jenae to find out more information
about
> her, since Jenae wants to join Casey's pack. Meanwhile, Marissa
attacks
> Nate, forcing him to leave before originally planned.
> Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and while they
are
> at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun at Casey, but Jenae
> jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet instead. Casey accepts
Jenae
> into her pack as she dies.
> Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah, a
human
> who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the time, Casey
> tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
> Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself,
> and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
> While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual wolf
who
> almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the differences-in
his
> mind-that exist between humans and wolves. Casey decides she likes
being
> human better, because she feels the human world gives her goals to
achieve
> and a more purposeful life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate
while he
> is at work. Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to Casey.
> The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing
> Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire captures
Savannah,
> and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's rescue.
> When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space. Everyone
> except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is unaffected
because
> she is blind and cannot see the illusions created by the vampire.
When
> Casey attacks the vampire, his movement frees the others from his
visions.
> Casey's pack destroys the vampire.
> The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the vampire
> killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she isn't damned for
> eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted herself as a werewolf.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
>
> stylist mailing list
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>
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> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:23:27 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
Message-ID: <51CDAD88BFAC446C86DF16A4C89A28EC at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
Joe, This is fabulous! I'm going back to try to do what she's
suggesting.
Later, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 8:49 AM
Subject: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
> How to Write a Synopsis
>
> by Marg Gilks
>
> Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then
> marketing a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment
> like "I hate writing synopses."
>
> I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
> wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
> sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself.
> Now I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to
> write than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd
> words into a few pages. But it's important.
>
> The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package
> and, as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished
> with the same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with
> the cover letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the
> manuscript. If they don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they
> won't even glance at your chapter samples.
>
> The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
> your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
> publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is
> purchased), and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual
> bookstore browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far
> from actuality.
>
> "Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and
> do well. But how?"
>
>
> One Step at a Time
> Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it
> down.
> Do
> it step by step.
>
> The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
> write
> a
> synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The best time
to
> realize this is just before you sit down with your manuscript for the
> final
> reading preparatory to declaring the thing completed.
>
> Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
> finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph
> summary of what happened where, and to which character, in that
> chapter.
>
> Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
> Symbolism
> you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you were
slogging
> away at the computer for all those months? (The subconscious mind is a
> wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You may just discover your
> one-line story summary that agents and editors like so much, if you
didn't
> know what it was before. Or even if you thought you knew what it was,
> before
> (surprise, says the Muse, you were wrong).
>
> What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
> outline,
> what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading, and since
> chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor with
editors
> and agents, this will likely remain one of your most valuable writing
> tools,
> and that's about it. Don't throw this away when you've done your
synopsis,
> either. You may know the story intimately now, but you do forget
details
> over time. You may decide to revise the novel in the future, and this
> outline will help you. I've used mine to make sure I'm not duplicating
> character names from one project to the next. (The subconscious mind
can
> also booby-trap you.) Reading an outline is much easier than leafing
> through
> or rereading an entire novel.
>
> Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are
> doing, basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more
> manageable packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important
> plot points in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
>
> Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only
> those events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major
> way. We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones
> your reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right
> now, we are striving for bare-bones.
>
> "Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
> ever."
>
> Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
> that right now.
>
>
> Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
> Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
> synopsis:
>
>
> Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that
> will pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to
> buy the book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a
> feel for how it's done.
>
>
> You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your
> friend. You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot
> him and that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that
> sounds like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things
> like, "The good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the
> evil Dr. Death, the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr.
> Death, falls, somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him
> with the Good Guy Death-ray to save the world."
>
> That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
> enthusiastic.
> Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to pick up the
> manuscript
> and find out how this happens!
> How can you make your synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main
> character and his or her crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote
> briefly from the novel itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's
> emotions and motivations, those points that explain why a character
does
> something, but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste
of
> it
> into the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
> information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
the
> story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
summary by
> using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a sample of
your
> writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel will be like,
so
> give it your all.
>
> Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
> story
> that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your cover
> letter.
> Editors and agents like having this distillation; not only will it
pique
> their interest, but it's something they can use when presenting the
novel
> to
> the buying board. It's also something you can use, the next time
someone
> politely asks you, "What's your novel about?"
>
> "Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good
> as
> the
> novel!"
>
>
> Shalts and Shalt Nots
> But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
>
> First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
> for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be
> longer than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and
> agents, busy people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten
> pages. The busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider
> two pages ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight
> page. If you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry
> if it's ten or more pages long
> -- but it had better be gripping.
>
> Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
> synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
> Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
> adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
>
> You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the
> first three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four.
> Don't leave out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to
> request the full manuscript in order to find out what happens. What
> they will do is decide you're an amateur.
>
> No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
> written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
> Jerry went to the bullfight.)
>
> Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should
> single- or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side,
> double-space; it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your
> synopsis much as you did your novel, or a short story.
>
> The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
> CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
> referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
> first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's
> also advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view
> character by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the
> character's name.
>
> Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this
> way:
> not
> only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're honing your
> writing
> skills at the same time.
>
>
> Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
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ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:21:12 -0400
From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
Message-ID: <4CBF08E8.1080803 at epix.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Joe,
Thanks so much for finding and posting this. It's excellent. I haven't
yet re located the section in Sarah Parsons Zackheim's "Getting Your
Book Published for Dummies" about query letters and synopses for
fiction, but, if memory serves, this article is in agreement with her
perspective.
My gut reaction in creating my own synopsis, which isn't done yet, is
that I'd like to keep it between 500 and 800 words. That would be in
line with the author's preference for 2 pages. I think my reasoning
stems from my indoctrination as a writer for Suite 101; they tout
research claiming that readers respond best to pieces that are between
400 and 800 words.
Donna Hill
Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4
Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org
On 10/20/2010 8:49 AM, Joe Orozco wrote:
> How to Write a Synopsis
>
> by Marg Gilks
>
> Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then
> marketing a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment
> like "I hate writing synopses."
>
> I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
> wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
> sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself.
> Now I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to
> write than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd
> words into a few pages. But it's important.
>
> The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package
> and, as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished
> with the same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with
> the cover letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the
> manuscript. If they don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they
> won't even glance at your chapter samples.
>
> The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
> your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
> publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is
> purchased), and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual
> bookstore browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far
> from actuality.
>
> "Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and
> do well. But how?"
>
>
> One Step at a Time
> Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it
> down. Do it step by step.
>
> The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
> write a synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The
> best time to realize this is just before you sit down with your
> manuscript for the final reading preparatory to declaring the thing
> completed.
>
> Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
> finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph
> summary of what happened where, and to which character, in that
> chapter.
>
> Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
> Symbolism you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you
> were slogging away at the computer for all those months? (The
> subconscious mind is a wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You
> may just discover your one-line story summary that agents and editors
> like so much, if you didn't know what it was before. Or even if you
> thought you knew what it was, before (surprise, says the Muse, you
> were wrong).
>
> What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
> outline, what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading,
> and since chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor
> with editors and agents, this will likely remain one of your most
> valuable writing tools, and that's about it. Don't throw this away
> when you've done your synopsis, either. You may know the story
> intimately now, but you do forget details over time. You may decide to
> revise the novel in the future, and this outline will help you. I've
> used mine to make sure I'm not duplicating character names from one
> project to the next. (The subconscious mind can also booby-trap you.)
> Reading an outline is much easier than leafing through or rereading an
> entire novel.
>
> Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are
> doing, basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more
> manageable packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important
> plot points in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
>
> Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only
> those events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major
> way. We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones
> your reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right
> now, we are striving for bare-bones.
>
> "Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
> ever."
>
> Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
> that right now.
>
>
> Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
> Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
> synopsis:
>
>
> Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that
> will pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to
> buy the book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a
> feel for how it's done.
>
>
> You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your
> friend. You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot
> him and that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that
> sounds like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things
> like, "The good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the
> evil Dr. Death, the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr.
> Death, falls, somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him
> with the Good Guy Death-ray to save the world."
>
> That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
> enthusiastic. Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to
> pick up the manuscript and find out how this happens! How can you make
> your synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main character and his
> or her crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote briefly from the
> novel itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's emotions and
> motivations, those points that explain why a character does something,
> but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste of it into
> the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
> information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
> the story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
> summary by using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a
> sample of your writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel
> will be like, so give it your all.
>
> Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
> story that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your
> cover letter. Editors and agents like having this distillation; not
> only will it pique their interest, but it's something they can use
> when presenting the novel to the buying board. It's also something you
> can use, the next time someone politely asks you, "What's your novel
> about?"
>
> "Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good
> as the novel!"
>
>
> Shalts and Shalt Nots
> But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
>
> First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
> for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be
> longer than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and
> agents, busy people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten
> pages. The busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider
> two pages ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight
> page. If you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry
> if it's ten or more pages long
> -- but it had better be gripping.
>
> Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
> synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
> Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
> adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
>
> You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the
> first three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four.
