The Bane of My Existence...

Congratulations!

Unfortunately, I think I would need to see examples of each before I'd really be able to say which one works the best...Did they say how long of a synopsis? If it's relatively short I'd recommend leaving out the subplot. If longer, and you feel the subplot is important, I would say leave it in.

Hopefully someone else with better advice will post it soon! =) Good luck.

Sonarbabe said:

...has got to be the synopsis.
Any ideas? Suggestions? A wig to cover the bald spots from where I've ripped out my hair? Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help!

Click to expand...

CONGRATS ON THE REQUEST! Woooohoooooo!

First of all, any romance agent worth their salt will know when you tell them it's a Blaze that it's got to be short and to the point, and sexy. So don't sweat that.

Second, I hate synopsises too. Blech. Especially blech when you write them BEFORE the book is written. Double blech.

It's important to know how long a synopsis they're looking for. The ugly truth is that usually you need more than one synopsis. (Don't throw things at me, I'm just telling it like it is! <G>)

There's the one page synopsis. (I ususally do that one single-space. <G>)

There's the 3-5 page synopsis. And then there's the 10-ish synopsis. For Super, I usually write 12-15 page synopsises, but they're longer and the eds like to see everything you can give them.

That said, if there's ANYTHING in your story that you think might be a red flag, leave it out of the synopsis, or write it in general terms. <G> (I hope my editor isn't reading this. <G> ) Because frankly, some things work in the story, where you're SHOWING, that don't work in the synopsis (telling!), or that make your editor freak when she sees it in the synopsis. <G>

Cover all the romance plot points (meet, first kiss, almost love scene, love scene, black moment, resolution.) Also cover all the main plot points. What are their GMC's, they hit the black moment, how they resolve the relationship.

Honestly, it would be easier to give you specific pointers, Sonar. You can either post it in share your work, or email me and I'll help you off-list. (Since the query letter was so successful!!! Congrats again!)

It's just a fact of writers' lives - synopsises suck! We just do the best we can. It really is a selling tool, so it's important to do the best you can.

Good luck!

Hey, have you submitted this thing to Blaze yet?

Susan G.

Synopsis

FWIW, I just finished writing a Blaze manuscript. My beta-readers have it right now, when they're done I'll hand it over to my agent. I've written the synopsis already---see below, maybe it will help.

MARKET FOR LOVE, by xxxx
Miranda Johansson was just a strait-laced, dull stock market analyst in Chicago's financial district when her new boss---the super-sexy CEO Maxwell Moore Junior---suddenly swept into her life. Sparks flew within minutes of their first meeting----sparks hot enough for Miranda to abandon her old strait-laced self and become a sexy seductress right there on the job! But just like the stock market's wild ups and downs, Max and Miranda are in for a lot of wild rides before they hit the jackpot. And Max's latest business venture is a cover-up for a sinister, sensual secret. Can Miranda and Max learn to control her scorching-hot desires when their business relationship takes a dark, unexpected turn?

Sonarbabe said:

That's the one I'm having issues with. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book and am on page 3 of the synopsis. The good (or bad??) thing is, the agent didn't specify how long the synopsis had to be.

Click to expand...

Okay, generally I find it easier to do the long one first, and then take that, and hack it down to the 3-5 page version. <G> You do that by pulling out the details. Condense. Tighten.

But...my pestering of Susan really paid off! Cheesecake all around if this works! I'll be the baking queen!

Click to expand...

Do NOT tell people that pestering me pays off. <longsufferingsigh> <G>

And I don't do cheesecake. I'm requesting brownies. <G>

Oh, yeah - if you're trying to get an agent, DO NOT submit this directly to Blaze at the same time. You will totally tick off an agent if they take you on with this book only to find out you've already submitted it yourself.

One path or the other for this book. Not both at the same time. (Now, you could submit this book directly to Blaze if you were agent shopping with a single title book. That wouldn't be a no-no.)

Susan G.

If you get your syno down to one page you could contest it - blaze is having a one page syno pitch contest right now...but S is right about subbing. I think the one pager could be great for you - if it's not selected you know your syno needs more work.

I hate doing a synopsis too, but there are ways to make it easier.

While selling my first book a rare few would ask what it was about and as I launched into an over-detailed account their eyes would glaze over.

They were looking for a TV Guide version and I was giving them TMI.

Out of sheer exasperation I pared my plot down to 1-line, avoiding detail.

Now I put the 1-liner at the top of the page, then go into the main synopsis.

My trick is to set a cooking timer to one minute and tell the plot out loud as though speaking to a friend. When the timer goes off I stop, then start over until I can get through the whole book in that time. You'll be talking faster, but that's okay. It's also okay to have notes on the high points of the story at hand.

Once I'm within that one-minute limit I write out as best I can what I've been saying. Then I fill in any important missing bits for continuity.

Most synopsis are 3-5 pages, single-spaced paragraphs with a double space between paragraphs. Use a 12-point Times Roman font & the usual margins.

This can be done! A smart office worker trimmed Gone With the Wind down to the basics for an impatient studio exec. and the project got the green light.

You might try googling the "Miss Snark" "Crap-o-Meter" contest she had last December. People sent in their 500 word synopsises for her to judge. You'll quickly learn what worked and what didn't!

500 words is a good length to aim for; if they want more you can always add to it.

Good luck!