Writing - part x673, Submissions, Synopsis

10 November 2018, Writing - part x673, Submissions, Synopsis

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business and publishing environment.  I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.

2. Entertain your readers.

3. Ground your readers in the writing.

4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

     4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage of the novel.

5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

These are the steps I use to write a novel including the five discrete parts of a novel:

1.      Design the initial scene

2.      Develop a theme statement (initial setting, protagonist, protagonist’s helper or antagonist, action statement)

a.       Research as required

b.      Develop the initial setting

c.       Develop the characters

d.      Identify the telic flaw (internal and external)

3.      Write the initial scene (identify the output: implied setting, implied characters, implied action movement)

4.      Write the next scene(s) to the climax (rising action)

5.      Write the climax scene

6.      Write the falling action scene(s)

7.      Write the dénouement scene

I finished writing my 29^th novel, working title, Detective, potential title Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.  The theme statement is: Lady Azure Rose Wishart, the Chancellor of the Fae, supernatural detective, and all around dangerous girl, finds love, solves cases, breaks heads, and plays golf.  

Here is the cover proposal for Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective. 

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action. I am continuing to write on my 30^th novel, working title Red Sonja.  I finished my 29^th novel, working title Detective.  I’m planning to start on number 31, working title Shifter. 

How to begin a novel.  Number one thought, we need an entertaining idea.  I usually encapsulate such an idea with a theme statement.  Since I’m writing a new novel, we need a new theme statement.  Here is an initial cut.

For novel 30:  Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns about freedom, and is redeemed.

For novel 31:  TBD 

Here is the scene development outline:

1. Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)

2. Write the scene setting (place, time, stuff, and characters)

3. Imagine the output, creative elements, plot, telic flaw resolution (climax) and develop the tension and release.

4. Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.

5. Write the release

6. Write the kicker

          

Today:  The first step is marketing materials.  I showed you in detail how I go about developing marketing materials.  Look back at this blog a month ago, and you will see how to develop marketing materials.  I do this after I write a novel, and I am in the habit of demonstrating making marketing materials every time I finish a novel.

If you have prepared your manuscript and have it ready to go, the next most important piece you will need for submissions is the synopsis.

I showed you in marketing materials about the synopsis and how to write a synopsis. Let’s look more closely at this.  I said it in the marketing materials.  You need a 500 word synopsis and a 200 word synopsis.  Most experts will tell you that the synopsis should focus on the protagonist and the telic flaw and not the plot.  They will also tell you to give the end of the novel, and don’t use rhetorical questions. 

It is exceedingly difficult to express the plot of an entire novel in 200, 500, or even more words.  That is why a focus on the plot will not get you where you want to go.  I’ll also say, the synopsis is a marketing document. 

Many publishers also want a 2 to 3 page synopsis that covers the main points of the novel and especially the climax and end. 

If you have been following along with this blog, you will have a 500 and 200 word synopsis.  These are perfect for inclusion in a query letter or as a short synopsis.  You will need to expand your 500 word synopsis into 2 to 3 pages if the publisher needs that.  If you have the time, why not put this type of synopsis together.  I usually wait until I need it.  I also think my long synopses are not as clean or as good as I would like—this is something I need to work on as a writer, unless I get a publisher who loves my writing.  I suspect then synopses are not necessary. 

As long as we are starting with a 200 and a 500 word synopsis then we are ready to write a query letter.  

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:

http://www.ancientlight.com/
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic