8 replies to this topic

[Sylvia Day]

Briana,

The synopsis is a dreaded necessity for most writers and many of us struggle with the process of building one.

How important is the synopsis in your decision to read more? Do you look at it as another writing sample? Or is it used to scope story arc and plot resolution? Or both?

What makes a synopsis great for you?

[Teresa in GA]

Guest, on Mar 6 2005, 01:07 PM, said:

Hi Briana,

Too add to Sylvia's questions on the synposis:

Ellora's Cave asks for the three chapters, last chapter, and a detailed synposis.  Do you read the chapters first and then the sysposis or vice versa?

Also by detailed synposis, is there a specific page limit, like two-page single spaced, or do you like more of a chapter-by-chapter synopsis?

Thanks so much!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry this post was from me. I thought I was logged in.

[Briana St James]

Sylvia Day, on Mar 6 2005, 09:38 AM, said:

Briana,

The synopsis is a dreaded necessity for most writers and many of us struggle with the process of building one.

How important is the synopsis in your decision to read more? Do you look at it as another writing sample? Or is it used to scope story arc and plot resolution? Or both?

What makes a synopsis great for you?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I look at the synopsis as a roadmap to your story. The synopsis isn't THAT important as a piece of creative work, but I do look at it to discover if your story seems to have a HEA, if your characters seem to fit EC.

A great synopsis tells me about the story without veering into paragraphs that are there to try to hook me. It tells me about the characters, the storyline, indicates the ending.

Bree

[Briana St James]

Guest, on Mar 6 2005, 01:07 PM, said:

Hi Briana,

Too add to Sylvia's questions on the synposis:

Ellora's Cave asks for the three chapters, last chapter, and a detailed synposis.  Do you read the chapters first and then the sysposis or vice versa?

Also by detailed synposis, is there a specific page limit, like two-page single spaced, or do you like more of a chapter-by-chapter synopsis?

Thanks so much!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It depends. I tend to read the cover letter first, the synopsis second and the chapters last.

A detailed synopsis only needs to be a page and a half to two pages, but it should contain a plot overview and information on your characters.

Bree

[Teresa in GA]

Thanks Briana! These are great answers (All of them!), and it helps alot.

I had some other questions, but it was a long day at work. I think I need to recharge before I post them so they make sense.

[Briana St James]

Teresa in GA, on Mar 9 2005, 04:42 PM, said:

Thanks Briana!  These are great answers (All of them!),  and it helps alot.

I had some other questions, but it was a long day at work.  I think I need to recharge before I post them so they make sense.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No problem. I'm not going anywhere

Bree

[Nadine]

Briana St James, on Mar 8 2005, 06:33 PM, said:

I look at the synopsis ... if your characters seem to fit EC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bree, does EC have some preferences on characters to use -- or more importantly -- not to use? I remember seeing a list like that for Harlequin.

Karen
(Nadine's my middle name and they already had a Karen)

[Briana St James]

Nadine, on Mar 10 2005, 01:47 PM, said:

Bree, does EC have some preferences on characters to use -- or more importantly -- not to use? I remember seeing a list like that for Harlequin.

Karen
(Nadine's my middle name and they already had a Karen)

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Not really, Karen. We do find that our audience resonates with characters from their mid-twenties up, and very innocent female virgins are a harder sell, but we don't have any guidelines.

Bree