Is it possible, can a synopsis not be a PITA? (See last blog for translation.) Today I tried BJ’s outline, and bam! I had a synopsis. It’s not perfect, but it’s less than one page, and it actually does tell my story! With work, it will be awesome, I think.
I’m going to include the outline here, because it’s a wonderful thing. I’ll try to credit it properly, and hope you buy the book. I probably will, myself.
Summary:
Sum up your story in three succinct parts.
1) Name your major characters, the problems, the setting, and the immediacy.
2) Tell which characters help and which characters hinder or complicate the problem.
3) Give the outcome of the story and its theme.
When I write from a dual view point I need to do the elements for both viewpoints and then blend the two.
YOUR NOVEL PROPOSAL From Creation to Contract by Blythe Cameson and Marshall J. Cook. This book is listed in an article on synopses along with , if I can find the article – THE MARSHALL PLAN FOR NOVEL WRITING. I believe they are both published by Writer’s Digest.
That’s my friend’s explanation of where it came from. Try it, just as an exercise. As I’ve said before, the best advice is to take what advice works for you, and ignore the rest. But if you don’t try it, how will you know if it works?
Plug, plug. If you want to write, definitely check out Writer’s Digest books. They have books on poisons for writers, on wounds for writers, forensic investigation for writers, planet-creating for sf writers, alien-creating for sf writers, all kinds of awesome stuff!