To end the year, I’ve decided to spotlight my top 10 blog posts from 2014. I went into my stats page and looked up those articles, stories, and other published pieces that had the most number of views. Some surprised me, others did not.
Today, we’re up to #6: How to Write a Novel Synopsis: 5 Tips
After attending Chuck Sambuchino’s Colorado Writing Workshop last month, I can smile and nod at this post. Because everything in it is exactly what he taught me during that conference. So, be sure to read it if you haven’t and take to heart its important lessons.
Welcome to Twitter Treasure Thursday! Although I’m still a few months away from finishing my manuscript, I’m always on the lookout for useful tips, dos and don’ts, and lessons about the querying process.
Today’s gem, courtesy of Writer’s Digest and the ever helpful Chuck Sambuchino, focuses on the dreaded synopsis…Oh, come on. Don’t deny it. You’re as “ugh” about this step in the querying process as I am. Thankfully this article makes it a little easier by giving us five tips to use as basic guidelines. So, before you sit down to write yours, check it out!
How to Write a Novel Synopsis: 5 Tips
1. Reveal everything major that happens in your book, including the ending. Heck, revealing the story’s ending is a synopsis’s defining unique characteristic. You shouldn’t find a story’s ending in a query or in-person pitch, but it does leak out in a synopsis. On this note, know that a synopsis is designed to explain everything major that happens, not to tease — so avoid language such as “Krista walks around a corner into a big surprise.” Don’t say “surprise,” but rather just tell us what happens.
To read the entire article, click here!
For more useful advice, follow Writer’s Digest and Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter!
Previous Top 10 2014 Posts:
#8: Music Monday – Love The Way You Lie
Photo credit:
http://writerswrite1.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/how-to-write-a-one-page-synopsis/
Well, besides being totally out of whack since the long Labor Day Weekend, my week went well. It started off on a high note with a trip to Aspen for the 
Even if you know the general do’s and don’ts of writing, it never hurts to brush up on “the rules”. And yes, I put “the rules” in quotations because there’s no right or wrong way to do any of this. But there are basic ways that should be considered. So check out this article by author and speaker, Jody Hedlund:
As you read in my 
Since I’ve arrived at those highly anticipated 
My characters are just like everyone else: human. They make mistakes, they bleed, they cry. And they seek forgiveness from those they’ve wronged. I want to draw all of those emotions out and bring them to life for my readers. I want people to feel what my characters feel. “Human” will help me do that.
Yeah, ick with a side of frustration.
Truthfully, it’s an old argument between us; one we’ve had since I optioned this book’s archaic version to Hollywood a few years ago. It seems no matter how many explanations I give her, and no matter how many solutions I come up with to make it better, she’s never satisfied. I finally hit my wit’s end last weekend after she yet again complained.
Well, after a mini meltdown and a lot of brainstorming, I finally struck gold. I said the right “something” and she gave me the thumb’s up.
So, in honor of my “Why” week, and all the new plot twists and turns, ups and downs, overs and unders, and–ahhhh!
Read the rest of the article 
Now, is it the best story of all time? Noooo. Will it win this first round of the competition? NOOO! Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’ll place high. I took a risk with the format and it could either hurt me or help me. I just don’t know. But I do know that I’m proud of myself for accepting the challenge, finishing it, and turning in a story that I feel good about. I thought it was funny and–hopefully–romantic enough to qualify it as a “romantic comedy”.
Jen's Pen Den 