I'm working on a plot board. That's where you make a graph of all the chapters in the book and literally post out the pivotal scenes within the manuscript. So far, I have eight external plot threads to tie up and one internal.
Yeah. You do the math. A little tilted, right?
Which means: it's time to start a working synopsis.
Synopsis aren't my favorite things. Mainly, because they change. By the time I start the book, using my "perfected" synopsis and the time I finish the book, I have to rewrite the whole back end. The up side, it's not as difficult because, um . . . well, I've written the book and I know how it ends. (Duh.)
My personal feeling is, I need the synopsis to keep me on track. I can't really begin a book until I know where it's headed, right?
But, I always have the overwhelming urge to second-guess myself. Did I end it appropriately? Was it satisfying to the reader? Should I have stuck to the original ending?
So, my question is this, for all the hundreds of people reading my blog (big grin), what's your position on synopsis?
3 comments:
Yay--first of one hundred :-)
I believe synopsis is a map with guideposts. Say you're climbing into your PT cruiser, destination San Franciso. Your map is marked with stops along the way to get you from point A to point B. What happens if you take a turn in Phoenix? You'll end up with a completely different story you never would have arrived at had you not set out for San Francisco. Coming from a plotter, I can't imagine getting into the cruiser without knowing which direction to head to hopefully make it somewhere near San Francisco. Something that could take years. We're prolific, aren't we? We have to be efficient, too.
I write the synopsis when the book is finished. And -- gasp -- I plot as I write. The only concerete things I begin the process with are the characters, the leading ones anyway, and the inciting incident. Oh, and a mood/tone for the book. That is mostly determined by the setting and background of my characters. I do a lot of research prior to writing and while writing.
Basically, really and truly, I have no process. It's organic. Different for every book I've written to date.
When it comes to myself, writing a synopsis before writing the book is a total waste of time. I stick to it for all of two chapters-- well maybe two scenes. (grin
Post a Comment