> Don't leave out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to
> request the full manuscript in order to find out what happens. What
> they will do is decide you're an amateur.
>
> No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
> written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
> Jerry went to the bullfight.)
>
> Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should
> single- or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side,
> double-space; it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your
> synopsis much as you did your novel, or a short story.
>
> The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
> CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
> referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
> first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's
> also advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view
> character by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the
> character's name.
>
> Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this
> way: not only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're
> honing your writing skills at the same time.
>
>
> Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org<http://www.nfb-writers-division.or
> g/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40e
> pix.net
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.514)
> Database version: 6.16110
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>
>
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End of stylist Digest, Vol 78, Issue 36
***************************************
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:14:35 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Self Publishing
Message-ID: <8FC367AC4A3A4442A3380F52433F0ABE at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Donna,
Thanks for the book mention. I'm going to definitely check it out.
From
what I've been gathering, even authors who get picked up by major
publishers
wind up doing and paying for their own marketing in the current economy,
which makes me want to do a cost comparison. I hope folks with more
information on book marketing will chime in, as this would be an
important
point of discussion for self-publishing.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 4:14 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Self Publishing
Hi David,
Congratulations for getting this far in the process! There are many
things to think about with self-publishing, and unless you already have
done so, I would advise reading "Getting Your Book Published for
Dummies" which is available as digital download and cassette
from NLS or
some other book about how the publishing industry works.
I think that I Universe still makes you sign an exclusive contract,
whereas Amazon, for instance, doesn't. I'm in the midst of researching
this for my novel and it is a mind-numbing process. The other thing you
need to keep in mind is that the writer, regardless of whether it's
self-published or picked up by a publisher, is nowadays responsible for
more and more of the promotions. I recently bought an accessible e-book
called "Purple Snowflake Marketing" by Dave and Lillian Brummit, which
is a great resource.
BTW, what's a nonfiction novel?
Donna Hill
Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=
259244374
Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org
On 10/20/2010 2:51 PM, davidw wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been researching self publishing company's and there are so
> many to choose from. Being a first time author of my non-fiction
> novel I'd like to make the right choice.
>
> Can someone recommend a company for printing paperback's with the
> advantages of distribution.
> and or company's that don't shy away from first time author's.
>
> Thanks,
>
> David Wermuth
> dwermuth1 at earthlink.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
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------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:14:41 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Changes plot synopsis
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP1466F20C05BD78E826B8547C45C0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Katie,
Ah, ala Twilight? Vampires and werewolfs are very big right now!
*smile*
I love fantasy and this is interesting, but it is more of a chapter
outline than a plot synopsis. Try this, if you had to sum the book up
in one sentence, how would it read? Write this before expanding a bit
to give your synopsis. One sentence will help flesh out the central
point.
Good job and I look forward to reading more.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of stylist-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:00 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 78, Issue 36
Send stylist mailing list submissions to
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of stylist digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: synopsis (Joe Orozco)
2. Re: synopsis (Judith Bron)
3. Re: synopsis (Barbara Hammel)
4. Re: synopsis (Danielle Montour)
5. synopsis (Judith Bron)
6. Re: synopsis (Joe Orozco)
7. Re: synopsis (Danielle Montour)
8. Re: synopsis (Judith Bron)
9. Re: Synopsis (Watson, Katherine M)
10. Changes: a plot synopsis (Watson, Katherine M)
11. Re: Changes: a plot synopsis (Danielle Montour)
12. How to Write a Synopsis (Joe Orozco)
13. Re: Changes: a plot synopsis (Judith Bron)
14. Re: How to Write a Synopsis (Judith Bron)
15. Re: How to Write a Synopsis (Donna Hill)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:04:51 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <EC7B391371074A3D991A588BB5EC0806 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer. This is
what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a quick
Internet search:
***
"She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult series
about observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
mainstream world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche
audience, but Judith doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing its
ugly head again. But what do people hate?" She hopes to answer questions
about observant Judaism, their unique lifestyle and give her readers a
page turning reading experience that contains mystery, intrigue, good
guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life, and yes, death. This book will
give her readers a riveting novel that the young adult, or perhaps adult
reader, Won't be able to put down!"
***
That, I think, is intriguing.
Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if the
synopsis you've prepared lives up to this claim?
1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of incidents.
First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character reacted
like this...
2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much enthusiasm.
You
wrote:
***
"They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
***
Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
Remember the novel audience is significantly different from your
synopsis audience.
3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is fascinating.
Flush out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in should
not be a shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a
chapter-by-chapter outline. The synopsis, according to what I
understand you need to submit, should be a panoramic view of the themes,
trials and brief character sketches the reader might encounter. If I
may offer a bit of advice, try to aim for the tone of a movie trailer.
Think of the words the narrators use to convince you to watch the
upcoming movie!
It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state.
Because of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether. Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron"
<jbron at optonline.net> wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the book?
Thanks, Judith Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York,
begins our
novel with a
near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
foster mother,
Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the accident.
Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer,
her parents
and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school
football team.
Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that
she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands
more about
her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
identity as a
Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey
to find out
just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned
when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to
bring her out
of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since entering her
present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by
the poverty
shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has
ravaged her
body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an
Almighty she has
believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken a
mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time
in her life
she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome
her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has
only been a
part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually
her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an observant
Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about
her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
living as an
observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a
family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi Levy,
Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove,
and the lives
of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York
become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by her
parents has
become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
bedrooms Jennifer
clings to these possessions left by her parents and talks to them. She
eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the
small book and
letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter
that her Hebrew
name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah. The
principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the
small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things and
tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him
later that day
to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his
safety deposit box
at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi
who, since her
mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences more
turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get
hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They
take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
the criminals
proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of the
beds, tries
to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors' drinking party and
spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
abductors fall
into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her
arms off, slides
off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel
brings her
into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but
Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter
becomes known to
Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly revealed
identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she
has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of
who and what
they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painful
questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
stylist mailing list
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<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:20:18 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <0D09DA54256B406E99980896779B5052 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
Joe, I don't even remember which article or write up that excerpt was
taken
from. I don't think it's a bad memory, just a selective one. I'll take
this version back to the drawing board. Thanks, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Judith,
>
> You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer. This
> is what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a
> quick Internet search:
>
> ***
>
> "She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult series
> about observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
> mainstream world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche
> audience, but Judith doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing
> its ugly head again. But what do people hate?" She hopes to answer
> questions about observant Judaism, their unique lifestyle and give her
> readers a page turning reading experience that contains
> mystery, intrigue, good guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life, and
yes,
> death. This book will give her readers a riveting novel that the young
> adult, or perhaps adult reader, Won't be able to put down!"
>
> ***
>
> That, I think, is intriguing.
>
> Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if the
> synopsis
> you've prepared lives up to this claim?
>
> 1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of incidents.
> First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character
> reacted like this...
>
> 2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much enthusiasm.
> You
> wrote:
>
> ***
>
> "They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
> the criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
>
> ***
>
> Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
> Remember the novel audience is significantly different from your
> synopsis audience.
>
> 3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is fascinating.
> Flush
> out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in should not
be
> a
> shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a chapter-by-chapter
> outline. The synopsis, according to what I understand you need to
submit,
> should be a panoramic view of the themes, trials and brief character
> sketches the reader might encounter. If I may offer a bit of advice,
try
> to
> aim for the tone of a movie trailer. Think of the words the narrators
use
> to convince you to watch the upcoming movie!
>
> It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Judith Bron
> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
>
> I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because
> of her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional
> relationship.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
>
>
> I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether.
> Lori On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron"
> <jbron at optonline.net> wrote:
>
> From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
> To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
> <stylist at nfbnet.org> Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is
> more along the lines everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you
> think it sells the book? Thanks, Judith
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our
> novel with a
> near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
> foster mother,
> Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the
accident.
> Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left by
> Jennifer's
> long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer,
> her parents
> and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
>
> Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
> team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
> reveals that
> she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands
> more about
> her own identity.
>
> The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
> identity as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her
> journey to find out
> just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
> being orphaned
> when she was two.
>
> Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
> reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring
> her out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
> entering her present school the year before. Pessi's life is
> complicated by the poverty
> shrouding her once affluent family.
>
> Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
> her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an
> Almighty she has
> believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken
a
> mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time
> in her life
> she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
> to overcome
> her devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only
> been a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
> Eventually
> her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an observant
> Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about
> her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
> living as an
> observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a
> family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi
Levy,
> Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
> Jenna, New York
> become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by her
> parents has
> become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
> bedrooms Jennifer
> clings to these possessions left by her parents and talks to them. She
> eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the
> small book and
> letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter
> that her Hebrew
> name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
> shyly tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
> Channah. The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls
> the small packet
> out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things
and
> tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
>
> Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
> day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his
> safety deposit box
> at the bank.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who,
> since her mother's illness and death has become a class leader,
> experiences more turmoil over the change that is about to take place
> in her family.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
> get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
> street. They
> take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and
> the criminals
> proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of the
> beds, tries
> to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors' drinking party and
> spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
> abductors fall
> into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her
> arms off, slides
> off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
> the door.
