Archive for February, 2010
Writing A Book Synopsis
You’ve spent a lot of time on your book, developing your characters, figuring out the conflicts, building up to the climax, editing and making your book the best it can be. If you’re considering getting an agent and submitting your book to a traditional publishing house, one of the most important things you will need to do is write a book synopsis. Even if you’re not considering getting an agent, the book synopsis can still be an excellent exercise in brevity to write your entire book in a short summary.
The tricky thing about writing a book synopsis is that it must sum up your entire book in one page or less. Think of it like looking at your book from an airplane – a sky high view of the main plot line, conflicts and characters. This is not the time to extrapolate on small details and minor characters; only the main things matter in a book synopsis.
Let’s break the synopsis down using the example of Cinderella:
1. Start with a summary sentence of approximately 25 words that answers the basic question – what is the story about?
- Cinderella is the story of a girl forced to serve her evil stepmother, is rescued by her fairy godmother, attends the royal ball and marries the prince.
In this summary of 27 words we see the conflict (Cinderella vs. evil stepmother), the storyline (evil stepmother forces Cinderella to work, she is rescued by fairy godmother and sent to the ball), climax (she attends the ball) and solution (marries the prince). Now, those of us who know the story know that there is more to the whole thing, but this summary sentence is designed to be just that, a summary.
2. Now we need to build on our summary sentence and work on writing the rest of the one page summary. As I mentioned before, the key is to keep this as one page or less. You must be brief. The four key things to focus on are:
- What is the main character’s goal?
- What motivates your character?
- What is the conflict that keeps the story moving along?
- What is the climax of your story?
Take some time to answer these questions for your story as a writing exercise. Or, if you’re not ready to do this for your own story take my example of Cinderella and answer the questions based on her story as an exercise.
Condensing your story into one page may seem like an insurmountable task. It’s not so hard when you follow these guidelines, keeping close tabs on what the main character is doing, not getting bogged down in minor characters and side plots, and have fun along the way. After all, you are writing about something very near and dear to your heart – your story.
Happy writing,
Kate
Make Your Own Rules to Writing
This week at a book club meeting of mine — that’s right, I said it, book club — we strayed from discussion of the current reading, which isn’t too uncommon. You see, a book club is a place of common gathering where we flight the everyday and meet in the storyline of the suggested reading. In a mix of discussion and friendly conversation, one is sure to find themselves on a variety of courses.
Amid book talk, we wandered towards our own writing. The interesting thing is that as writers we study the work of others, buy books on how to sharpen our own skills, and read blogs that offer helpful tidbits of information to guide and reassure us through this whole “writing process”. We learn the rules of the road. There are concepts and rules set in stone and there are also those we can bend in a variety of directions.
In life, we live and learn. Practice creates comfort which enables us to find confidence in our writing — and thus, the bending begins. We discover side roads. These roads lead to our own personality. A routine is created and a sort of personal Rules to Live (or Write) by. We all have them. And as our experience grows, the stronger our personal rule set becomes. It is the advice we pass on to new and fellow writers — the way we do things.
For the novice to published writer, each rule list derives meaning from the strong voices and personalities of the writer and their individual works.
“Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.” — Mark Twain
“I just write what I want to write. I write what amuses me. It’s totally for myself.” — J.K. Rowling
“In creativity, there is no nonsense.” — Abbey, Book Club
The beauty is that even a slight shift to any writer’s rule, whether it is tweaked or taken out of context, a new thought emerges. We are fueled by this inspiration until we come into our own. And with that, we are able to understand the original rules and can now contribute our perspectives — my opinion, my rules for writing.
“Listen to that stirring feeling in your chest. It is inspiration, motivation and heart.” — Me
And now, I ask you to share Your writing rules — the motions that set your writing into play. We benefit from one another. And it is our writing that will grow.
–Melissa
A Bit of Reader Research
Today I had a simple conversation between friends. We talked of birthdays, how time seems to be running from us and, of course, today’s latest news. In conversation, my friend brought up her latest trip to the local bookstore.
Her Situation: In search of a new read.
Her Debate: She stood back and began to examine the rows of book covers — quick images describing a story. Noting her personal preferences, she passed cover by cover until one caught her eye.
A Complaint: When reading the back cover of a book, and then another, within the specific genre of choice, frustration set in over the commonalities to the Harry Potter series.
Side Note: Now, she is almost thirty and has read and appreciated the entire Harry Potter series.
The Result: She jumped the ship of genres in search of a fresh story.
By now you may be thinking, what is the point of this blog post? And I assure you there is one.
The Point: Your cover’s purpose is to attract readers to your book while artistically reflecting a component of your story. Your story, however, needs to hold up its end of the deal. What I mean is this: Tell your story. Feel the freedom of writing. Where does your imagination take you?
