synopsis

I have a synopsis. Some of you will have read it (for those that haven’t it’s the second page in my blog – look under pages ;p)
I was pretty chuffed with it when I wrote it. And it can’t have been that awful because when I did my original bout of querying (yes with my first draft – oh the shame! *wail*) I got three requests for partials. Which as anyone who has queried will know is damn good! Of course I totally shot myself in the foot by submitting the first version of my manuscript… *sigh* ..
But we all learn from these things! Sure, just thinking of it now makes me cringe but I will never ever make that mistake again *grin*. Now that I’m working on my super intensive 8th rewrite (and the word count has gone from 130k back up to 170k *DOH*) it means that my synopsis is no longer valid.
Now I loved this synopsis when I wrote it. It’s very tongue in cheek. Except now when I read it I have an innate urge to hurl my computer out the window..
It’s not good. Nope, really, really not good. Seriously what were those editors thinking??
I’m going to leave it up till this weekend when I hopefully will be revealing my new look blog site (designed and made fully by moi – so don’t hold me to the release date too tightly… I may be screwing things up) and I’d love to hear really critical opinions on it (the synopsis that is).
You have to be able to back up your statements but be vicious! Have fun and tear it to pieces. Then (hopefully) I’ll put the new one up and we can see what you think.

I’m also thinking I’ll find a few really good ‘how to’ guides on synopsis’s and do a post on it to help those who have yet to tackle one.
Now back to the drawing (writing) board! Talk to you all later *grin*

P.s – I now have my proper domain name! So it’s http://www.damselinadirtydress.com/ – just incase anyone is having trouble getting in : )

After reading my last post I thought it’d be a good idea to run through ‘the steps’ you need to take once you’ve finished your manuscript. Or at least the steps as I see them (opinion – not law)

Make sure your manuscript is finished
Decide what genre your manuscript is (you may have done this earlier – but double check anyway)
Write a synopsis – here’s a helpful link http://www.author-network.com/synopsis.html and you can read mine if you want another example
Write a query letter – the easiest way to learn about query letters is to go through my list of favourite blogs. Most have articles dedicated to query’s. Think succinct and catchy
Start looking online for Literary Agents (see my links list!)
Read their FULL bio’s – you don’t want to send a fantasy book to an agent who only works with non- fiction etc
Set up a table so you can track who you’ve sent queries to, when you sent them and what their response is. This stops you from sending to the same agency twice (usually a big no-no unless their site states otherwise)
Through out all of these steps be polishing your manuscript. Do this continually even when you think you’ve done it – read it again
Get someone who is big on grammar/spelling/punctuation to edit it. This could be a friend or even your old English teacher (suggest it as a project for their class *lol*)
TALK IT UP! Tell everyone you know and more that you’ve written a manuscript and are trying to get published. It’s often said ‘it’s not what you know but who’. You’ll be surprised at who knows someone – I continually am
Write a blog (HA! Your turn now ; p)
Once you have a selection of agents you believe would be suitable, then send them your query. Don’t send a mass generated e-mail, make sure each query is personalized and adheres to their submission guidelines (everyone is different)
Keep working on your manuscript! Don’t sit there chewing your nails waiting for responses, do something! If you can’t face your manuscript again then write something else or read a different style of book to broaden your own style
When you get a response for a partial, reply promptly and do EXACTLY WHAT THEY ASK

and this is as far as I can take you… at the moment *grin* Stay tuned for my next installment of the steps!

The Synopsis

The steps