>
> She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
> bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
> her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
> police, but
> Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
>
> Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
> known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
> revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the
> same person she
> has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
> what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
> Painful questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/lorista
> y%40aol.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%4
> 0optonline.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
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> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
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> o%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
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ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:50:51 -0500
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <SNT139-ds7B69B7A04A828024CBC73EB5B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
This is the idea I was thinking of though for ordering things. Has
Jennifer
even bonded with her foster family? If not, you could just say
something
about her feeling out of place in the world and leave Randy out and
Sheila
out.
This attempt was much better than the first.
Barbara
...
Yesterday is
A path well-trod,
A familiar lane
Through sacred sod,
A road we travel
Too often, I fear,
For there are the good times
When things are hard here,
...
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:04 AM
To: <jsorozco at gmail.com>; "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the
> lines
> everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the
book?
> Thanks, Judith
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our novel
with
> a near death experience and questions about her identity. Her foster
> mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after the
> accident. Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects
left
> by Jennifer's long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about
> Jennifer, her parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to
their
> daughter.
>
> Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
> team.
> Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer reveals
that
> she can't begin an emotional relationship until she understands more
about
> her own identity.
>
> The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's
> identity as
> a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find
> out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since being
> orphaned when she was two.
>
> Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
> reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring
her
> out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
entering
> her present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by
the
> poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
>
> Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
> her
> body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she
has
> believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has taken
a
> mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in her
life
> she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to
> overcome her devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only
> been a
> part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
> Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in
an
> observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent
> on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting
her
> placed with a family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work
out,
> and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their
home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna,
> New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left by
her
> parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her darkened
> bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her parents and
> talks to them. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language
that
> both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to learn
from
> the letter that her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
shyly
> tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
> The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
> packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
> things and tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
>
> Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
> day
> to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit
> box at the bank.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never
> accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who,
since
> her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more
> turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
> Criminals
> get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street.
> They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
> criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on one of
the
> beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her abductors'
drinking
> party and spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her
> abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding
her
> arms off, slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins
> hopping to the door.
>
> She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
> bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her
> into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the police,
but
> Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
>
> Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
> known
> to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed
> identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person
> she has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who
and
> what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful
> questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
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> stylist:
>
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.com
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:29:58 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com,Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbdf1d0.4bfde50a.4d6e.fffff01b at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
I like the synopsis a lot better now, however, the view keeps
switching between Pessy and Jennifer, and then some other
characters, and the transition between them is a little rough.
Maybe Making it flow a little better might help.
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:04:51 -0400
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Judith,
You previously mentioned being an established freelance writer.
This is
what I found with regard to you and your novel while performing a
quick
Internet search:
***
"She is currently working on her first novel in a young adult
series about
observant Jewish young adults that she wants to market in the
mainstream
world. One may think that this is a topic for a niche audience,
but Judith
doesn't agree. "Today, anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head
again. But
what do people hate?" She hopes to answer questions about
observant Judaism,
their unique lifestyle and give her readers a page turning
reading
experience that contains
mystery, intrigue, good guys, bad guys, issues surrounding life,
and yes,
death. This book will give her readers a riveting novel that the
young
adult, or perhaps adult reader, Won't be able to put down!"
***
That, I think, is intriguing.
Now, with that in mind, look over your synopsis and tell us if
the synopsis
you've prepared lives up to this claim?
1. It's very dry. You may as well write a bulleted list of
incidents.
First this happened, and then that happened. Then the character
reacted
like this...
2. Find a balance between what is intriguing and too much
enthusiasm. You
wrote:
***
"They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party."
***
Are you writing to an editor, or are you writing to a teenager?
Remember
the novel audience is significantly different from your synopsis
audience.
3. The themes laid out in the Internet search result is
fascinating. Flush
out those themes in your synopsis. What you are turning in
should not be a
shopping list, unless the publisher is requesting a
chapter-by-chapter
outline. The synopsis, according to what I understand you need
to submit,
should be a panoramic view of the themes, trials and brief
character
sketches the reader might encounter. If I may offer a bit of
advice, try to
aim for the tone of a movie trailer. Think of the words the
narrators use
to convince you to watch the upcoming movie!
It's looking good, but I recommend a bit more surgery.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:41 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional
relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis
altogether.
Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is
more along the
lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells
the book?
Thanks, Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York, begins our novel
with a near death experience and questions about her identity. Her
foster mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be with her after
the
accident.
Sheila's flashback to the day she received the only objects left
by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer, her
parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that she can't begin an emotional relationship until she
understands more about her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's identity
as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer
and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her
out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since
entering her
present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by the
poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has
taken a
mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in her
life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to
overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only been
a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant
Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer something
about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on
living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her
placed
with a
family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't work out, and
Rabbi Levy,
Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left
by her parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her
darkened bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her
parents and talks to
them. She
eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language that both the small book
and letter are written in. She is able to learn from the letter that
her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name.
She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things and
tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit box at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who, since
her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more
turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her
family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on
one of the beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her
abductors' drinking
party and
spends the time reviewing school work in her mind. When her abductors
fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works the ropes binding her arms
off, slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping
to the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still
tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed
identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same person
she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in
their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful
questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
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y%40aol.com
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er%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <60CC3B4167884551BB4B4C55A061BA03 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks around
the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a corridor that
seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly her long deceased
mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the
constant anti Semitic derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with
her mother. But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who you are,
and what you are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but
minutes later slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her injured
foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers the strange
messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only possessions left
by Jennifer's parents, a little book with an inserted paper written in
foreign writing. The messenger handed Sheila the items and left. After
closing the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a man
walking away from the house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival
of what should have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the
items in her possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer
on her seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is talking
to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive personality, Pessi
disagrees with her mother about getting involved with the girls at
school. Pessi insists that it's her life and if she wants to be alone
so be it. She stomps out of the house like a belligerent child leaving
her mother on the sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken
home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school. Her
classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the protective shell
Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is a bout to change
forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to help
her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the mattress.
Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's remains begging her to
say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she has
believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life she has her
solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to overcome her
devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in
getting her placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work
out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their
home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in Jenna
become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a fixture in
Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew language
that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to
learn from the letter her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She tells
the principal her Hebrew name. The principal asks her how she knows
this and Jennifer pulls the small packet out of her backpack. The
principal pales when she sees these things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet in a
safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna street.
They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
criminals proceed to have a drinking party. When her abductors fall
into a drunken slumber Jennifer works off the ropes binding her arms,
slides off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to
the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing with her
newly revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not
the same person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lives. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and what
they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula
questions experienced by teenagers everywhere.
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:15:24 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <5DC2A634551B4807ACD3A794DC14C921 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
It's coming along really well. I would start off by informing the
reader that that there are two characters so they know not to get
side-tracked by the mention of two girls. Maybe you could relocate the
last paragraph to the top of the synopsis. Rephrase it of course so
that it reads more smoothly.
Also, this sentence is positioned rather randomly:
*Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
never accept this.*
I think I get the back and forth you're trying to achieve, but it's a
little dizzying. I would focus on one girl, then the other, and then
tie it up neatly with ominous tones of, "what will happen to these girls
who must struggle to find their identity..." If I weren't in a rush,
I'd give you a better sample, but I think you get what I mean.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 5:02 PM
To: Stylist
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car,
looks around the strange place she ended up in. In front of
her is a corridor that seems to be lit with flickering candles.
Suddenly her long deceased mother is talking to her.
Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the constant anti Semitic
derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with her mother.
But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who
you are, and what you are!" Jennifer tries to change her
mother's mind, but minutes later slams back into her body,
aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with
her injured foster daughter. While heading to her car she
remembers the strange messenger a few months earlier who
delivered the only possessions left by Jennifer's parents, a
little book with an inserted paper written in foreign writing.
The messenger handed Sheila the items and left. After closing
the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a
man walking away from the house. Now she thought about
Jennifer's survival of what should have been a deadly accident.
She wondered about the items in her possession that the
messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her seventeenth
birthday. The story begins with all this mystery surrounding
an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg
is talking to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive
personality, Pessi disagrees with her mother about getting
involved with the girls at school. Pessi insists that it's her
life and if she wants to be alone so be it. She stomps out of
the house like a belligerent child leaving her mother on the
sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school.