This is an elementary lesson that affects your book in a BIG way. Don’t mimic a story already told. Appreciate the work of fellow authors and take from that what you will — except the basic concept. Form your story around your ideas, experiences, insight and perceptions.
Your writing, your ideas — that’s this voice thing we’re always talking about. Listen to the searchers—the ones looking for a new story to fall into. They will share with you the need for new and different.
–Melissa
See you again tomorrow…
Exploring E-books and E-readers
It seems like everywhere you turn these days people are talking about e-books and e-readers and other gizmos and gadgets that are taking over the book world. As an author, what should you know about these devices? Should your book be formatted for the tiny screen? Today we’re going to take a look at e-books and e-readers in an attempt to understand what they are, where the industry is headed and how you can benefit.
You’re probably already somewhat familiar with e-books and e-readers, in fact, I’d guess that some of you already own an e-reader like the Amazon Kindle™ or Sony Reader™, but I’ll go ahead and define some terms to get us started.
- e-book: an electronic version of any printed book available online. E-books can be bought and then downloaded onto a variety of devices including computers, laptops, e-readers and handheld phones. The average price of an e-book is $9.99, but prices do vary among e-book distributors.
- e-reader: a handheld device designed primarily for reading e-books. Most have a long battery life, a backlit screen and e-ink technology so it feels like you’re reading a real book. Others feature touch screens, keypads, music playing capabilities and full color screens. The price of an e-reader varies depending on which brand it is. The most popular e-readers are the Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader and the Barnes & Noble nook.
As the popularity of e-books and e-readers has grown so has the competition. In January 2010 Apple introduced their iPad tablet, a device that is bigger than an iPhone, but smaller than a laptop with a built in e-reader and access to millions of e-book downloads. Analysts say the freedom iPad users have to download books from multiple sites is a huge advantage over the Amazon Kindle which only allows users to download e-books from Amazon.com. Google is also entering the fray with Google Editions, e-books that will be available in the summer of 2010.
The growing competition and new products coming to the market every day are evidence that this industry isn’t going anywhere. In fact, e-book sales are expected to continue to rise as more e-readers become available at prices people can afford.
With the trends going toward e-books, where does that leave you as an author? While we certainly do not recommend throwing in the towel over printed books (they will still be around for a while), we do recommend exploring e-books and understanding what your options are. Especially if you are doing your own marketing, an e-book is an excellent way to gain more exposure to a wider audience who otherwise may not have discovered your book. If you are self-publishing and consequently self-marketing you cannot rest in promoting your book – you are its biggest advocate. Take some time to explore e-books and e-readers. Do your homework to see if they are right for you and your book.
Happy writing,
Kate
Where’s the Fairest Cover of Them All?
Mirror, mirror on the wall. How do I look? Do you see the connection between my story and face? Does my name intrigue you? Will they, the readers, like me?
It is fair to say, as readers, we are blanketed by vanity. When browsing for books, the seeker in us scans for an eye catching cover. We read the back blip of storyline and look again at the front cover. We then fan through the interior pages to scan the blocks of text. Appearance matters. Your cover is the representative to your story, your writing and you.
A professional-looking book cover is a key factor in how your book will be perceived. Like it or not, it’s an inescapable truth in the business of book marketing. The outer appearance, or face of your book, is the initial point of contact with your reader. You have three seconds to make a first impression and another eight once your book is in hand to grab and hold the potential reader’s attention.
Invest time in selecting the right cover idea. Understand that your concept, title and design all need to fluently intertwine. Capture certain elements in your mind during your brainstorming:
- Establish credibility: Is the book cover design visually attractive? Does it have congruent elements? Is it in good taste?
- Incorporate theme: Does the book cover design effectively convey your author message and style? Will it appeal to your target market?
- Creative and Original: Does the book cover design create intrigue and interest? Does it stand out among other books in your genre?
An Assignment: Take a trip to the bookstore. Pick out several books similar to your subject matter in varying sizes and colors. Lay the books together and step back a few feet. Take note of which sizes and colors attract your attention. Are you able to read the titles? At that distance you should be able to. Now take a closer look. Read the back and compare that to the front image. Is there a direct representation or subtle interpretation? Try to understand the relationship between cover and story. Don’t forget to jot down what appeals to you or any ideas that inspire you.
Where does your cover inspiration come from? The plot, your main character, the street they grew up on, or maybe some subtle cue within your story. Find the moment in your book that ties everything together — that harmonious moment that interprets the definition of your story.
[Mirror to Book Cover] And yes, if you follow these suggestions, they will love you.
–Melissa
Marketing Meet Technology
I have to admit that I’m a late adopter when it comes to anything surrounding technology. I appreciate the innovation and convenience, but I also enjoy resting on the fence. With that said, once one foot touches the slightly different shade of green, I leap over to enjoy the ease of new pastures.
