What’s a synopsis? Why do I have to sit here and write a good one when I just want to sum it all up in a few words? This is the question most authors ask as we have to sum up our latest masterpiece with an average of 200 words. I was said person a year ago when I started this adventure, but now I know the meaning behind it.
When I joined Booktrope Publishing, I sat down and read almost every blog posting, document, and form that I could find. I wanted to make sure that I was doing things right, and learn from the ones before me. Now, mind you when I came in I was positive I’d never change my cover for Unexpected Chances, I mean come on that pink dress was perfect. (That’s another blog post for another day). Okay, back on track…
A few weeks into this publishing thing, a beautiful blog post was posted about how to write an excellent synopsis. Let’s insert the eye roll now because that night I was like I can’t read anymore. I don’t want to change anything else; I like mine. Yes, I can be dramatic when I am tired. Now administrator the slap across the face. I read said posting, went okay I see what you mean. This started me on a synopsis hunt as you could call it.
The next day I went to Amazon, and a few other places to see if I could notice the good and the not so good ones. I did, but it was only because I read and did a little research from what they were trying to tell us. The very next day I sat down and opened the one I had written for Unexpected Chances. Little did I know, it sucked. “excuse my mouth, but it did.”
I started a mission to work it over, play with words, change it around, and then stand on my head until I thought it was perfect. Had it edited with my fabulous editor Lisa, and then got it approved by our admins. I was thrilled, and literally fist pumped the air after this accomplishment.
Now you might ask, what is the point of this post. Why are you telling us this? Here’s why.
I can’t count on one hand the amount of people that have said, I read your synopsis, and it grabbed me. Okay, so that might not be a big deal but the following is.
A month ago I was approved to do an interview on The Author’s Show, they usually never read and review your work. You can only imagine my excitement when I received an email from the host saying she was impressed with the blurb, and she had to grab it up. Not only did she buy a copy, and read it; she loved it. Enter cloud nine for this one review. Last week I noticed a new review pop up on Amazon, of course, I had to check it out because I take the good with the bad.
This one reviewer states that she DOES NOT read romance, but the synopsis sounded good. She took a chance and downloaded book one of The Chances Series, and loved it so much that she read the second one in the series. Now, I found this impressive and had to look up the blog to see what she typically reads. Once I found the blog, I realized the reader was more into Fantasy and Paranormal. Wow, Unexpected Chances is far from that. We have communicated some on Twitter, and I am proud to say I have gained a new fan. She’s also thinking about venturing out to the romance world to see if she can find more books like it. That to me is a milestone and guide to the power behind a great synopsis.
After all this I spend more time writing the blurb, making sure that it is spiced up to a point that it will catch the readers attention. You never want to give all the cookies away, but just enough to make them open the jar to take a bite. Since learning a few new tricks, I have gone back and written them all over to represent the important stuff I have learned.
Tip to new authors focus on the synopsis it’s the first description the reader will see about your latest release. Make it interesting, let them know what they’re getting before they purchase. If it’s a mature romance, let them know. Is it the first installment of a series, explain it.
Don’t take my advice as a this is what you all have to do, as this is what has been exciting in the book world for me over the last few weeks. I wanted to share this tidbit of information along with others.
To learn more about how to conquer that pesty synopsis, I’ve shared a few links below that were helpful to me. Again these links belong to the blogger, and I am sharing the words with you all.
Jane Friedman:
http://janefriedman.com/2011/10/25/novel-synopsis/
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-robinson/book-synopsis-tips_b_2426724.html
