Writing a Synopsis or Summary – The Hook

A long time ago (in a blog post far far away) I talked a bit about writing a summary for your query. I’m currently working on a synopsis for book 2 & 3 of my series, so this week is all about the synopsis. I’m going to expand on my previous post and talk about writing a synopsis of your book and provide tips for a summary of a few paragraphs, a few pages, and a full synopsis.

The first thing that you need in a synopsis of any length is a hook. The synopsis is a quick sell of your book and you have to make it as interesting as your story. This is also useful at the beginning of your query. Your hook should be one or two sentences that sum up your story in a fresh and interesting way.

Here’s mine:

Amy has not spoken in three years. Not since They arrived; creatures with incredible hearing, amazing swiftness, and a taste for human flesh. They hunt by sound and Amy has learned to survive in a world of silence.

Mine is three sentences, but I can cut it down to just the first two depending on what I want to use it for. It’s extremely difficult to get the feel of your story across in a few short sentences, but it’s something that you’ll be able to do with a little practice.

Any one else want to share their hooks for their WIPs?

(If people are worried about intellectual property theft, I understand not wanting to share, but I’m almost to submission so if someone thinks they can steal my idea, write an entire manuscript, snag an agent, and get a publisher before me…good freaking luck!)

Next time, more on writing a synopsis.

Beg, Borrow, or Buy?

I went to a talk recently about publishing trends and at one point the speaker said, “People either buy books, or get them from the library. They don’t do both.”

Umm…I do both. If I didn’t get books from the library I wouldn’t be able to buy enough books to support my habit. I’d have to go to bookaholics anonymous. I do buy books as well, though. Sometimes these are books that I’ve already read and know that I’ll want to reread in the future, but sometimes they’re ones with so much hype that I can’t resist. (The Uglies Series, The Hunger Games, Across the Universe etc.)

I feel like there’s also a third group of people, the ones who beg books off of their friends and families, only to sometimes return them. Oh, you know who you are.

So what about you? Do you Beg, Borrow, or Buy? Or maybe you get your books in a completely different way that doesn’t fall into the categories of my snazzy title.

Books I Love – Fire by Kristin Cashore

So, Thursdays seem to be books I love day…here’s another one…

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

I was a little late in coming to Graceling, but this prequel blows it out of the water. You actually don’t have to read the first book, as all the characters are different except for one. While this book sheds some light on Graceling, it is a story that works all on its own.

I really enjoyed the idea of a creature being so beautiful it is a curse. Although a lot of YA portrays the attractive main character clueless as to why all the hot guys like her, Fire (yes, that’s the name of the MC) knows exactly what her looks can do. She is the daughter of a monster and a human, making her a human monster. Men are drawn to her, and if she were more monster and less human, she could use that to her advantage and manipulate those around her. As it is, she is in danger every day, by over zealous men who are blinded by her beauty and only want to posses her.

The love triangle in this story is more of a love quadrangle. Although I’m not a huge romance fan, it works really well and is counterbalanced with a lot of intrigue and action. The story is exciting and allows Fire to shine, she is definitely not a one sided character.

A know this one was hyped up last year, anyone else read it?

About Writing YA – Word Choice

I am a dork. I have always been a dork. I love sci-fi and fantasy. I still watch Star Trek reruns (yes, any season, that’s how big a dork I am.) I collect comic books. I can tell you which robots come from which movies. I am a dork.

Here’s the problem…teens don’t say dork anymore. I don’t think they did even when I was a teen (not that long ago.)  In my manuscript I said dork, dweeb and a couple of outdated words from the 80’s…not sure why, as I was a little kid then.

I had to face the facts, as much as I like being a self-proclaimed dork, using it in my manuscript was a no no. I needed to freshen up my dialogue so I substituted words like tragic and freak. I even discovered that douche-bag is coming back into style, though for the life of me I don’t know why.

I realize this makes my manuscripts sound a bit negative, but really it’s not. My positive words were fine, even made one up, but I was having trouble with the few instances that I needed characters to be, well, a little mean.

So what do teens say instead of dork? What positive slang do they use? I’m curious what you all think, especially those of you who are teens or have teenaged kids.

