Indie Authors Monthly Magazine For Authors and Readers discussion
This topic is about
Fate
Help with a synopsis.
date
newest »
newest »
I like number 3. But I would change "zillion" to something else, because to me that sounds like kid speak exaggeration. Even if you have to make up a word that would be used in your character's language to designate distance. JMHOAnd I like Alex for LX; very clever. Good one.
Thank you for your comments! Zillion: I haven't thought about that, but you are right. Although the word is used to emphasize a large number, it does sound exaggerated.
How about this:
... Now some 407 earth-years later, on a routine exploration mission that shouldn't have taken more than a few months, an incident propels his spaceship trillions of light years away from his original destination, and he finds himself stranded on the third planet from a star called Sol.
This is better, but consider that "light years" is actually the time it takes something to travel from one point to another at the speed of light, so if you are talking trillions of light years, that's almost an incomprehensible time frame. I think if you just said "propels his spaceship light years away from his original destination," this would be more understandable. Again, JMHO.
Yet again you have a good point. Thank you! :)I so hate having to write synopsis! (Don't we all?) :P
Yes. I agonize over mine and am never satisfied. But you have to do the best you can and then let it go. By the way, you have a beautiful cover for your book Legacy/Fate. It looks like a winner. Good luck to you.
Does it get easier with time? I see you have many books. I can't imagine the work you had to put in them, not only in the writing of the books, but so many synopsis? A NIGHTMARE! ;)Thank you for your kind words. (I'll make sure to tell my son that someone likes 'his' cover since he is the one who did it for me.)
I keep saying I agree with Dorothy Parker when she said, "I hate writing, but I love to have written." Amen. No, I don't think it gets easier, but maybe you get a better feel for the best way to describe your story. Wow, your son did your cover? I'm impressed! Great job; very professional looking.
Just thought I'd throw in my two cents. I hate writing blurbs too, but I have to do it a fair amount so here goes.The first one doesn't do much for me. It doesn't really give me much sense of the story or conflict. The second one is better but it seems a little disjointed. The third is the best, but it bogs down with too much backstory before getting to the meat of the issue.
I don't know your book but I was thinking something like this:
3-LX (or Alex for us Earthlings) is a space-faring wanderer lost on an unfamiliar world called Earth. Alone and stranded, he is drawn to a being he never knew existed--a mysterious vampire girl. Mellie is facinating and forbidden to his species but there is no turning back. Now he must break rules, discover secrets, and even risk the fate of the planet to protect her and the ones he loves.
Thanks Shelly for your input. :)I took your advice in consideration along with the ones I've received from Facebook, and tried to cut down on the backstory, but I want to stay away from short synopsis as they tend to be disjointed as you stated for the number two, so I took both 2 and 3 and tried to make a new one:
LX (or Alex for us Earthlings) is a Navigator. From the moment of his birth until he became of age, he prepared for his calling. On a routine exploration mission that shouldn't have taken more than a few months, an incident propels his spaceship light-years away from his destination, leaving him stranded on the third planet from a star called Sol.
The laws of survival are strict; he must not fraternize with the natives. However, an encounter with Mellie changes everything. She has speed and strength unknown to Earthlings yet strangely similar to his own species. This new discovery compels him to learn more about her and those who call themselves vampires. For her, he will break rules, his people's rules, until there is no turning back.
Meanwhile, mysterious storms are devastating cities. When they learn of their origin and humans fail to see the threat, he, and his new friends, might be their only chance, but to save them and the one he loves, he may have to break his primary Oath: the vow never to take a life.
G.G.,Some good advice when creating any synopsis; there is a standard rule in business (and writing is a business as well as an art): "When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
In other words, write just enough to get the job done; then stop. Any additional information will be superfluous.
Thanks Jim. Great advice. Now, the problem lies in knowing how much is enough to get the job done. :P
G.G. wrote: "Thanks Jim. Great advice. Now, the problem lies in knowing how much is enough to get the job done. :P"
G.G.
Writers are never able to truly judge their own writing impartially. Your brain will interpret it to read as originally intended; not as it is actually written.
It is imperative that you always have a third party critque whatever you intend to expose to the general public before hand. Choose someone who has a solid grasp of the language and good technical writing skills themselves. Make sure that they are also honest enough to tell you the truth; not what they think you would like to hear.
This was my original. Although it felt a little mysterious, I changed it because it didn't reveal enough of the story to catch one's attention.
1-When an untimely accident brings Alex back to Earth, a planet he visited a few times in the past, he discovers a different kind of being he never knew existed. Widely similar to his own species, they have one thing that sets them apart—they feed on human blood. Not judgmental by nature, he befriends them.
During his quest to repair his ship and return to his own world, he will come to realize that his unfortunate fate might not be a coincidence after all, but only his Leaders could give him the answers he seeks, and he is far from home, stuck on the third planet from a star called Sol.
This second one seemed better, but I was told it may reveal too much, (and it still seems a little cramped up.)
2-When an untimely accident brings Alex back to Earth, the last thing he expected was to fall in love. The survival rules are strict; do not fraternize with the natives. After a betrayal lands him in the hands of the military, he discovers he is not the only one held captive. They are experimenting on vampires. Afraid that his love might be among them, he frees them all as he escapes.
Meanwhile, mysterious storms are devastating big cities. Soon, they will learn of their origin. Can they put aside their grudge against humankind to save the planet from certain annihilation?
So now I am thinking maybe forget the word count entirely, and go with this one:
3-LX (or Alex for us Earthlings) is an alien who spent most of his life visiting and studying planets and their civilizations. From the moment of his birth until he became of age, he prepared for his calling. Now some 407-earth years later, on a routine exploration mission that shouldn't have taken more than a few months, an incident happens, propelling his spaceship a zillion miles away from his original destination. He finds himself stranded on the third planet from a star called Sol.
With only a month or so to repair his ship before he starves to death, he is still confident. He's been to Earth before and knows her people. At least that was before he met Mellie. She is different from the humans he studied, with speed and strength unknown to Earthlings but strangely similar to his own species. Fascinated by her, he decides to use his unfortunate accident to learn more about her and those who call themselves vampires.
For her, he will break rules, his people's rules, until there is no turning back. To protect her, and the ones he loves, he may have to break his most sacred one: Do Not Kill!
I need your opinion please!
1, 2, or 3?