Platform courtesy of acromion


Interesting post (scroll down to Fiction Writers need Platforms, too) by Jane Friedman over at There Are No Rules. It's always made sense to me that a non-ficiton writer needs a platform. I mean if you're dishing dirt on celebs, probably makes sense that you actually know some. Or if you writing a book on parenting, probably a good thing to have a couple of kids who aren't in prison, unless of course, you're writing about how not to parent.

Now they tell me it's a good thing for a novelist to have a platform. Ummm, I've written a murder mystery. No, calm down. I have never murdered anyone . And my protagonist is a rich country club type. Nope, never belong to a country club, and I'm not rich-yet. So now I gotta figure out my platform. I thought the synopsis was bad.

After reading the tips which Jane says Christina Katz also discusses in her book Get Known Before the Book Deal, I'm off to buy Christina's book. I think I've figured out my angle. I have a fair knowledge of law enforcement (having slept with a cop for 30 years), and what I don't know, he'll be glad to tell me. Plus, I'm writing about a real location, so that's a no-brainer. I just have to figure out the rest.





Now I'm back to they synopsis. Aaacckk. Anyone? Anyone out there with a smashing example of a synopsis for me? Better yet, anyone out there willing to write the synopsis for me? Acccckkkk.

Synopsis = #$^$^#$*%$#@#$

The Aftermath courtesy of mr. rich


Really. I'm trying to write the dang thing. I thought the query was tough. Piece of cake compared to the synopsis. And I know why I don't like them. Remember book reports. I hated book reports when I was in school.

I always won top honors for reading the most books, but my grade always suffered because of the stinking book reports we had to write. I can even remember saying, "Why do we have to write stinking book reports? It's not like we'll have to do book reports when we grow up." Ha! Little did I know.

Where's the Cliffs Notes for my novel when I need it? Oh wait, I would have to write it, wouldn't I.

A fellow critiquer (thanks Tom) sent me a link to mystery, suspense, thriller writer Lisa Gardner's website where she has a online lecture Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis .


And it's a great link. Lots of great detail, but I'm brain dead. I read it and I know what I supposed to do, but gaaaaa, it just does not compute onto the page.

I know I need to introduce my characters, fill in the plot points and YES.... I know I have to tell the ending. But it sounds like a book report from junior high and no thank you Mr. Blevins for making me write them. Apparently you didn't teach me anything. You should have sttod over my desk and beat me with the book you were so handy at throwing across the room to get our attention. Sorry, I digress--that's a whole nother blog topic.
Back to the synopsis or rather the bad book report. It sounds like Susie did this and then Susie did that and then the bad guy did the bad thing and Susie ... Well, you get my drift. I'm usually not bad at transitions, but I know that's the problem here.

Yo, Lisa, wanna help a sister out? If you love writing the synopsis, how about you do mine? What's one more? I know you're a good sport or else you wouldn't have all the great stuff on your webiste for fellow writers. All you have to do is one, then I'll get the hang of it. I promise! I'm a quick study, but I need to see the real deal in print to be able to catch on.

I'll send you my outline and you whip out a synopsis for me. I'll be your BFF forever and I'll read all your books forever more and give you great reviews (wait that's kind of like a book report. What am I saying?) Okay, I'll read all your books and give you 5-star ratings.

Synopsis Class

Online class: August 6-31, 2008

"Tips From Madison Avenue: The Selling Synopsis"

by Laurie Schnebly Campbell

Registration $30 at WriterU

No wonder so many great novelists have a tough time writing a synopsis -- the two jobs require completely different skills! Advertising copywriters have discovered a variety of techniques that make people want to buy a specific product, whether it's a bike or a burger or a book. So this hands-on workshop teaches those same techniques, including:

* Finding your unique selling points
* Headlines (or openings) that grab a buyer
* Identifying your target market
* When details matter, and when they don't
* Brainstorming a creative plot strategy
* Highlights that sell your product
* Changing format, emphasis or both

An advertising copywriter for 25 years, Laurie Schnebly Campbell was amazed when she realized her day job made it easier to "sell" editors on her books. So far she's sold six to Silhouette, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for Best Special Edition of the Year, and loves sharing marketing techniques with people who DON'T work on Madison Avenue.