Editing for Your Agent – The Process

Last week I wrote a post about editing for your agent, the point being listen to them because they have experience and insight into the publishing world. I failed to mention anything about the process, which I was immensely curious about before I got an agent, so here goes.

1)      The Big Picture Edit. The first step in editing for your agent, they will give you a general rundown of what they think is good about your manuscript, and what they think isn’t working. For example, they may say to get to a certain event faster to help with pacing, or to flesh out supporting characters. This is all big picture stuff that you will have to deal with before submission.

2)      The Closer Look Edit. After you work out some of the bigger problems (if any) your agent will review your manuscript and make additional suggestions. Most people use track changes. This is more of the hands on edit, where your agent will make specific suggestions on how to improve your novel. This step may be repeated several times as your manuscript progresses.

3)      The Line Edit. This is exactly what it sounds like. The agent will check your manuscript line by line for typos or mistakes. This is done only after all the kinks have been worked out. This is the final step before submission.

So there you have it, if you were curious. This is generally how it goes if you have an editorial agent. If you have an agent who submits your work as it is, they’ll still do the line edit, just to check for typos. No agent will submit your manuscript to publishers without doing a final review, if they want to then that’s a red flag.

Right now I’m at step two and have submitted my second rewrite to my agent. If it needs more work I’ll repeat the closer look edit, if not, it’s on to the line edit and then…submission, woohoo!

Tomorrow – About Writing YA – Word Choice

Books I Love - By These Ten Bones by Clare Dunkle

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for wood carving soon wins the admiration of the weaver's daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves. There is an evil presence in the carver's life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most to her-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

Okay, I’m a sucker for all things Scottish, but this book goes beyond the setting and time (medieval) and grabs your attention. Although you can find out what the “evil presence” is by looking at the Amazon summary, I suggest you don’t and let the story unfold. It’s worth it.

The main character, Maddie is an extremely likeable girl. She’s not your standard snarky female teen character; instead she’s sincere, genuine, and clever. I’ve researched Scottish history (yes, for fun) and I think Dunkle does a great job of recreating a medieval Scottish village, all the prejudices, superstitions and fears that such a community would have held.

This isn’t one of those super hyped, new books, but I’m glad I picked it up. I’ll definitely check out the other books she’s written.

Editing For Your Agent

Editing for your agent is a bit different then editing for yourself…sure, all the same principles apply, but there is one major difference; your agent is your lifeline to the publishing world.

This is why I stress finding an agent who has excellent editorial insight. My agent told me (as I’m sure they all do) that I can ignore suggestions as it’s my work. I did ignore a few things, but the truth is, I trust her judgment. She has a lot of experience in the publishing world and knows what makes a solid saleable work. If you and your agent don’t see eye to eye on your manuscript, this could create problems down the road.

I chose a highly editorial agent, who not only makes suggestions, but has an editor on staff. I could have gone with an agent who said my work was ready to submit as it was, but I’m glad I didn’t. Although it may have been polished, my novel wasn’t ready to be seen by publishers. I see that now and hope that at the end of this round of edits it is ready.

The Dreaded Edit Email

I just got more editorial suggestions from my agent and I have to admit, I was expecting the worst. She said she was going to look at it with an extremely critical eye so it would be ready for submission in February. When I opened the email I thought for a brief second that all my fears would come true, she would tell me that she made a mistake signing me and that my work was not worth presenting to publishers.

So, with that horror in mind, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I have a few small things to work on and one major thing (character-wise) that may have to change, but all in all, I’m almost there. What a fricken relief.

On to more editing…I need to stock up on Twizzlers.

Tomorrow, tips on editing for your agent.

Query Critique

The following is a query by Becky Wallace over at What’s Your Thought On That. Thanks for letting me critique your query Becky!

            Dear Ms./Mr.  Agent:

[Some personalized blurb I’ve pulled from their Web site or blog.]  

Everyone wants a piece of Sam Oliveira.  Cheerleaders fawn over him, college baseball scouts covet him, and his mother is grooming him to take over the family business.  All of which would be totally awesome, if his potential employer wasn’t a ruthless drug lord. 

Sam's inherited a preternatural talent that lets him see brief glimpses of the future.  It's a skill the cartel intends to exploit, whether or not Sam chooses to work for them.   

