Particularly wrt romances like those you mention . . . but, ackshully*, it's common with nonfic, too; some romances and certain types of nonfic are written to spec. So, that's why. I'll admit—from the discussions I've seen around the boards—I've made the assumption that story ideas are usually developed during plotting. Yeah, it's an assumption and we know how those things go.
*Hoping you love me enough to forgive that.
ETA: Full disclosure—although I've always, always wanted to be a novelist, my experience is in nonfic. Alack and alas for the missing storytelling gene.
I hate to be one of those "Actually..." people, but actually, creating your premise and synopsis up front isn't uncommon with publishers, at least in romance publishing. I've had to do it twice, then the idea is taken to the acquisitions meeting before there's a manuscript. So it's a good exercise regardless. Even having done it twice, I suck at it, and both books came out WAY different (and were a lot more agonizing work) because I hadn't solidified the stakes well. That's what I'm hoping to avoid with this exercise.
*Hoping you love me enough to forgive that.
ETA: Full disclosure—although I've always, always wanted to be a novelist, my experience is in nonfic. Alack and alas for the missing storytelling gene.
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