How will you end Raine's adventures?
Today a question from Candace: I know you've talked about this a little in the past but as you are preparing books 5, 6 and 7, I have to ask. To write these synopses you must know how you are going to end Raine's story. Right? Or is it growing as you continue to write about her? Many series have the same character but every book is a different adventure and it wraps up at the end of each book. I think it's fascinating that you can just sit down and have a clue to where this particular story is going 3 books from now. Books you haven't even written yet. You must have a great muse! Have you always known how you'll end this adventure (or do you know)? Do you know how many more books you'll write about Raine and the Saghred?
Great questions, Candace! Do I know how I'm going to end Raine's story? Yes and no. Is it continuing to grow? Most definitely. I've finished writing the synop for Book 5 (Con & Conjure), and am wrestling like a mad woman to finish the synop for Book 6. I had considered pushing ahead and writing the synop for Book
7, but apparently I can't push that hard. Two books ahead is as far as I can think/plot without my brains running out my ears. I kinda sorta know what happens in Book 7, but not enough concrete info to write a synop. So I guess this means I work best in two-book chunks.
And the reason I'm trying to finish the Book 6 synop quickly is that I'm expecting to get Anne's suggestions for edits on Bewitched & Betrayed any day now, and I'm trying to clear the decks so I can work exclusively on those, especially since I'll have a deadline to get them done.
Writing a good synop is HARD. (Yes, I'm whining now because I'm danged near exhausted.) For those of you who read the synop for The Trouble With Demons that I posted (scroll down, it's in there somewhere), the way I write synops is really hard: Raine's voice, first person, snarky tone, basically telling the whole story in 12 pages or less by only hitting the big plot points and weaving them all together. I'm at the point now in the Book 6 synop where I'm going "I don't wanna push anymore." Yep, I'm comparing it to labor. But I know that if I push my brain for just a little longer, I'll be the proud mom of a bouncing (and snarky) Baby Synopsis (and hopefully another two-book contract). So it'll all be worth it. (Okay, author whining over).
Have a great Friday! (and my brain will keep pushing)
Lisa
Great questions, Candace! Do I know how I'm going to end Raine's story? Yes and no. Is it continuing to grow? Most definitely. I've finished writing the synop for Book 5 (Con & Conjure), and am wrestling like a mad woman to finish the synop for Book 6. I had considered pushing ahead and writing the synop for Book
7, but apparently I can't push that hard. Two books ahead is as far as I can think/plot without my brains running out my ears. I kinda sorta know what happens in Book 7, but not enough concrete info to write a synop. So I guess this means I work best in two-book chunks.And the reason I'm trying to finish the Book 6 synop quickly is that I'm expecting to get Anne's suggestions for edits on Bewitched & Betrayed any day now, and I'm trying to clear the decks so I can work exclusively on those, especially since I'll have a deadline to get them done.
Writing a good synop is HARD. (Yes, I'm whining now because I'm danged near exhausted.) For those of you who read the synop for The Trouble With Demons that I posted (scroll down, it's in there somewhere), the way I write synops is really hard: Raine's voice, first person, snarky tone, basically telling the whole story in 12 pages or less by only hitting the big plot points and weaving them all together. I'm at the point now in the Book 6 synop where I'm going "I don't wanna push anymore." Yep, I'm comparing it to labor. But I know that if I push my brain for just a little longer, I'll be the proud mom of a bouncing (and snarky) Baby Synopsis (and hopefully another two-book contract). So it'll all be worth it. (Okay, author whining over).
Have a great Friday! (and my brain will keep pushing)
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:49 AM
7 Comments:
Such a shame publishers aren't open to bribery. They should just offer you the deal without the synopsis. We know the adventures are there!
Whine all you like - at the end of the day, we get Raine!!! a
You're right, Lisa, you can have some idea where a series is going, but not a clear idea. I have some notion of where Lisa is going after "Lisa's Way," but I have no idea how long it will take to get there, or if getting there is the end (assuming anyone wants to read more, naturally). Our worlds tend to grow on their own. I suppose the trick is knowing when to say "when."
I think it's so cool when people write a continuing series. There's so much more room to build the characters, but I've wondered if there are `oops' moments. Like `oops, guess I shouldn't have killed the hero's best friend in book four,' or `oops, the terrific idea I just had that would solve everything conflicts with something I said back in book one.' I guess the author has to exhibit Magyver-like problem solving abilities to write themselves out of the problems?
Chicory, I have that problem quite a bit, especially now that the map of Raine's world has been printed in the books. I can't just change geography for my own writing convenience. The mountain ranges and kingdoms are where they are -- they can't be changed, so I just have to work with it. ; )
Off topic, but I love the map. I was so proud when I found the Great Rift. (Cuddles TTWD).
I was so proud to FINALLY see the map I drew years ago in my book. It was definitely a "big grin" moment.
I'm not surprised you have trouble thinking beyond two books ahead. The third book seems pretty far down the line with an awful lot of intervening details that are not worked out yet. {Smile}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
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