Not that his visions are all that helpful.  Everything Sam sees is hazy and confusing—except when the subject is his calculus tutor, Gabby Wilkins.  Instead of super hot fantasies, Sam witnesses her death at the hands of a faceless stalker.  The harder he tries to pull the vision into focus the worse his migraines and barfing episodes become. And he can’t figure out how to protect Gabby without exposing his gift and scaring her away.

Two people can give Sam the training he needs to pin down the details of Gabby's attack:  a relative who's unwilling to take Sam on as a student, or the cartel boss who will require a lifetime of servitude in return. Neither are appealing options, but Sam is running out of time.

SAW IT COMING is a YA paranormal romance complete at 65,000 words.  It tracks Sam's attempts to do the right thing without getting himself, or anyone else for that matter, killed.

Thanks for your time,

Becky Wallace

Here it is again, my comments are italicized and purpley.

            Dear Ms./Mr.  Agent:

[Some personalized blurb I’ve pulled from their Web site or blog.] Leave this out and start right into the hook below.

Everyone wants a piece of Sam Oliveira.  Cheerleaders fawn over him, college baseball scouts covet him, and his mother is grooming him to take over the family business.  All of which would be totally awesome, if his potential employer wasn’t a ruthless drug lord.  This is an excellent hook. It makes you want to know what happens.

Sam's inherited ß This word seems strange here. I’m guessing you mean genetically? Has he had this talent from birth, is it new?  a preternatural talent that lets him see brief glimpses of the future.  It's a skill the cartel intends to exploit, whether or not Sam chooses to work for them.   

Not that his visions are all that helpful. ß This sentence seems out of place, and doesn’t really connect the following to the above. Could use a stronger sentence or cut and move the following up while adding an adverb, like unfortunately.  Everything Sam sees is hazy and confusing—except when the subject is his calculus tutor, Gabby Wilkins.  Instead of super hot fantasies, Sam witnesses her death at the hands of a faceless stalker.  The harder he tries to pull the vision into focus the worse his migraines and barfing episodes become. And he can’t figure out how to protect Gabby without exposing his gift and scaring her away. Great summary. Keeps the reader’s attention and makes us want to know more.

Two people can give Sam the training he needs to pin down the details of Gabby's attack: a relative who's unwilling to take Sam on as a student, or the cartel boss who will require a lifetime of servitude in return. this sentence reads a little  awkwardly. Maybe work on the sentence structure.  Neither are appealing options, but Sam is This needs something… quickly, desperate and, frustrated and running out of time.

SAW IT COMING is a YA paranormal romance complete at 65,000 words.  It tracks ßword choice Sam's attempts to do the right thing without getting himself, or anyone else for that matter, killed. This last sentence is kind of a let down after your great summary of the book. It could be cut. Mention what you are including if anything (some agent request a couple of pages with a query) and that you would be happy to send additional pages upon request.

Thanks thank you is a little more professional for your time,

Becky Wallace

Overall, I think this is a great query. The story sounds interesting and makes me want to read more. The only other advice I have to get to the name of the book, as well as the genre a bit sooner in the query. Leave the hook first, it’s really good, but the rest of the summary can flow from an introduction to the title and genre. Anyone who reads my blog knows I don’t like to “re-write” people’s work, but here is an example:

Everyone wants a piece of Sam Oliveira.  Cheerleaders fawn over him, college baseball scouts covet him, and his mother is grooming him to take over the family business.  All of which would be totally awesome, if his potential employer wasn’t a ruthless drug lord. 

In the YA paranormal romance, Saw It Coming, Sam has inherited a preternatural talent that lets him see brief glimpses of the future.  It's a skill the cartel intends to exploit, whether or not Sam chooses to work for them.  

Then take out the YA paranormal romance bit in the closing, but leave in the title. It’s good to remind them what the name of your book is.

Any comments? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Help Becky with some feedback.

Books I Love – The Replacement by Brenna Yavanoff

I’m not a book review blogger, but I read a lot of books (like 3 or 4 a week). Sometimes I read books that I love so much I need to share. Don’t be surprised if these are mostly YA fantasy, but what can I say, the heart wants what it wants. Although I’ve read many books that I love, I’m only going to post ones going from this point forward, so the “Books I Love” posts may be sporadic. Okay, enough explaining, on with the book.