This era of technology is on an infinite climb. Information is at our fingertips with the responsibility to reciprocate in order to stay afloat in the whirlpool of presence.
As a writer in 2010, our responsibilities go far beyond documenting our thoughts. We have to reach our hands out through the channels of cyber space and offer to information seekers varying avenues that all lead back to you — or me. Hanging onto the fence or not, this is the pace of today. And you — and I — need to keep up if we want to expand our network, get our work noticed, and learn to write and communicate in the latest forms on the latest platforms.
It’s about getting your word out. It’s about marketing you and your book. It’s about capitalizing on each supplemental opportunity to tell your story. And it’s work — hard work.
So let’s focus on marketing your book — the steps necessary to develop and maintain your presence in the book industry and a way for random information seekers to discover you. Marketability begins small, with your book’s overall look and moving onto supporting materials for your writing. Extending to a world of potential readers, a focus of local, regional and global will guide your efforts.
And now, sit back and soak in the overwhelming feeling of it all. Understand that marketing in today’s standards will greatly determine your overall author success. We’ll begin tomorrow with the foundation of your platform — your book’s image.
–Melissa
Utopia of Editing
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to edit our own work. I mean, the process of writing is hard enough that it would certainly be nice to pass along the timely task of editing on to someone else. But life’s not perfect or fair, blah blah blah. And editing is a job that needs to be done.
With that said, let’s flip to a more positive note. Why wouldn’t you or I want to have a hand in the editing of our work — a representation of our skills and our debut to the status of Author. Now is the time to embrace your duties as manager of quality control.
Even if you choose to hire an editor, which you can easily do through Wordclay, a personal first round edit can help you provide the clearest and crispest version of your writing as possible — for your editor, and for your story.
Editing is less about creating and more about refining — a once over … or twice (usually more).
Follow the steps below and write your way towards a cleanly edited story.
- Clear your writing goggles. When we’re too close to things, we don’t see them clearly. Just walk away. You know what you meant to write, and thoughts are usually two steps ahead of our eyes and hands. Give yourself a break and reread your work with fresh eyes.
- Trim and slim. The appearance of your writing holds a readers interest just as much as the actual content. A break in text flatters your writing and smoothes the reading. Trim down any long sentences by either removing unnecessary words or creating two sentences. Slim your words or phrases by using shorter and more direct descriptions.
- English A+. Go back to your basics (and don’t rely on spell check). Make sure your story is free of spelling errors and typos. Check for correct use of words and grammar — their/there/they’re. Correctly format your writing — fluent spacing, consistent style and balanced margins.
- A reader’s perspective. Try to view/read your story from an outside perspective. Have you covered all points so the reader may understand the direction of your story? Does it make sense? Does it hold interest?
- Print, read out loud and highlight. Make all of your noted revisions and print your work. Do not read it onscreen (this does make a difference!). Read your writing aloud and note the additional changes you need to make — you will find some.
Good writing is free of mistakes. And now you’re asking, “If by doing these things, will I be done editing and will my story be perfect?” Probably not — but don’t feel bad. Editing is just as much work, if not more, than the actual writing. Writing is development and editing is presentation. Both are skills that may take years to perfect. And it is this practice which will improve the overall performance of both.
–Melissa
Check out the new Writing Tip and Prompt.
Overcome the Winter Blues by Self-Publishing Your Book from Home
It’s February. It’s cold and grey and we could all us a little lift this time of year. Since there’s a good possibility that you’ll be trapped indoors for at least a few more weeks, what better way to pass the time than by utilizing Wordclay’s free self-publishing service to publish your book from the comfort of home?
Here are just a few ideas of books you can self-publish:
The manuscript sitting on your computer. If you’re sick and tired of waiting around for a traditional publisher to select your book for their ever-dwindling catalog, consider self-publishing. You can take control and enter the market on your terms.
A surprise gift book for friends or family. Put together a collection of personal stories, inside jokes and photos just for fun. Your friends and family will surely adore the book just as much as you enjoy putting it together.
Your memoir. If you have not begun writing yet, remember that a memoir doesn’t have to encompass your entire life. You can write about a particular time in your life … a short snippet that helped define who you are today.
A personalized children’s book. Write a short story with your son’s, daughter’s or grandchild’s name inserted into the story. Use a few of your own photographs to liven up the tale and make the story come alive.
Cookbooks. If you’re a cook you most likely you have favorite family recipes written on scraps of paper or only in your head. Why not organize those recipes and put them in a book? You could also put together a seasonal cookbook for family, a community organization, a school or church.
A book of faith. There are many different self-publishing ideas for religious books. Pastors could publish their sermon series notes. You could compile a devotional, put together a Bible study workbook, or write a testimonial of your faith.
Poetry publishing. Select some old, and write some new poems to put into a collection. Perhaps you could publish a personalized poetry collection for a spouse or friend. (Visit Wordclay for poetry publishing and marketing tips.)
