I'm working on a rewrite/revamp of "The Library Seed." New title, new viewpoint character, same conceit, and the good lines remain. It's an issue of perspective, I guess. I hope. Anyway, the story has been through every major market and some minor ones, and I'm not entirely sure I ever did the story justice.
I should probably send out "Baking for the Apocalypse." I don't know how I feel about "Lawncare in the Afterlife" anymore. "The Spring at Spellwinter Inn" is clearly a baby novel, but I don't know when I want to write it. There are noisier novels clomping around on the second floor and being all passive-aggressive. ("Oh, were you sleeping?")
I've still not taken a second stab at a query letter, and I've taken no stabs whatsoever at a synopsis. I realize I'm not supposed to enjoy synopsizing, but I was also expecting sort of a rancid panic over it, and it's just... apathy that I feel. It's gotta get written. Other things want to get writ more. I will write it when I have to. I will probably not enjoy it. I will probably not go crazy, either. The end. Boring synopsis story over.
I finally had a real idea for how to finish up "Breakfast at Antigone's." Nope, I don't know when I'll write it, or if I will. It's a great title. It could be a great story. I think it's not really the kind of story I want to write, though, not anymore. It is a story of the past. I don't know the person that felt it was such an important story to tell anymore.
I think that's it...
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fairmer- Fairly Merrie
- Merrie Haskell
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LOL LOL LOL! no wonder I don't have any takers yet! Just writing that made me laugh.
Good luck with the synopsis. And I do love your title "The Library Seed." Didn't you just have a new story go up online somewhere? Must check your back entries and see; I want to read it....
That's what I'm thinking of: The one in Quantum Kiss.
Thinking about it in familiar terms, such as the back of a book... My biggest problem with the dust jacket of books is that there's too much of the wrong info revealed (often misleading info, too). So, that's not gonna work.
But I'll think on what you said, and see what floats up from the hindbrain.
Yes. Yes! This is helpful advice.
Here's a further question for you. What if a synopsis read more like a short story? Would that be off-putting, or fantastic? *muses* Maybe I should ask an agent.
The synopsis is a legitimate data dump--it has to be a datadump. But that does not mean it has to be boring, or Madison Avenue gas ("This is the greatest epic since Tolkien, crossed with Troy...a poignant story of love lost and won, mighty classes of armies and of will...." blabbernumbingblabber.
Let's pretend I've written a knockoff of Lord of the Rings. If I was really Doing Serious Epock-making Epic, I might begin,
The familiar world is ending, but only the long-lived Elves know it. Some wonder why their songs are full of sorrow while others, dwelling in the Kingdoms of humanking, see much more dangerous signs.
Cowled and caped black riders on evil horses ride the roads at night, striking stray travelers dead with just a glance. Spies creep among the company in the most homey inns, bearing tales to those with malevolent intent. Kings increase border watches, magicians meet in serious council.
While, in a little underground house, a hobbit named Frodo plans his birthday party. His life seems perfect and peaceful until on the eve of his party, he receives an unwelcome guest.
If I'm going all pomo, I might begin:
Some say that Elves and Wizards are forces of good. Others maintain that good is an entertaining concept. While heedless humans travel about on their well-kept roads, and hobbits squander their resources in consuming six meals a day, gossiping the while, deep underground, tectonic shifts in culture are driving the Orcs to war.
Whose side will Saruman take? We open with this Faustian figure brooding over the remains of his trusted alliance . . .
(You can tell I'm not very good at pomo.)
Or a breezy, romantic fantasy...
Frodo is 33 tomorrow--which in the Shire is coming of age. He's young, he's cute, and many of the local lasses give him and his beautiful house sidelong looks, while the lads admire the curly tufts between his toes. What's a boy gonna do?
Frodo doesn't know it, but his choice is already made. On the way that night is a magic ring that won't grant any wishes, but hoo boy, does it have power! The problem is, the power just brings out the bad guys! Poor Frodo has to get rid of the thing . . .
These are all incredibly stupid, but I tried to dash down a different approach and tone for each.
Datadump vs. short story... well, yes, I get you. Maybe I'm not really thinking short story. And I do get that it can't really be a short story, because you aren't supposed to keep the secrets in the synopsis that you keep in the text. The Synopsis Knows All, correct?
Thanks for taking the time on this one, Sherwood. I've got some things to think about.
In fact, if you've got a really clever plot worked out, or a nifty device, flaunt it right up front.