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret – he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

There’s been a lot of hype about this book, mostly about the cover (which I think is one of the best of 2010) but it received mixed reviews. A few people thought the pacing was slow. I thought it was perfect. You are given this strange character in an odd situation and I was drawn immediately into his world. I wanted to know what happened next and finished the book in three hours.

It’s also a relief to read a YA book where the main character is male. There’s a huge emphasis on music, and yes, every teenage boy I have ever known has been a music snob. I loved the character interactions, as well as the feeling you get for the town they live in.

Has anyone else read this? Love it? Hate it?

Back next week with a query critique on Monday and more posts on critique groups.

Your Role in a Critique Group – Part 2 – What to Look for in Someone Else’s Work

I wrote an earlier post about self-editing and a lot of the same principles apply. It’s actually easier to give a helpful critique of someone else’s work. You don’t have a vested interest, and you aren’t blinded by being too close to a manuscript. Here are some things to look out for.

1)      Does the book grab you right away? If not, why? How can the writer improve their opening? Be specific, but avoid “rewriting” it for them.

2)      Do you get a sense of place? Do the settings seem real? Is there too much description, too little? Some of this is personal preference, but say what you think. The writer will decide in the end, but let them know what is and isn’t working for you as a reader.

3)      Does the plot progress in a well-paced way? Don’t be afraid to suggest changing scenes around or cutting stuff out.

4)      Do the characters hold their own? Are they distinct? They don’t have to all be likeable, but they should feel real. It’s important to mention if you have trouble remembering who is who, or they seem too similar.

5)      Is the dialogue believable? Do characters sound too much alike or have the same voice?

6)      Are you being shown what is happening instead of told? This is one of the big ones people. I have a little trouble, I show and then tell what I just showed, so I’m working on that in my own writing.

7)      Are all the technical bits there? Always be conscience of grammar, spelling and point of view inconsistencies. Always point out typos.

You can give a helpful critique to a story that you don’t like. Not everyone likes the same kinds of books or writing styles. The important thing is to focus on what the writer is trying to accomplish and help them succeed. Remember, it’s not your manuscript, it’s theirs.

Any things I missed? Suggestions?

Your Role in a Critique Group – Part 1 – Critiquing Others

It’s easy in a critique group to sit back and let everyone else do the work, but the truth is, it doesn’t work that way. If you want someone to give you a critique you can work with, you need to be a present, contributing member. You should put just as much effort into their critique as you would want them to put into yours.

Here are some helpful suggestions:

1)      Let the author know if you usually don’t read their genre. This will help the reader differentiate which parts of your critique are helpful for them.

2)      Give feedback that can help the story grow. Saying that you disliked the story doesn’t help anyone. Why did you dislike it, specifically. What parts worked for you?

3)      Don’t be afraid to say what you like. Praise is not a bad word, as long as it’s genuine. We’ve all been critiqued, and telling the person what their doing right can be just as helpful as telling them what they’re doing wrong.

4)      You’re critiquing the manuscript, not the author. Don’t criticize the author, not only is that unhelpful, it’s also very rude.

5)      Lastly, follow the golden rule, critique others as you wish to be critiqued. What is helpful to you as a writer? What is unhelpful? If you figure that out, you’ll make a great critique partner.

Tomorrow; Your Role in a Critique Group – Part 2 – What to look for in someone else’s work.

Places I Know

I was watching a movie partially set in Edinburgh (no, it wasn’t Trainspotting) and I realized I could name all the streets the actors were walking on and had been in a fair amount of the buildings. I know that city so well, not only because I lived there, but because I loved living there. It got me thinking about place when writing.

My YA novel, In the After, takes place in an unnamed city that greatly resembles Chicago. Some of the street names are the same, as well as a park near my house. Although it is meant to be an “every city,” I think basing it on the city in which I lived helped me visualize the action a bit better.

What are some of the places you know? Places that are a part of you. Here are mine; they’re all cities, but yours don’t have to be.