Her classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the
protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life
is a bout to change forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room
to help her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on
the mattress. Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's
remains begging her to say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. For the first time in her
life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she
tries to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish
identity. Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting
her registered in an observant Jewish summer camp hoping that
the camp can teach Jennifer something about her roots and
identity. Jennifer returns from camp intent on living as an
observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting her
placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work out,
and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into
their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove,
and the lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish
Girls' school in Jenna become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a
fixture in Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn
the Hebrew language that both the small book and letter are
written in. She is able to learn from the letter her Hebrew
name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew
name. She tells the principal her Hebrew name. The principal
asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet
in a safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from
a Jenna street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like
a hunted animal and the criminals proceed to have a drinking
party. When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer
works off the ropes binding her arms, slides off the bed and,
braced on her now free hands begins hopping to the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall
where another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's
true identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time
dealing with her newly revealed identity. She can't deal with
the fact that she is not the same person she has lived with for
the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic
changes in their lives. Both characters have to come to an
understanding of who and what they are in a world filled with
danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula questions experienced by
teenagers everywhere.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for stylist:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jsorozc
o%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:50:08 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbe20b9.a26fe50a.587a.30d4 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Nice! That's really good! I like it.
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net
To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
Subject: [stylist] synopsis
Does this work? Judith
Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks
around the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a
corridor that seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly
her long deceased mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life
is dismal due to the constant anti Semitic derisions by her
classmates, wants to stay with her mother. But her mother tells
her that its not yet her time to stay. She has to learn, "To
live. To love. To hope. To know who you are, and what you
are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but minutes
later slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her
injured foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers
the strange messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only
possessions left by Jennifer's parents, a little book with an
inserted paper written in foreign writing. The messenger handed
Sheila the items and left. After closing the door Sheila ran to
her window to watch him drive away, but no car appeared on the
street or driveway. She couldn't see a man walking away from the
house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival of what should
have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the items in her
possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her
seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is
talking to her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive
personality, Pessi disagrees with her mother about getting
involved with the girls at school. Pessi insists that it's her
life and if she wants to be alone so be it. She stomps out of
the house like a belligerent child leaving her mother on the sofa
in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school.
Her classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the
protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is
a bout to change forever.
One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to
help her only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the
mattress. Totally bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's
remains begging her to say something.
Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she
has believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life
she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered
in an observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach
Jennifer something about her roots and identity. Jennifer
returns from camp intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again
Sheila is helpful in getting her placed with a family in Jenna.
This family doesn't work out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father,
agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and
the lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls'
school in Jenna become entwined forever.
The small book and letter left by her parents has become a
fixture in Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn
the Hebrew language that both the small book and letter are
written in. She is able to learn from the letter her Hebrew name
is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high
school principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew
name. She tells the principal her Hebrew name. The principal
asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small packet
out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things.
Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet
in a safe place.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she
will never accept this.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
Criminals get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a
Jenna street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a
hunted animal and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party.
When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works off
the ropes binding her arms, slides off the bed and, braced on her
now free hands begins hopping to the door.
With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
another hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the
police.
Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
identity are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing
with her newly revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact
that she is not the same person she has lived with for the past
17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their
identity throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic
changes in their lives. Both characters have to come to an
understanding of who and what they are in a world filled with
danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula questions experienced by
teenagers everywhere.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for stylist:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/hypoplex
er%40gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:46:47 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <949B2C8F3C0D4EDE9BFEDBC5FB65E005 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=response
Thanks Danni, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danielle Montour" <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
> Nice! That's really good! I like it.
>
> Danni
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net
> To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:01 -0400
> Subject: [stylist] synopsis
>
> Does this work? Judith
>
> Jennifer Rabinowitz, unconscious after being hit by a car, looks
> around
> the strange place she ended up in. In front of her is a corridor that
> seems to be lit with flickering candles. Suddenly her long deceased
> mother is talking to her. Jennifer, whose life is dismal due to the
> constant anti Semitic derisions by her classmates, wants to stay with
her
> mother. But her mother tells her that its not yet her time to stay.
She
> has to learn, "To live. To love. To hope. To know who you are, and
what
> you are!" Jennifer tries to change her mother's mind, but minutes
later
> slams back into her body, aware of the pain.
>
> Jennifer's foster mother, Sheila, spent most of the day with her
> injured
> foster daughter. While heading to her car she remembers the strange
> messenger a few months earlier who delivered the only possessions left
by
> Jennifer's parents, a little book with an inserted paper written in
> foreign writing. The messenger handed Sheila the items and left.
After
> closing the door Sheila ran to her window to watch him drive away, but
no
> car appeared on the street or driveway. She couldn't see a man
walking
> away from the house. Now she thought about Jennifer's survival of
what
> should have been a deadly accident. She wondered about the items in
her
> possession that the messenger told her to give to Jennifer on her
> seventeenth birthday. The story begins with all this mystery
surrounding
> an orphaned Jewish girl from Curtis Cove, New York.
>
> Meanwhile, on the same day in Jenna, New York Pessi Goldberg is
> talking to
> her very ill mother. Shrouded in her reclusive personality, Pessi
> disagrees with her mother about getting involved with the girls at
school.
> Pessi insists that it's her life and if she wants to be alone so be
it.
> She stomps out of the house like a belligerent child leaving her
mother on
> the sofa in the dining room of their poverty stricken home.
>
> That afternoon Pessi decides to attend a lecture at her school. Her
> classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her out of the protective shell
Pessi
> has shrouded herself in. Pessi's life is a bout to change forever.
>
> One morning a few months later Pessi goes to her mother's room to help
> her
> only to discover a cold motionless body lying on the mattress.
Totally
> bereft Pessi gently shakes her mother's remains begging her to say
> something.
>
> Heart broken, Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty she has
> believed in her entire life. For the first time in her life she has
her
> solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries to overcome her
> devastating loss.
>
> Jennifer continues to puzzle over her depressing Jewish identity.
> Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in
an
> observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
> something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent
> on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in getting
her
> placed with a family in Jenna. This family doesn't work out, and
Rabbi
> Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into their home.
>
> The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
> lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna
> become entwined forever.
>
> The small book and letter left by her parents has become a fixture in
> Jennifer's backpack. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew
language
> that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able to
learn
> from the letter her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
>
> The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
> principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She
tells
> the principal her Hebrew name. The principal asks her how she knows
this
> and Jennifer pulls the small packet out of her backpack. The
principal
> pales when she sees these things.
>
> Later that day the principal asks Rabbi Levy to put the packet in a
> safe
> place.
>
> Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will
> never
> accept this.
>
> Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section.
> Criminals
> get hold of this information and kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna street.
> They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal and the
> criminals proceed to have a drinking party. When her abductors fall
into
> a drunken slumber Jennifer works off the ropes binding her arms,
slides
> off the bed and, braced on her now free hands begins hopping to the
door.
>
> With her legs still tightly bound she hobbles into the hall where
> another
> hotel guest brings her into his room and calls the police.
>
> Eventually the contents of the letter containing Jennifer's true
> identity
> are disclosed to her. But she has a hard time dealing with her newly
> revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the
same
> person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
>
> Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
> throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
> lives. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what
> they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt. Painfula
> questions experienced by teenagers everywhere.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/hypoplex
> er%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonli
ne.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:45:36 -0500
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu>
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Synopsis
Message-ID:
<EDBE9878551309429B866E05149A18ED4AC3A0A867 at exchmb1.uww.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judith,
This is better, although some sentences still sound awkward. (I.E.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she has lived with for the past 17 years. Could be: Eventually,
Jennifer is freed and finds out about the contents of the letter.
Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly revealed identity. She
struggles with the fact that she is not the same person she thought she
was for the past 17 years.)
Think about your main conflict. (This was the "hook" you used in
your query letter to that publisher.) Base everything in your synopsis
off that main theme. I don't think you will need to mention the readers
or the novel itself in the synopsis. Just start with the main conflict,
stating it, along with the resolution, in a few sentences at the
beginning of your synopsis, then go from there. I hope you find this
helpful. --Katie
------------------------------
Message: 27
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:40:50 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Message-ID: <C9B70F9E06084868A7C2DB20A46E8CE5 at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
I want it in there to demonstrate Jennifer's emotional state. Because
of
her identity problems, she can't commit to an emotional relationship.
----- Original Message -----
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
I still think you could leave Randy out of the synopsis altogether. Lori
On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:04:39 PM, "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
wrote:
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] synopsis
Date: October 19, 2010 12:04:39 PM EDT
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, "Writer's Division Mailing List"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Hi Joe, Here's my latest attempt. I think this is more along the lines
everyone was talking about. Bottom line, do you think it sells the book?
Thanks, Judith Jennifer Rabinowitz, living in Curtis Cove New York,
begins our novel with a near death experience and questions about her
identity. Her foster mother, Sheila has rushed to Jennifer's side to be
with her after the accident. Sheila's flashback to the day she received
the only objects left by
Jennifer's
long dead parents leaves the reader wondering about Jennifer, her
parents and the mystery surrounding the letter left to their daughter.
