Comments on: Ten Pounds of Crap in a Five Pound Bag http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:45:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: deborah http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224331 deborah Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:31:24 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224331 Hey, Toni, You did a terrific job sharing your synopsis process with the Guild group on Tuesday! You were a smash, girl, and we've already laid it heavy on the CRM for not having more of your books there. Not that guilt for having screwed up had anything to do with anything mind you, but it just so happens they ordered quite a few copies of your book the very next day. :) Hey, Cyndi, my ex wasn't like that, but my daughters...geez! They, too, shoved 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag. Only problem was, they actually had 15 pounds of crap, and they were always trying to shove the extra 5 pounds into MY bag. ARG Oh, Holly, how cool you found REAL money in yours! All I manage to find at the bottom of my purse during cleanouts are crumbs from some identifiable food group and friggin' pennies..... Which reminds me....weren't they supposed to do away with those suckers? Amanda, I've yet to find a writer who enjoys writing a synopsis. I'd take having a root canal over writing a synopsis any day! lol Margaret, you go, girl! --I'm carrying this and only this and screw the rest... Yes, ma'am, I do like your style! :grin: Terry, I think it's easier to write the entire book than a friggin synopsis! LOL, Jen! I SOOO know what you mean by Synopsis Hell Week! Dang, Roxanne, I'm calling YOU the next time I have to write a synopsis, girl!!! Arg, Allison, a synopsis due ALONG with a book?! Hey, Toni,
You did a terrific job sharing your synopsis process with the Guild group on Tuesday! You were a smash, girl, and we’ve already laid it heavy on the CRM for not having more of your books there. Not that guilt for having screwed up had anything to do with anything mind you, but it just so happens they ordered quite a few copies of your book the very next day. :)

Hey, Cyndi, my ex wasn’t like that, but my daughters…geez! They, too, shoved 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag. Only problem was, they actually had 15 pounds of crap, and they were always trying to shove the extra 5 pounds into MY bag. ARG

Oh, Holly, how cool you found REAL money in yours! All I manage to find at the bottom of my purse during cleanouts are crumbs from some identifiable food group and friggin’ pennies….. Which reminds me….weren’t they supposed to do away with those suckers?

Amanda, I’ve yet to find a writer who enjoys writing a synopsis. I’d take having a root canal over writing a synopsis any day! lol

Margaret, you go, girl! –I’m carrying this and only this and screw the rest… Yes, ma’am, I do like your style! :grin:

Terry, I think it’s easier to write the entire book than a friggin synopsis!

LOL, Jen! I SOOO know what you mean by Synopsis Hell Week!

Dang, Roxanne, I’m calling YOU the next time I have to write a synopsis, girl!!!

Arg, Allison, a synopsis due ALONG with a book?!

]]> By: Allison Brennan http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224323 Allison Brennan Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:02:19 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224323 Synopsis? What's a synopsis? Oh, yeah, that thing I'm asked to write when I have 48 hours to finish a book I need two weeks to finish, but sales needs it yesterday . . . Last synopsis I did was for the FBI Trilogy. SUDDEN DEATH? No problem. The book was almost done. (Almost. The ending STILL didn't fit how I thought it would end three days before I wrote the ending.) FATAL SECRETS? I knew which hero I wanted, so I thought that was a no brainer . . . CUTTING EDGE I thought would be the hardest, but two characters just jumped up and I had a premise and I thought, wow, this might work. Four paragraphs vague enough that I can live with them, but with enough intrigue that I'm, well, intrigued by the potential. But I could sleep that night and emailed my editor and said, "I'm not writing FATAL SECRETS. Not that story, at least." Why? Well, now I have my blog topic so you'll have to find out Thursday morning . . . I hate synopses. I write them only when I absolutely have to. Synopsis? What’s a synopsis? Oh, yeah, that thing I’m asked to write when I have 48 hours to finish a book I need two weeks to finish, but sales needs it yesterday . . .

Last synopsis I did was for the FBI Trilogy. SUDDEN DEATH? No problem. The book was almost done. (Almost. The ending STILL didn’t fit how I thought it would end three days before I wrote the ending.) FATAL SECRETS? I knew which hero I wanted, so I thought that was a no brainer . . . CUTTING EDGE I thought would be the hardest, but two characters just jumped up and I had a premise and I thought, wow, this might work. Four paragraphs vague enough that I can live with them, but with enough intrigue that I’m, well, intrigued by the potential.

But I could sleep that night and emailed my editor and said, “I’m not writing FATAL SECRETS. Not that story, at least.” Why? Well, now I have my blog topic so you’ll have to find out Thursday morning . . .

I hate synopses. I write them only when I absolutely have to.

]]> By: Roxanne St. Claire http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224322 Roxanne St. Claire Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:10:52 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224322 Oh, did someone mention purses? Here I am! I love the synopsis analogy. I had a breakthrough with syns a few books back -- I'll share. I was writing one for a yet to be pubbed book (I have to write one for every book, even though my editor and I both know there will be no correlation between synopsis and finished book). Anyway, I wrote a doozy, about 15 pages, full of details, loaded with emotion, definitely an evening bag stuffed with a weeks of garbage. I took a walk, thought about the story, and realized that my editor didn't WANT all that detail, but I needed it in my head. I went back, copied the doc as "short synopsis" (read "evening bag") and took out the most salient points and emotional arc, winnowed it down to two pages and she LOVED it. So now I always write a long, detailed version for me (the diaper bag, so to speak) then pluck out only what I must have (lipstick, cellphone, comb, keys) and submit a lovely little clutch. Oh, did someone mention purses? Here I am! I love the synopsis analogy. I had a breakthrough with syns a few books back — I’ll share. I was writing one for a yet to be pubbed book (I have to write one for every book, even though my editor and I both know there will be no correlation between synopsis and finished book). Anyway, I wrote a doozy, about 15 pages, full of details, loaded with emotion, definitely an evening bag stuffed with a weeks of garbage. I took a walk, thought about the story, and realized that my editor didn’t WANT all that detail, but I needed it in my head. I went back, copied the doc as “short synopsis” (read “evening bag”) and took out the most salient points and emotional arc, winnowed it down to two pages and she LOVED it. So now I always write a long, detailed version for me (the diaper bag, so to speak) then pluck out only what I must have (lipstick, cellphone, comb, keys) and submit a lovely little clutch.