Miami (where I grew up)

Edinburgh (where I love to be)

Chicago (where I’ve made my home)

What about you? How do you all utilize place in your writing?

100 Followers – Woohoo!

I know I shouldn’t be so excited over an arbitrary number, but I am. It’s always nice to get new followers…I love when my number goes up by even just one. I think part of it is the validation of ego that we all crave, but the main part is happiness in being able to share with so many awesome people.

It’s really interesting how quickly I became obsessed with blogging. I’ve learned that you get out of blogging what you put in. I heard that following gets you followed. Although I always try to follow back my followers (if I’m not let me know), I’ve found that comments get you followed. I try to comment as much as I can, and I appreciate all of you who take the time to comment on what I have to say. It means so much to me.

And of course, thank you!

Components of a Good Critique Group

After self editing, you’re going to need a second opinion. You want a critique group (or partner) that doesn’t gloss over the truth, but who isn’t harsh just for the sake of being harsh. You need someone to nurture your work and help you grow as a writer. I’ll write more on the technicalities of critique groups and whether you should start one or join an already established group later. Most of you already have a critique group or a critique partner, but here are some qualities to look for:

1)      The grammar goddess (or god). As annoying as they may be, this person is essential in helping you become a better writer. You don’t have to always follow grammatical guidelines, but it’s good to know when you’re out of line.

2)      The book snob. Whether it’s in your genre or just books in general, you want someone who is well read and knowledgeable. They don’t really have to be a snob, just someone who appreciates good writing.

3)      The inconsistency spotter. This person always calls you on your bull; you know, that bit of manuscript you decided to gloss over. This person will tell you when something doesn’t make sense and point out your flaws.

4)      The one who gets you. This is essential. You want a critic who gets what you are trying to accomplish and helps you on your way. If someone ever says, “Well, you should write it this way,” or “I would have written…” then run the other way. You need suggestions, not a ghostwriter. This is your story, not theirs.

These can be four different people or all these traits can be rolled into one super fantastic critique guru…but these are things I look for. What characteristics do you look for in a critique partner?

Also, I’ve said it before, but critiques are subjective, ultimately you must decide what you want your manuscript to be and how best to accomplish your writing goals. And guys, try not to be defensive…I know it’s a struggle but once you put aside your pride you’ll be able to determine which suggestions will work for you.

Next time – Your role in a critique group

Self Editing

Before you present your manuscript to a critique group or submit it to agents you should do a little self-editing. Here are some tips:

1)      Edit as you go. I personally review the entire manuscript every time I finish writing 50 pages. This keeps the plot fresh in my mind, as well as how characters act in earlier chapters.

2)      Give yourself a little distance. If you follow suggestion number 1, by the time you write the final word, you’ll know your story inside and out. Now forget everything you know. After you finish writing your manuscript, put it aside for a month or two. Write something else. Read a couple of books, then come back to it. You’ll be able to better judge what works and what doesn’t. You’ll be able to view more as an “outsider” would.

3)      Read a hard copy. For some reason, I find typos on paper that have hidden from me on the computer screen.

4)      Watch repetition, in word choice and sentence structure. A thesaurus is a wonderful thing. Also keep in mind how your sentences flow. I noticed I had a whole paragraph where I started each sentence with a pronoun. In my rewrite, I paid special care to fixing sentence monotony.

5)      Take care to make sure your characters develop gradually. Character growth is important in a story, but it has to apparent as the story progresses. You don’t want a character to react suddenly to a situation, completely out of, well, character.

6)      Check your plot and pacing. Do your plot points make sense? Does the story flow? Are there bits that don’t need to be there? Don’t be afraid to cut parts out.

7)      Read dialogue aloud. This may seem wacky, but it works. Is the dialogue believable? Does it flow? Is it true to your characters?

Hope these tips are helpful. Feel free to share your own. Next: Components of a good critique group.

Hello 2011!

Happy 2011 everyone.

A lot of people are talking about resolutions and goals for this year. My goal last year was to finish my novel and get an agent. This year my goal is to get published! What about you all? What are your writing goals?

I know I was supposed to write about self-editing last week, but then life happened and I got sidetracked. Tomorrow I’ll do a post about self-editing, and then it’s more editing for the rest of the week!