Come on out, River. The nice man wants to kidnap you.

Simon ,'Objects In Space'


The Great Write Way, Act Three: Where's the gun?

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


hippocampus - Jan 14, 2011 6:30:50 am PST #3852 of 6690
not your mom's socks.

Yay!


Gudanov - Jan 16, 2011 9:35:53 am PST #3853 of 6690
Coding and Sleeping

Synopizing is hard. Already, I feel like I've left so, so much out of my synopsis and it's still over five pages long.


Barb - Jan 16, 2011 9:41:58 am PST #3854 of 6690
“Not dead yet!”

Synopses can be the devil's own. I just finished mine and it's clocking in at just over five full pages. I'd like to get it to five or under, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to. It's more important to be able to show beginning, middle, and end in a way that makes sense.


Gudanov - Jan 16, 2011 9:48:15 am PST #3855 of 6690
Coding and Sleeping

Good luck with the shrinking. I'm struggling with connecting all the major points in a way that still makes sense. With all I'm taking out it is starting to seem accurate but not true. All these things do happen but the way they are put together isn't well reflected. On the other hand, I think it's getting better than my first 4 attempts.


hippocampus - Jan 16, 2011 4:00:21 pm PST #3856 of 6690
not your mom's socks.

we need a buffistas master class in synopses.

also, possibly drinks after.


Amy - Jan 16, 2011 4:06:52 pm PST #3857 of 6690
Because books.

Pretend you're writing the back cover/flap copy for the book. What does the reader NEED to know to get interested?

Then fill it out a little. Cover your main arcs and plot points (because in this case, you do have to give away stuff you wouldn't on the cover), but think about what the most important and emotional pieces are.

Also, try telling the story aloud, the way you would to someone who asked you. Make notes as you do.

And never get down to details as intricate as dialogue. Ever.


Barb - Jan 16, 2011 9:30:07 pm PST #3858 of 6690
“Not dead yet!”

And never get down to details as intricate as dialogue. Ever.

Word. And sometimes, that's really hard. I very nearly succumbed in this one.


Gudanov - Jan 17, 2011 9:21:55 am PST #3859 of 6690
Coding and Sleeping

Getting down to dialogue isn't a problem. Where I get sucked down is trying to tie together the plot points so it doesn't seem disjointed, then it becomes a list of things that happen without really conveying the story. It's tough.

I decided to start over completely for the fifth time, at least I think it's getting better.


Barb - Jan 18, 2011 11:22:22 am PST #3860 of 6690
“Not dead yet!”

I'm pondering new projects to play with and my mind keeps coming back to playing with some variation of Dorian Gray. I've always been fascinated by the story and it seems like it could be extremely relevant given our society's obsession with beauty at all costs.

What do y'all think?


Typo Boy - Jan 18, 2011 11:49:17 am PST #3861 of 6690
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.

I say yes! I could never pull it off in a billion years, but that is one of many reasons you are a novelist and I am not.