Jennifer's best friend is Randy, captain of her high school football
team. Randy wants more from Jennifer than friendship, but Jennifer
reveals that she can't begin an emotional relationship until she
understands more about her own identity.
The reader is introduced to the bigotry surrounding Jennifer's identity
as a Jew. This bigotry is all she knows about Judaism on her journey to
find out just who and what she is in the world she has lived in since
being orphaned when she was two.
Pessi Goldberg begins the story with a mother dieing of cancer and a
reclusive personality. Pessi's classmate Chavy Levy starts to bring her
out of the protective shell Pessi has shrouded herself in since entering
her present school the year before. Pessi's life is complicated by the
poverty shrouding her once affluent family.
Eventually Pessi's mother passes away from the cancer that has ravaged
her body. Heart broken Pessi now questions the motives of an Almighty
she has believed in her entire life. She questions why the Almighty has
taken a mother away from her two younger siblings. For the first time in
her life she has her solid faith in the Almighty challenged as she tries
to overcome her devastating loss.
Jennifer continues to puzzle over her Jewish identity that has only been
a part of her life during the chiding of anti-Semitic classmates.
Eventually her foster mother is helpful in getting her registered in an
observant Jewish summer camp hoping that the camp can teach Jennifer
something about her roots and identity. Jennifer returns from camp
intent on living as an observant Jewess. Again Sheila is helpful in
getting her placed with a family in Jenna, New York. This family doesn't
work out, and Rabbi Levy, Chavy's father, agrees to take Jennifer into
their home.
The lives of Jennifer from the public schools of Curtis Cove, and the
lives of Pessi and Chavy from an observant Jewish Girls' school in
Jenna, New York become entwined forever. The small book and letter left
by her parents has become a fixture in Jennifer's backpack. In her
darkened bedrooms Jennifer clings to these possessions left by her
parents and talks to them. She eventually begins to learn the Hebrew
language that both the small book and letter are written in. She is able
to learn from the letter that her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother
Channah.
The day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashannah, the high school
principal Mrs. Newman asks Jennifer if she has a Hebrew name. She shyly
tells the principal her Hebrew name is Breindle and her mother Channah.
The principal asks her how she knows this and Jennifer pulls the small
packet out of her backpack. The principal pales when she sees these
things and tells Jennifer to put them in a safe place.
Rabbi Levy is an investment banker. The principal asks him later that
day to put the packet in a safe place and he places it in his safety
deposit box at the bank.
Pessi learns that her father intends to remarry. She vows she will never
accept this change in their family. More problems for Pessi who, since
her mother's illness and death has become a class leader, experiences
more turmoil over the change that is about to take place in her family.
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the letter has a financial section. Criminals
get hold of this information and they kidnap Jennifer from a Jenna
street. They take her to a hotel room, tie her up like a hunted animal
and the criminals proceed to have a drinking party. Jennifer, lying on
one of the beds, tries to block out the sounds and odors of her
abductors' drinking party and spends the time reviewing school work in
her mind. When her abductors fall into a drunken slumber Jennifer works
the ropes binding her arms off, slides off the bed and, braced on her
now free hands begins hopping to the door.
She prays her abductors do not awaken and, with her legs still tightly
bound, makes it into the hall where another guest in the hotel brings
her into his room where the guest's wife is packing. He calls the
police, but Jennifer's abductors try to get her back into their custody.
Eventually Jennifer is freed and the contents of the letter becomes
known to Jennifer. But Jennifer has a hard time dealing with her newly
revealed identity. She can't deal with the fact that she is not the same
person she has lived with for the past 17 years.
Both Pessi and Jennifer have to overcome problems with their identity
throughout the novel. Both have to deal with drastic changes in their
lifestyle. Both characters have to come to an understanding of who and
what they are in a world filled with danger, fear and self doubt.
Painful questions experienced by teenagers all over the world.
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu>
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID:
<EDBE9878551309429B866E05149A18ED4AC3A0A869 at exchmb1.uww.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello everyone,
Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw mine
out there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy novel, titled
"Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Does this make you
want to read the book? --Katie
Changes Plot Synopsis
Main Conflict:
Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf. She avoids
phasing unless it is the time of the full moon-or unless absolutely
necessary. While attending college in present-day Denver, Colorado,
circumstances force Casey to accept her duel nature.
Synopsis:
On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
Justine, invites Casey to go to a club with her and her boyfriend, Tony,
that night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony at a restaurant
beforehand. She is horrified when she discovers that Tony isn't human.
He doesn't eat anything at dinner, and his scent is too sweet. Casey
struggles to keep her inner wolf in check, so she doesn't change into a
wolf in the middle of the crowded restaurant.
Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She is
rescued by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is attracted to Nate;
this is the first time she meets others of her own kind.
The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf when
Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her, her mood
shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine, but it doesn't
change Justine's feelings for Tony.
The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown, and
come across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf, and he
knows that she is, too. She is glad to have found another like her. Nate
also tells Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with him when he phased
once. He fears that he may have bitten her, and that Marissa may be a
werewolf. They go to Marissa's dorm and discover she is still human.
Nate accidently phases in front of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey
hopes Marissa will just wake up and think it was a bad dream.
The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream. She finds
Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has figured out that Nate
is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey about it; Casey is reluctant
to share, although she likes Marissa.
The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina, from a
vampire.
Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is similar to
that of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine that he is a
hybrid-half human, half vampire. Justine's love for him is unchanged.
The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date". Georgina
tells Casey that she is moving out immediately because she knows about
Casey's duel nature. Casey accidentally phases in front of Georgina,
almost killing her.
Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf. Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need of a
new roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with her. Marissa
agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging around Casey. She gets in
a car accident while moving her things to Casey's apartment. Nate gives
Marissa his blood, saving her life, but the blood changes Marissa into a
werewolf.
A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes Alpha. She
discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's emotions, and she has an
influence over whether the twins change forms.
Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as Alpha.
Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of a
guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was found in
a dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made aware of how
different she is from humans because of her instincts, and wonders if
werewolves have an immortal soul. Marissa and Nate come up with no
concrete evidence proving that they have souls. Casey is concerned about
where she will spend eternity, and whether she can still be friends with
Justine, even though they are members of different species.
A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from Justine's
cell phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina. Georgina informs Casey
that she has captured Justine, and Casey figures out that Georgina is
now a vampire. Casey and the twins are able to save Justine before
Georgina drinks her blood, but Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also
bites Casey, but Tony arrives and is able to suck both of their blood
clean.
The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack Marissa and
she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since Casey is her Alpha.
When Casey arrives, she finds another werewolf, Jenae, waiting with
Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive. Tony thanks Casey for saving Justine
and invites her and Nate to go out with them that night. Casey accepts,
although she is suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night, he
gets Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just in
time. He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey that he
plans to go home and work at a hospital to earn money for medical
school.
The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for saving
her from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him. Later that
morning, Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and admits his love
to her. This makes Marissa angry because she feels like Nate is leading
Casey on. Casey goes out for coffee with Jenae to find out more
information about her, since Jenae wants to join Casey's pack.
Meanwhile, Marissa attacks Nate, forcing him to leave before originally
planned.
Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and while they
are at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun at Casey, but Jenae
jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet instead. Casey accepts Jenae
into her pack as she dies.
Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah, a human
who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the time, Casey
tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself, and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual wolf
who almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the differences-in
his mind-that exist between humans and wolves. Casey decides she likes
being human better, because she feels the human world gives her goals to
achieve and a more purposeful life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate
while he is at work. Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to
Casey.
The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire captures
Savannah, and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's rescue.
When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space. Everyone
except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is unaffected because
she is blind and cannot see the illusions created by the vampire. When
Casey attacks the vampire, his movement frees the others from his
visions. Casey's pack destroys the vampire.
The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the vampire
killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she isn't damned for
eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted herself as a werewolf.
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:25:58 -0400
From: Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID: <4cbe6f6f.8e4ee50a.33fd.0675 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
Well, this synopsis seems more like a list of events than a
flowing transitional piece between each character's life. I
would like to read the book, and understand what you are saying,
however, I'd deliver it different, for example, even
"Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf."
might be a good starting sentence to your main synopsis.
HTH
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu
To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Hello everyone,
Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw
mine out there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy
novel, titled "Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Does this make you want to read the book?
--Katie
Changes Plot Synopsis
Main Conflict:
Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a
blind person, but she has trouble accepting herself as a
werewolf. She avoids phasing unless it is the time of the full
moon-or unless absolutely necessary. While attending college in
present-day Denver, Colorado, circumstances force Casey to accept
her duel nature.
Synopsis:
On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
Justine, invites Casey to go to a club with her and her
boyfriend, Tony, that night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony
at a restaurant beforehand. She is horrified when she discovers
that Tony isn't human. He doesn't eat anything at dinner, and
his scent is too sweet. Casey struggles to keep her inner wolf
in check, so she doesn't change into a wolf in the middle of the
crowded restaurant.
Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She
is rescued by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is
attracted to Nate; this is the first time she meets others of her
own kind.
The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf
when Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her,
her mood shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine,
but it doesn't change Justine's feelings for Tony.
The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown,
and come across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf,
and he knows that she is, too. She is glad to have found another
like her. Nate also tells Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with
him when he phased once. He fears that he may have bitten her,
and that Marissa may be a werewolf. They go to Marissa's dorm
and discover she is still human. Nate accidently phases in front
of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey hopes Marissa will just
wake up and think it was a bad dream.
The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream.
She finds Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has
figured out that Nate is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey
about it; Casey is reluctant to share, although she likes
Marissa.
The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina,
from a vampire.
Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is
similar to that of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine
that he is a hybrid-half human, half vampire. Justine's love for
him is unchanged.
The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date".
Georgina tells Casey that she is moving out immediately because
she knows about Casey's duel nature. Casey accidentally phases
in front of Georgina, almost killing her.
Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf. Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need
of a new roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with
her. Marissa agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging
around Casey. She gets in a car accident while moving her things
to Casey's apartment. Nate gives Marissa his blood, saving her
life, but the blood changes Marissa into a werewolf.
A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes
Alpha. She discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's
emotions, and she has an influence over whether the twins change
forms.
Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as
Alpha.
Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of
a guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was
found in a dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made
aware of how different she is from humans because of her
instincts, and wonders if werewolves have an immortal soul.
Marissa and Nate come up with no concrete evidence proving that
they have souls. Casey is concerned about where she will spend
eternity, and whether she can still be friends with Justine, even
though they are members of different species.
A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from
Justine's cell phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina.
Georgina informs Casey that she has captured Justine, and Casey
figures out that Georgina is now a vampire. Casey and the twins
are able to save Justine before Georgina drinks her blood, but
Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also bites Casey, but Tony
arrives and is able to suck both of their blood clean.
The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack
Marissa and she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since
Casey is her Alpha. When Casey arrives, she finds another
werewolf, Jenae, waiting with Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive.
Tony thanks Casey for saving Justine and invites her and Nate to
go out with them that night. Casey accepts, although she is
suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night, he gets
Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just
in time. He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey
that he plans to go home and work at a hospital to earn money for
medical school.
The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for
saving her from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him.
Later that morning, Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and
admits his love to her. This makes Marissa angry because she
feels like Nate is leading Casey on. Casey goes out for coffee
with Jenae to find out more information about her, since Jenae
wants to join Casey's pack. Meanwhile, Marissa attacks Nate,
forcing him to leave before originally planned.
Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and
while they are at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun
at Casey, but Jenae jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet
instead. Casey accepts Jenae into her pack as she dies.
Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah,
a human who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the
time, Casey tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself, and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual
wolf who almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the
differences-in his mind-that exist between humans and wolves.
Casey decides she likes being human better, because she feels the
human world gives her goals to achieve and a more purposeful
life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate while he is at work.
Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to Casey.
The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire
captures Savannah, and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's
rescue.
When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space.
Everyone except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is
unaffected because she is blind and cannot see the illusions
created by the vampire. When Casey attacks the vampire, his
movement frees the others from his visions. Casey's pack
destroys the vampire.
The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the
vampire killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she
isn't damned for eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted
herself as a werewolf.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
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------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:49:41 -0400
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
Message-ID: <BCCAD78B50754350BB9C924F58412AF0 at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
How to Write a Synopsis
by Marg Gilks
Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then marketing
a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment like "I hate
writing synopses."
I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself. Now
I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to write
than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd words into
a few pages. But it's important.
The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package and,
as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished with the
same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with the cover
letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the manuscript. If they
don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they won't even glance at
your chapter samples.
The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is purchased),
and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual bookstore
browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far from
actuality.
"Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and do
well. But how?"
One Step at a Time
Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it down.
Do it step by step.
The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
write a synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The
best time to realize this is just before you sit down with your
manuscript for the final reading preparatory to declaring the thing
completed.
Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph summary
of what happened where, and to which character, in that chapter.
Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
Symbolism you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you
were slogging away at the computer for all those months? (The
subconscious mind is a wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You
may just discover your one-line story summary that agents and editors
like so much, if you didn't know what it was before. Or even if you
thought you knew what it was, before (surprise, says the Muse, you were
wrong).
What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
outline, what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading,
and since chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor
with editors and agents, this will likely remain one of your most
valuable writing tools, and that's about it. Don't throw this away when
you've done your synopsis, either. You may know the story intimately
now, but you do forget details over time. You may decide to revise the
novel in the future, and this outline will help you. I've used mine to
make sure I'm not duplicating character names from one project to the
next. (The subconscious mind can also booby-trap you.) Reading an
outline is much easier than leafing through or rereading an entire
novel.
Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are doing,
basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more manageable
packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important plot points
in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only those
events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major way.
We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones your
reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right now, we
are striving for bare-bones.
"Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
ever."
Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
that right now.
Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
synopsis:
Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that will
pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to buy the
book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a feel for
how it's done.
You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your friend.
You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot him and
that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that sounds
like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things like, "The
good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the evil Dr. Death,
the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr. Death, falls,
somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him with the Good Guy
Death-ray to save the world."
That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
enthusiastic. Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to pick
up the manuscript and find out how this happens! How can you make your
synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main character and his or her
crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote briefly from the novel
itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's emotions and
motivations, those points that explain why a character does something,
but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste of it into
the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
the story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
summary by using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a
sample of your writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel
will be like, so give it your all.
Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
story that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your
cover letter. Editors and agents like having this distillation; not only
will it pique their interest, but it's something they can use when
presenting the novel to the buying board. It's also something you can
use, the next time someone politely asks you, "What's your novel about?"
"Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good as
the novel!"
Shalts and Shalt Nots
But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be longer
than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and agents, busy
people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten pages. The
busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider two pages
ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight page. If
you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry if it's ten
or more pages long
-- but it had better be gripping.
Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the first
three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four. Don't leave
out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to request the full
manuscript in order to find out what happens. What they will do is
decide you're an amateur.
No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
Jerry went to the bullfight.)
Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should single-
or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side, double-space;
it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your synopsis much as
you did your novel, or a short story.
The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's also
advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view character
by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the character's name.
Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this way:
not only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're honing your
writing skills at the same time.
Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:02:03 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
Message-ID: <8CE371F3E7A74E4AAA97CB5F8C83329D at dell5150>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=response
I agree that it sounds like a list of events. What drove me nuts was
the
constant reference to days (Monday, Tuesday etc.). It is a list of
events.
Try to make it more creative.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danielle Montour" <hypoplexer at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
> Hi,
> Well, this synopsis seems more like a list of events than a flowing
> transitional piece between each character's life. I would like to
read
> the book, and understand what you are saying, however, I'd deliver it
> different, for example, even "Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is
okay
> with herself as a blind person, but she has trouble accepting herself
as a
> werewolf." might be a good starting sentence to your main synopsis.
>
> HTH
>
> Danni
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Watson, Katherine M" <WatsonKM05 at uww.edu
> To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:27 -0500
> Subject: [stylist] Changes: a plot synopsis
>
> Hello everyone,
> Since we are on the subject of synopses, I thought I'd throw mine
> out
> there for critique. It is for my young adult, fantasy novel, titled
> "Changes." Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Does this make you
want
> to read the book?
> --Katie
>
>
> Changes Plot Synopsis
>
> Main Conflict:
> Eighteen-year-old Casey Newman is okay with herself as a blind
> person,
> but she has trouble accepting herself as a werewolf. She avoids
phasing
> unless it is the time of the full moon-or unless absolutely necessary.
> While attending college in present-day Denver, Colorado, circumstances
> force Casey to accept her duel nature.
>
> Synopsis:
> On a warm Thursday in September, Casey's human best friend,
> Justine,
> invites Casey to go to a club with her and her boyfriend, Tony, that
> night. Casey agrees to go. She meets Tony at a restaurant
beforehand.
> She is horrified when she discovers that Tony isn't human. He doesn't
eat
> anything at dinner, and his scent is too sweet. Casey struggles to
keep
> her inner wolf in check, so she doesn't change into a wolf in the
middle
> of the crowded restaurant.
> Later, at the club, Casey is attacked by werewolf Rob. She is
rescued
> by werewolf Nate and his Alpha, Seb. Casey is attracted to Nate; this
is
> the first time she meets others of her own kind.
> The next day, (Friday) Justine discovers Casey is a werewolf when
> Casey phases in front of her accidentally.
> Justine breaks down emotionally, but when Tony calls her, her mood
> shifts to one of a giddy romantic. Casey warns Justine, but it
doesn't
> change Justine's feelings for Tony.
