The inventor of the synopsis should be taken out and shot
As per my heading, I’m sure you writers out there know what I’ve been going through. Trying to take a 375 page novel and condense it into a 2-page summary makes me want to throw myself through a wall. Especially when, as my critique partners will tell you, I am the Queen of Complicated Plots.
My first book is completely unsalvageable. I’ve given it a burial and though my husband really liked it, I’m convinced it needs to just stay dead.
My second book was written with a horribly complicated, unmarketable plot, and I stripped it down to the bare bones. Once I did that, I found the heart of the novel and rebuilt it from scratch. That novel became His Chosen Bride which I now adore. There was a good book hidden in the mess, but I had to go in with a shovel and pickaxe and find the darned thing.
I finished my third book August 15th, and I let it stew until now. I’m not very good at seeing the flaws until I have some space, so over the past week, I’ve been trying to redo the synopsis. My thought process was that, if I can streamline the synopsis and find the heart of the book, I can then revise it. 
Four days later, half a pound of chocolate added to my thighs, and after a great deal of swearing at the computer, I think I did it. I took out everything from the synopsis except the emotional journey of the hero and heroine. And when I took a close look at the heart of my story, I found something I liked. 
It will take a good deal of revising, but the core is there. I’m now ready to sharpen my machete and chop this thing into oblivion. 
I know what has to be done.
I also entered it in the Golden Heart to give myself a deadline. I paid the fee today and now I have until December 2nd to mail it in its final form to Dallas. The countdown is on!
Michelle posted in Writing @ 10:39 pm | Viewed 753 times
Nienke Says:
And I thought the writing was hard. Good luck!
Danica Says:
Congrats! Good luck!
Kelly Says:
Your title made me laugh because I was groaning about the exact same thing this morning! Gawd I hate doing them. I hyperventilate at trying to get it down to 5 pages, 2 makes me want to crawl under a rock and never come out.
Peggy Says:
It seems everyone is working on synopsis’s lately. Must be the GH crunch. Good luck, Michelle!
Sharon Says:
Sigh…yeah I hate them. My books are very plot heavy, so it is impossible to write a decent synopsis without making it a novella.
Good luck. I’ve already entered my historicals in the GH, now I just have to enter my other book in the LC category. If I’d stop procrastinating, that is.
Melissa Says:
Remember - just breathe.
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
I sooo do not enjoying writing a synopsis
Woo Hoo on entering the Golden Heart, Michelle
Amy K. Says:
That’s so hard to do…to see the flaws in what you’ve written. Good for you and best of luck with the GH! I’ll be cheering for you.
Mary Says:
Well, you know how I feel about synopsis.
Hate them but they do help guide the beginning writing of a manuscript.
Rene Says:
Yeah, I hate writing synops too. I only write them if I have to. The ms I’ve got into submissions has three seperate synops depending on where it’s going: 3 page, 5 page & 18 page.
Christine Keach Says:
Seriously, are there any writes out there who LIKE to write synopses????
Good luck in the GH! I feel like I know so many people who are entering this year. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Christine Keach Says:
um…that should have read any writers…
Melissa McClone Says:
Good luck with the GH! I hate writing a synopsis.
Teresa Says:
YAY!! I’m glad you found something worthy in there. You know that’s what I’ve ended up having to do with my synposis writing. I write the H/h’s journey first then fill in the plot points that relate to that journey. I may be doing it wrong. But that’s what saved my sanity on the last one. And I’m hoping saves it on this next one.
kacey Says:
synopsis writing
:blahblah:
well, that about wraps up my feelings about it…:batman:
Larissa Says:
Good luck, Michelle! I hate synopses more than I hate, well, almost anything. I’ll have a beer for ya!
Cindy Says:
Good luck with the synopsis and the GH. I hate writing a synopsis. I’m having a hard time right now changing my original synopsis to match how the book actually turned out.