One-sentence synopsis

[kimb68]

There's a thread on this in the Novel Writing forum, but I thought it would be really interesting to see how romance novels play out in the one-sentence format. It's a great exercise. Here's mine:

A former bike messenger falls in love with a wealthy executive who's way out of her league, but when he's accused of insider trading the tables are turned and suddenly their relationship has a chance -- if only they can find a middle ground.

[Inspiewriter]

Here's one from one of my older books:

When Kimberly returns to Baltimore after 10 years, the last thing she expects her former lover, Brandon, to tell her is that she has a nine year old daughter-- can she forgive him for keeping her baby a secret?

[Sandy J]

One sentence??? Good God. My whole synopsis is ten pages! Here goes nothing...

As dictated by his father's will, spoiled rotten Seth Remington, heir to the Remington Computer fortune, must work as a lowly horseracing groom for one racing season to earn his substantial inheritance, but he soon discovers he loves working with horses and falls for trainer Katie Murphy who has taken him on in exchange for a valuable colt.

That's one damn long sentence, and I'm not sure it makes any sense. :Shrug: This story was second in the Heart of the Rockies, and it's the one my agent is trying to find a home for.

[Sandy J]

Here's one from one of my older books:

When Kimberly returns to Baltimore after 10 years, the last thing she expects her former lover, Brandon, to tell her is that she has a nine year old daughter-- can she forgive him for keeping her baby a secret?


Scratching my head here. How could she not know she had a baby? Interesting....

[Sandy J]

There's a thread on this in the Novel Writing forum, but I thought it would be really interesting to see how romance novels play out in the one-sentence format. It's a great exercise. Here's mine:

A former bike messenger falls in love with a wealthy executive who's way out of her league, but when he's accused of insider trading the tables are turned and suddenly their relationship has a chance -- if only they can find a middle ground.


Welcome to Romance! :welcome: Sounds very cool!!!

[brianm]

Elizabeth never realized how far the aging prima donna would go to eliminate competition, until she awoke from a coma in an intensive care unit unable to move or speak.

[Sandy J]

Elizabeth never realized how far the aging prima donna would go to eliminate competition, until she awoke from a coma in an intensive care unit unable to move or speak.

Sounds neat... Very "All About Eve" esque. :)

[Inspiewriter]

Scratching my head here. How could she not know she had a baby? Interesting....


Then I succeeded.:D

[Inspiewriter]

Sounds neat... Very "All About Eve" esque. :)


That is intriguing. Is it for a romance?

[Inspiewriter]

As dictated by his father's will, spoiled rotten Seth Remington, heir to the Remington Computer fortune, must work as a lowly horseracing groom for one racing season to earn his substantial inheritance, but he soon discovers he loves working with horses and falls for trainer Katie Murphy who has taken him on in exchange for a valuable colt.

.

I played around with this a bit--what do you think?


As dictated by his father's will, spoiled Seth Remington must work as a lowly horseracing groom for one season to earn his inheritance, but he soon discovers his love of horses and pretty trainer Katie Murphy.

[Inspiewriter]

Here's a 2-sentencer:

As dictated by his father's will, spoiled Seth Remington must work as a lowly horseracing groom for one season to earn his computer-company inheritance. After discovering his love of horses and pretty trainer Katie Murphy, will Seth abandon his plans for the corporate world?

[brianm]

That is intriguing. Is it for a romance?

Thank you. It's women's fiction that's on its fourth and final edit.

[Sandy J]

Here's a 2-sentencer:

As dictated by his father's will, spoiled Seth Remington must work as a lowly horseracing groom for one season to earn his computer-company inheritance. After discovering his love of horses and pretty trainer Katie Murphy, will Seth abandon his plans for the corporate world?

I like both of them, but it barely scratches the surface of the story. I hate synopses. I especially hate SHORT synopses. One or two sentences in sheer torture! :Headbang:

[Robyn]

Ok.. i make no promises on these for one sentences...but this is what I had posted on that forum.