> The following day, (Saturday) Casey and Justine go downtown, and
come
> across Nate and Seb. Nate tells Casey he is a werewolf, and he knows
that
> she is, too. She is glad to have found another like her. Nate also
tells
> Casey that his twin, Marissa, was with him when he phased once. He
fears
> that he may have bitten her, and that Marissa may be a werewolf. They
go
> to Marissa's dorm and discover she is still human. Nate accidently
phases
> in front of Marissa. Marissa faints, and Casey hopes Marissa will
just
> wake up and think it was a bad dream.
> The day after that, (Sunday) Casey goes to get ice cream. She
finds
> Marissa working at the ice cream shop. Marissa has figured out that
Nate
> is a werewolf, and tries to talk to Casey about it; Casey is reluctant
to
> share, although she likes Marissa.
>
> The next night, (Monday) Casey saves her roommate, Georgina, from
> a
> vampire.
> Later that night, Casey discovers that Tony's scent is similar to
that
> of the vampire, and he reveals to her and Justine that he is a
hybrid-half
> human, half vampire. Justine's love for him is unchanged.
> The next day, (Tuesday) Nate and Casey go on a "date". Georgina
tells
> Casey that she is moving out immediately because she knows about
Casey's
> duel nature. Casey accidentally phases in front of Georgina, almost
> killing her.
> Nate takes Casey to Ouzel Falls-where she was changed into a
werewolf.
> Casey remembers that it was Seb who bit her.
> The day afterward, (Wednesday) Casey finds Marissa. In need of a
new
> roommate, Casey asks Marissa if she will move in with her. Marissa
> agrees, because she knows Nate will be hanging around Casey. She gets
in
> a car accident while moving her things to Casey's apartment. Nate
gives
> Marissa his blood, saving her life, but the blood changes Marissa into
a
> werewolf.
> A few days later, Casey kills Seb in a fight and becomes Alpha.
She
> discovers that she can feel Nate and Marissa's emotions, and she has
an
> influence over whether the twins change forms.
> Two weeks pass, and Casey is consumed by her duties as Alpha.
> Justine confronts Casey, saying that she has seen reports of a
> guy-Seb--who looked to have died from wild dogs. His body was found
in a
> dumpster, and Justine suspects Casey. Casey is made aware of how
> different she is from humans because of her instincts, and wonders if
> werewolves have an immortal soul. Marissa and Nate come up with no
> concrete evidence proving that they have souls. Casey is concerned
about
> where she will spend eternity, and whether she can still be friends
with
> Justine, even though they are members of different species.
> A few nights later, (Thursday) Casey gets a call from Justine's
cell
> phone, but it isn't Justine-it is Georgina. Georgina informs Casey
that
> she has captured Justine, and Casey figures out that Georgina is now a
> vampire. Casey and the twins are able to save Justine before Georgina
> drinks her blood, but Georgina has bitten her. Georgina also bites
Casey,
> but Tony arrives and is able to suck both of their blood clean.
> The next day, (Friday) the same vampire tries to attack Marissa
and
> she is able to transmit her memories to Casey, since Casey is her
Alpha.
> When Casey arrives, she finds another werewolf, Jenae, waiting with
> Marissa. Tony and Justine arrive. Tony thanks Casey for saving
Justine
> and invites her and Nate to go out with them that night. Casey
accepts,
> although she is suspicious of Tony's true motives. Later that night,
he
> gets Casey alone with him, and tries to kill her. Casey sends her
> memories of the attack to Nate and Marissa, and Nate arrives just in
time.
> He kills Tony. Later that night, Nate reveals to Casey that he plans
to
> go home and work at a hospital to earn money for medical school.
> The following morning, (Saturday) Justine thanks Casey for saving
her
> from Tony and admits that Casey was right about him. Later that
morning,
> Nate takes Casey Geo-Caching in the woods and admits his love to her.
> This makes Marissa angry because she feels like Nate is leading Casey
on.
> Casey goes out for coffee with Jenae to find out more information
about
> her, since Jenae wants to join Casey's pack. Meanwhile, Marissa
attacks
> Nate, forcing him to leave before originally planned.
> Justine suggests that the girls go out for burgers, and while they
are
> at the restaurant, Rob shows up. He points a gun at Casey, but Jenae
> jumps in the way, taking the silver bullet instead. Casey accepts
Jenae
> into her pack as she dies.
> Casey spends the next month in a daze. She meets Savannah, a
human
> who likes to party. Depressed and inebriated most of the time, Casey
> tries to cope with Jenae's death and Nate's absence.
> Casey has an epiphany; she realizes that she only half-knows
herself,
> and decides to spend some time in her wolf form.
> While in the woods running as a wolf, Casey meets an actual wolf
who
> almost instantly guesses what she is. He explains the differences-in
his
> mind-that exist between humans and wolves. Casey decides she likes
being
> human better, because she feels the human world gives her goals to
achieve
> and a more purposeful life. That night, the vampire attacks Nate
while he
> is at work. Nate survives, escapes and sends his memories to Casey.
> The next day, Nate returns. Later that day, Savannah calls,
informing
> Casey that a vampire is looking for her. The vampire captures
Savannah,
> and Casey and her pack run to Savannah's rescue.
> When they arrive, they find Savannah staring into space. Everyone
> except for Casey falls into a similar state. Casey is unaffected
because
> she is blind and cannot see the illusions created by the vampire.
When
> Casey attacks the vampire, his movement frees the others from his
visions.
> Casey's pack destroys the vampire.
> The twins tell Casey they saw the souls of the people the vampire
> killed, including those of werewolves. Convinced she isn't damned for
> eternity, Casey realizes she has accepted herself as a werewolf.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/
>
> stylist mailing list
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>
> _______________________________________________
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> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
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>
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:23:27 -0400
From: Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
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Joe, This is fabulous! I'm going back to try to do what she's
suggesting.
Later, Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 8:49 AM
Subject: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
> How to Write a Synopsis
>
> by Marg Gilks
>
> Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then
> marketing a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment
> like "I hate writing synopses."
>
> I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
> wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
> sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself.
> Now I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to
> write than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd
> words into a few pages. But it's important.
>
> The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package
> and, as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished
> with the same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with
> the cover letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the
> manuscript. If they don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they
> won't even glance at your chapter samples.
>
> The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
> your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
> publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is
> purchased), and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual
> bookstore browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far
> from actuality.
>
> "Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and
> do well. But how?"
>
>
> One Step at a Time
> Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it
> down.
> Do
> it step by step.
>
> The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
> write
> a
> synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The best time
to
> realize this is just before you sit down with your manuscript for the
> final
> reading preparatory to declaring the thing completed.
>
> Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
> finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph
> summary of what happened where, and to which character, in that
> chapter.
>
> Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
> Symbolism
> you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you were
slogging
> away at the computer for all those months? (The subconscious mind is a
> wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You may just discover your
> one-line story summary that agents and editors like so much, if you
didn't
> know what it was before. Or even if you thought you knew what it was,
> before
> (surprise, says the Muse, you were wrong).
>
> What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
> outline,
> what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading, and since
> chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor with
editors
> and agents, this will likely remain one of your most valuable writing
> tools,
> and that's about it. Don't throw this away when you've done your
synopsis,
> either. You may know the story intimately now, but you do forget
details
> over time. You may decide to revise the novel in the future, and this
> outline will help you. I've used mine to make sure I'm not duplicating
> character names from one project to the next. (The subconscious mind
can
> also booby-trap you.) Reading an outline is much easier than leafing
> through
> or rereading an entire novel.
>
> Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are
> doing, basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more
> manageable packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important
> plot points in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
>
> Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only
> those events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major
> way. We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones
> your reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right
> now, we are striving for bare-bones.
>
> "Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
> ever."
>
> Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
> that right now.
>
>
> Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
> Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
> synopsis:
>
>
> Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that
> will pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to
> buy the book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a
> feel for how it's done.
>
>
> You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your
> friend. You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot
> him and that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that
> sounds like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things
> like, "The good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the
> evil Dr. Death, the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr.
> Death, falls, somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him
> with the Good Guy Death-ray to save the world."
>
> That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
> enthusiastic.
> Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to pick up the
> manuscript
> and find out how this happens!
> How can you make your synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main
> character and his or her crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote
> briefly from the novel itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's
> emotions and motivations, those points that explain why a character
does
> something, but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste
of
> it
> into the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
> information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
the
> story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
summary by
> using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a sample of
your
> writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel will be like,
so
> give it your all.
>
> Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
> story
> that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your cover
> letter.
> Editors and agents like having this distillation; not only will it
pique
> their interest, but it's something they can use when presenting the
novel
> to
> the buying board. It's also something you can use, the next time
someone
> politely asks you, "What's your novel about?"
>
> "Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good
> as
> the
> novel!"
>
>
> Shalts and Shalt Nots
> But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
>
> First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
> for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be
> longer than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and
> agents, busy people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten
> pages. The busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider
> two pages ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight
> page. If you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry
> if it's ten or more pages long
> -- but it had better be gripping.