No matter what kind of book you are interested in publishing, you have access to free services to publish your book for fun…or for profit. Seeing your work in print could be just the thing you need to get you through the winter blues until spring.
Keep writing.
-Angie Kelly Pheifer
Writing with a Dash Of…
I enjoy cooking. And I mean the kind of cooking that is entangled with a version of art — cooking art. Now, I don’t mean strange meals or dinners with fancy flair. Simply the experimentation of preparing variety and adding my own preferred combinations (some planned and a tad here and there from inspiration) of ingredients and complimentary sides. And then the final touch of presentation — the placement of toppings, the arrangement of the tabletop, the mint leaf decoratively placed on the side of mint ice cream.
But this is a writing blog, right? So what does all this talk of food have to do with writing? A single word — Feedback.
Each time I prepare a meal, I depend on the feedback from my family and friends so I know which mind file to store the recipe in — a favorite or maybe even never again. Or I may take note of what I could do better next time, maybe add some sautéed mushrooms.
In writing, as writers, we need feedback. During the creation of a story, we write as we see it as well as trying to cover all points of explanation for our readers. But the fact is, even your target market has varying personal tastes. And since the readers do not know the story as you do, what may seem self-explanatory needs to be detailed to fill the hole of doubt or misdirection.
Ask for feedback in your writing. You may allow readers to view your book in stages, as you write, or your final first draft. Remember that revisions are just another step in the process. Reader critiques are meaningful as each comment, question or recommendation is coming from your potential readers. This insight gives you a sneak peek into the outside perception of your work.
Some, like me, need a little cream with their coffee. So I begin with family and friends. After the received feedback and revisions, I recommend moving on to unknown reader sources. Online sites, such as Editred, allow writers to post their work for fellow members to critique and offer feedback. You may participate in writing forums for more opinions on particular suggestions. You might even locate a local book club and offer your book up for a group reading and discussion.
The point is perception defers us from grasping every angle. A fresh perspective opens new opportunity for your writing and sometimes, each of us needs a little help from our friends… and our readers.
–Melissa
Tomorrow Let’s Talk Editing
Recommended Reading for Writers
I hope you’re really getting into your writing these days with the excellent advice Melissa is passing along. I know some days it probably feels like you’re flying along, writing sentences and paragraphs that fit together and contribute to your story. Other days you might feel completely stuck, like you will never write another word.
No matter where you’re at with your book, I know there will be times you need a boost, some inspiration and more tips about writing well. That’s where this post comes in – a recommendation list of books that will assist you on your writing journey. These books come recommended by hundreds of published authors, authors who were at one point where you are today.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King – Part memoir, part tough love writing guide, On Writing is a classic every author should own. Though the book King describes his childhood, how he started writing, what he overcame to be the writer he is today and then advice on perfecting your own technique.
Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White – Almost unparalleled in its content, Elements of Style has been described as “direct, correct and delightful” by the New Yorker. If you have any questions about grammar, spelling, correct usage of a word, sentence structure, punctuation and more, this book holds the answers.
Chicago Manual of Style – Some would call this book picky and dogmatic, but they are the people who don’t know how valuable it is. It contains every imaginable answer to questions about preparing a manuscript for electronic publishing, being concise and clear when writing, correct grammar, citing sources and so much more.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Rennie Brown & Dave King – Complete with checklists and exercises for your own manuscript, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers will force you to take a merciless look at your writing and make it better. This book is a must have for all authors, but especially for self-published authors who aren’t getting the editing traditionally published books receive in a publishing house.
The Dictionary of Concise Writing: More than 10,000 Alternatives to Wordy Phrases by Robert Hartwell Fiske and Richard Lederer – If you find your writing is full of phrases like “based on the fact that” (use “because” instead) and “put an end to” (“cease” is a better fit) then you need this book. This is the ultimate guide to paring down your writing.
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein – The author of nine bestselling books Sol Stein doesn’t sugarcoat anything in this straightforward guide to writing. Instead, he firmly takes your hand, makes you cut mediocre content and scrutinize every single sentence of your manuscript.
Getting into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors by Brandilyn Collins – If your characters need some new life then this may be the book for you. Collins takes a theory actors have used for years and tweaks it to work for fiction so your characters have depth and personality. Learn how to communicate the deep psychology, behavior and motivations for why your characters do what they do throughout your book.
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass – As you probably already know getting your book picked up by a traditional publisher is nearly impossible. Maass, a literary agent and author of 17 books, will walk you through the most critical elements your book should have to really make it stand out from the rest.
There are hundreds of writing books, some that may be better than the ones on this list. Do your own research and find some that work for you. Don’t be a stagnant writer; keep learning and perfecting your technique from those who have gone before you.
Do you have a favorite writing book we missed? Share it in the comments below.
Happy writing,
Kate