Shadow of the Wolf: In a twist of fate a lone woman unleashes an evil that's been dormant for hundreds of years, forcing two people to band together, forming a bond that is unbreakable as they fight side by side.

Scottish Whispers: Her husband murdered and forced to take time off, Jena finds herself immersed in a world of demons and druids only to be drawn to the side of the very man she thought she despised.

Kiss of the Wolf: Worlds apart, a man and woman are forced to find a way to bridge the differences between them as they search for answers to the death and destruction of a village on the lost island across the Baylo sea while battling unseen enemies all around them.

This is the one that is currently being reviewed by a couple agents..

Dragon's Desire: The Curse of Innok: His beloved murdered and cursed to roam as a dragon during the day, one man searches for the answers to release him from the binds of the curse only to find the love he'd lost reborn in another and hunted by the very man who'd caused his pain.

[Inspiewriter]

I like both of them, but it barely scratches the surface of the story. I hate synopses. I especially hate SHORT synopses. One or two sentences in sheer torture! :Headbang:


I know. The shorter the harder they are to do.

[Inspiewriter]

Ok.. i make no promises on these for one sentences...but this is what I had posted on that forum.


Shadow of the Wolf: In a twist of fate a lone woman unleashes an evil that's been dormant for hundreds of years, forcing two people to band together, forming a bond that is unbreakable as they fight side by side.

Scottish Whispers: Her husband murdered and forced to take time off, Jena finds herself immersed in a world of demons and druids only to be drawn to the side of the very man she thought she despised.

Kiss of the Wolf: Worlds apart, a man and woman are forced to find a way to bridge the differences between them as they search for answers to the death and destruction of a village on the lost island across the Baylo sea while battling unseen enemies all around them.

This is the one that is currently being reviewed by a couple agents..

Dragon's Desire: The Curse of Innok: His beloved murdered and cursed to roam as a dragon during the day, one man searches for the answers to release him from the binds of the curse only to find the love he'd lost reborn in another and hunted by the very man who'd caused his pain.

These are good! Isn't it hard to get the conflict into one sentence? You did it pretty well!

[Maprilynne]

After buying her from her parents, the French-Basque rogue Jean-Michel loses his heart to his young wife, Adele and must convince her he's not the untouchable flirt he appears to be . . . he's not doing a very good job.

[Inspiewriter]

After buying her from her parents, the French-Basque rogue Jean-Michel loses his heart to his young wife, Adele and must convince her he's not the untouchable flirt he appears to be . . . he's not doing a very good job.


I'd read it based on your blurb. :)

[AllieB]

Lost in Paradise: When privileged Ashton Kirk changes her name and flees a family scandal in Boston, the last place she expects to find true love is with a sexy blue-collar worker in the very town where she chooses to hide out for a summer. (Yuck! Awkward wording!!)

One Night in Boston: In twenty-four short hours, Maggie Doyle must pay off the bank to avoid losing her home and business by tracking down the step-brother she renounced years ago; but when she unexpectedly meets up with ex-lover Jack Major, she must face the dark secret she's kept for years as well as the one passion in her life that has never died. (Whew! Wordy!)

Hey, that's a really good exercise...

[author_martina]

Batu - In the dank musky Indonesian Jungle Julia comes faces to face with her nightmare, will coming to the aid of the man who broke her heart give her the freedom to find new love?

Moving On- Kirsten is trying to put her life back together but will her budding love for Alex help or make it impossible for her?

[janetbellinger]

Here's one from Teacher on the Run. previously Publish America published but now in a state of limbo.

Canadian teacher goes to Japan, falls in love with a Japanese man and becomes a national heroine after rescuing one of her students from kidnappers.

[dragonjax]

Here's HELL'S BELLES in a nutshell:

A humorous paranormal romance about a succubus who runs away from Hell, hides on Earth as an exotic dancer, and learns the hard way about true love.

And the upcoming THE ROAD TO HELL:

A humorous paranormal romance about former succubus who must return to Hell to save the lives of those she loves...and survive to tell the tale.