>
> Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
> synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
> Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
> adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
>
> You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the
> first three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four.
> Don't leave out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to
> request the full manuscript in order to find out what happens. What
> they will do is decide you're an amateur.
>
> No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
> written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
> Jerry went to the bullfight.)
>
> Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should
> single- or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side,
> double-space; it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your
> synopsis much as you did your novel, or a short story.
>
> The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
> CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
> referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
> first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's
> also advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view
> character by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the
> character's name.
>
> Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this
> way:
> not
> only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're honing your
> writing
> skills at the same time.
>
>
> Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site: http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
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>
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:21:12 -0400
From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Writer's Division Mailing List
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] How to Write a Synopsis
Message-ID: <4CBF08E8.1080803 at epix.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Joe,
Thanks so much for finding and posting this. It's excellent. I haven't
yet re located the section in Sarah Parsons Zackheim's "Getting Your
Book Published for Dummies" about query letters and synopses for
fiction, but, if memory serves, this article is in agreement with her
perspective.
My gut reaction in creating my own synopsis, which isn't done yet, is
that I'd like to keep it between 500 and 800 words. That would be in
line with the author's preference for 2 pages. I think my reasoning
stems from my indoctrination as a writer for Suite 101; they tout
research claiming that readers respond best to pieces that are between
400 and 800 words.
Donna Hill
Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4
Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org
On 10/20/2010 8:49 AM, Joe Orozco wrote:
> How to Write a Synopsis
>
> by Marg Gilks
>
> Writers will spend years writing, lovingly polishing and then
> marketing a novel, and yet they shrug off the synopsis with a comment
> like "I hate writing synopses."
>
> I hate writing synopses, too. I used to hate them because the ones I
> wrote sucked all the life from the novel, reducing it to bare-bones
> sentences that did nothing to capture the depth of the novel itself.
> Now I hate writing synopses because they are much more difficult to
> write than the novel ever was. It's not easy distilling 100,000-odd
> words into a few pages. But it's important.
>
> The synopsis is the most important part of your submission package
> and, as such, it has to be developed and sweated over and polished
> with the same attention you devoted to the novel itself. Along with
> the cover letter, the synopsis is what sells the editor on the
> manuscript. If they don't see anything they like in the synopsis, they
> won't even glance at your chapter samples.
>
> The synopsis is your sales pitch. Think of it as the jacket blurb for
> your novel (the synopsis is often used in writing this, and by the
> publisher's art and advertising departments, if the novel is
> purchased), and write it as though you're trying to entice a casual
> bookstore browser to buy the novel and read it. Which isn't too far
> from actuality.
>
> "Okay," you say, "you've sold me. This is something I have to do, and
> do well. But how?"
>
>
> One Step at a Time
> Rather than being daunted by the enormity of such a task, break it
> down. Do it step by step.
>
> The first step, of course, is realizing that you're going to have to
> write a synopsis -- if you intend to market your novel, that is. The
> best time to realize this is just before you sit down with your
> manuscript for the final reading preparatory to declaring the thing
> completed.
>
> Sit down to that final reading with a pen and paper beside you. As you
> finish reading each chapter, write down a one- or two-paragraph
> summary of what happened where, and to which character, in that
> chapter.
>
> Notice any themes running through your chapters as you're reading?
> Symbolism you didn't realize you'd woven through the story while you
> were slogging away at the computer for all those months? (The
> subconscious mind is a wonderful thing.) Take note of themes, too. You
> may just discover your one-line story summary that agents and editors
> like so much, if you didn't know what it was before. Or even if you
> thought you knew what it was, before (surprise, says the Muse, you
> were wrong).
>
> What you will have when you are done is a chapter-by-chapter novel
> outline, what I call my author's outline. This is pretty dry reading,
> and since chapter-by-chapter outlines seem to have fallen out of favor
> with editors and agents, this will likely remain one of your most
> valuable writing tools, and that's about it. Don't throw this away
> when you've done your synopsis, either. You may know the story
> intimately now, but you do forget details over time. You may decide to
> revise the novel in the future, and this outline will help you. I've
> used mine to make sure I'm not duplicating character names from one
> project to the next. (The subconscious mind can also booby-trap you.)
> Reading an outline is much easier than leafing through or rereading an
> entire novel.
>
> Anyway. There is an immediate use for that outline. What you are
> doing, basically, is distilling the story down into smaller and more
> manageable packages, step by step. So, you pinpoint the most important
> plot points in that outline, and you put them into a synopsis.
>
> Notice I said the most important points. We're talking about only
> those events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major
> way. We're talking about only the most important characters, the ones
> your reader will ultimately care about, not the bit players. Right
> now, we are striving for bare-bones.
>
> "Yup," you say, "that's bare-bones, all right, and just as boring as
> ever."
>
> Yes, it is. It's also probably still too long, but don't worry about
> that right now.
>
>
> Let's See Some Enthusiasm!
> Now I want you to envision one or two things while you rework that
> synopsis:
>
>
> Imagine that you're writing a jacket blurb for the novel, one that
> will pique the casual browser's curiosity and make him or her want to
> buy the book to see what happens. Read a few jacket blurbs, to get a
> feel for how it's done.
>
>
> You've just seen a terrific movie. You're describing it to your
> friend. You're not saying, "The good guy chased the bad guy and shot
> him and that was the end." That doesn't sound very enthusiastic, that
> sounds like your synopsis as it stands right now! No, you say things
> like, "The good guy is wounded, but he knows if he doesn't stop the
> evil Dr. Death, the whole world is in danger, so he staggers after Dr.
> Death, falls, somehow gets to his feet again, and at last zaps him
> with the Good Guy Death-ray to save the world."
>
> That's how your synopsis is going to sound, when you're done:
> enthusiastic. Enticing. A description that makes the reader want to
> pick up the manuscript and find out how this happens! How can you make
> your synopsis unique, exciting? Start with the main character and his
> or her crisis. Include snippets of dialogue or quote briefly from the
> novel itself. Don't neglect to reveal the character's emotions and
> motivations, those points that explain why a character does something,
> but keep it brief. If the setting is exotic, inject a taste of it into
> the synopsis with a brief paragraph. This includes any background
> information that is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand
> the story. Build excitement as you near the conclusion of the story
> summary by using shorter sentences and paragraphs. The synopsis is a
> sample of your writing; it is a taste of what reading the actual novel
> will be like, so give it your all.
>
> Don't forget that one- or two-sentence story line, or the theme of the
> story that you discovered. It should go in your synopsis, or in your
> cover letter. Editors and agents like having this distillation; not
> only will it pique their interest, but it's something they can use
> when presenting the novel to the buying board. It's also something you
> can use, the next time someone politely asks you, "What's your novel
> about?"
>
> "Wow," you say at last, "this is pretty good! It reads almost as good
> as the novel!"
>
>
> Shalts and Shalt Nots
> But wait, there's more. Now we get to the "thou shall and shalt nots."
>
> First, acceptable length. One guideline is to allow one synopsis page
> for every twenty-five pages of manuscript, but even that could be
> longer than most editors and agents want to see. Most editors and
> agents, busy people that they are, prefer short synopses -- two to ten
> pages. The busier ones like five pages at most. I personally consider
> two pages ideal, and have distilled synopses down to a single tight
> page. If you've written a thoroughly intriguing synopsis, don't worry
> if it's ten or more pages long
> -- but it had better be gripping.
>
> Edit, edit, edit, if you have to! Always keeping in mind that the
> synopsis must remain interesting and supply the necessary information.
> Yes, this is the hardest part. Don't know what to cut? Lose the
> adjectives and adverbs; keep the motivation and "flavor" of the story.
>
> You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis. Don't send the
> first three chapters and then start the synopsis at chapter four.
> Don't leave out the ending, hoping to entice the editor or agent to
> request the full manuscript in order to find out what happens. What
> they will do is decide you're an amateur.
>
> No matter what tense your novel was written in, the synopsis is always
> written in present tense (Jerry goes to the bullfight as opposed to
> Jerry went to the bullfight.)
>
> Format: there seems to be disagreement as to whether you should
> single- or double-space your synopsis. To be on the safe side,
> double-space; it's easier to read. In terms of layout, format your
> synopsis much as you did your novel, or a short story.
>
> The first time you use a character's name in the synopsis, type it in
> CAPITAL letters. Do this only the first time. Avoid confusion by
> referring to a character the same way throughout (not "Dr. Evans" the
> first time, "Jerry" the next, and "the doctor" another time). It's
> also advisable to identify which character(s) is the point of view
> character by typing "(POV)" after the first instance of the
> character's name.
>
> Yes, writing a good synopsis is a lot of work, but think of it this
> way: not only are you creating a vital marketing tool, but you're
> honing your writing skills at the same time.
>
>
> Copyright C 2001 Marg Gilks
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org<http://www.nfb-writers-division.or
> g/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
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> pix.net
>
>
>
>
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