]]> By: Jen Apodaca http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224321 Jen Apodaca Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:53:53 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224321 In my house, we call is Synopsis Hell Week... In my house, we call is Synopsis Hell Week…

]]> By: Terry Odell http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224320 Terry Odell Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:40:44 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224320 I found a purse I love and it's the only one I carry these days. It saw me through my trip to South Africa, and even though it's black, I carried it all summer. It's got pockets for everything and is supposed to be 'ergonomic' and easy on the back. Synopsis? I can't even come up with a title until after I finish the book (and I'm techncially past the end of the book, with 112K words, but wer'e not at "The End" yet, so I have to get there, then go back and slash and burn. Haven't given thought one to a synopsis, although I was helping a crit partner with one the other day. All it did was strike terror into my heart that I'd not only have to write one for the book I'm finishing, but someday, might actually be in a position where I have to write the synopsis BEFORE the book. How can a 'pantser' do that? I found a purse I love and it’s the only one I carry these days. It saw me through my trip to South Africa, and even though it’s black, I carried it all summer. It’s got pockets for everything and is supposed to be ‘ergonomic’ and easy on the back.

Synopsis? I can’t even come up with a title until after I finish the book (and I’m techncially past the end of the book, with 112K words, but wer’e not at “The End” yet, so I have to get there, then go back and slash and burn. Haven’t given thought one to a synopsis, although I was helping a crit partner with one the other day. All it did was strike terror into my heart that I’d not only have to write one for the book I’m finishing, but someday, might actually be in a position where I have to write the synopsis BEFORE the book. How can a ‘pantser’ do that?

]]> By: Margaret A. Golla http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224316 Margaret A. Golla Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:36:01 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224316 Screw purses! Eight years ago, I decided I wasn't going to be one of those moms who carted around a purse, diaper bag and kid in one of those ten pound car seats--so I dumped the purse and never went back. And I've lost the diaper bag and kid carries her own crap in her backpack. Nu-uh, no suckering mom into carrying it. :evil: One Wallet, back pocket. Cell phone, left front pocket. Car keys, lip balm, tissue, front right pocket. Now, I would pay money to figure out how to translate that tightness and efficiency into a condensed query and synopsis. (Snork!) Like THAT will ever happen. Screw purses! Eight years ago, I decided I wasn’t going to be one of those moms who carted around a purse, diaper bag and kid in one of those ten pound car seats–so I dumped the purse and never went back. And I’ve lost the diaper bag and kid carries her own crap in her backpack. Nu-uh, no suckering mom into carrying it. :evil:
One Wallet, back pocket. Cell phone, left front pocket. Car keys, lip balm, tissue, front right pocket.
Now, I would pay money to figure out how to translate that tightness and efficiency into a condensed query and synopsis. (Snork!) Like THAT will ever happen.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224315 Amanda Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:10:19 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224315 It is nice to know even great writers hate writing a synopsis. Mine are usually 3 pages and tell the person reading it nothing about the book. I have 'lack of info' itis. It is nice to know even great writers hate writing a synopsis. Mine are usually 3 pages and tell the person reading it nothing about the book. I have ‘lack of info’ itis.

]]> By: HollyD http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224314 HollyD Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:03:54 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224314 Deb - Very funny. I also have tried the smaller purse. It never freakin' works. Several years ago I cleaned out my purse and found $18.00 in change in the bottom. I don't let it get quite that bad anymore. I'm unpublished and it is nice to know that even someone as talented as you has trouble w/ writing a synposes. It obviously doesn't hold you back. Your books rock. Deb – Very funny. I also have tried the smaller purse. It never freakin’ works. Several years ago I cleaned out my purse and found $18.00 in change in the bottom. I don’t let it get quite that bad anymore.

I’m unpublished and it is nice to know that even someone as talented as you has trouble w/ writing a synposes. It obviously doesn’t hold you back. Your books rock.

]]> By: ArkansasCyndi http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224313 ArkansasCyndi Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:22:58 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224313 I tried the "smaller bag = less shit", didn't work. I burst out laughing at "Mine have a tendency to read like a crack-addict’s steno notes". BRAWHAHAHAHAHAHA I want one of the purses where everything has a place and is in its place. Won't happen. In fact, my husband lives with notion that My Purse is His Purse....i.e "Can you carry my glasses? Do you have room for this?" Blah blah blah. I bet he isn't the only hubs like this! I tried the “smaller bag = less shit”, didn’t work.

I burst out laughing at “Mine have a tendency to read like a crack-addict’s steno notes”. BRAWHAHAHAHAHAHA

I want one of the purses where everything has a place and is in its place. Won’t happen. In fact, my husband lives with notion that My Purse is His Purse….i.e “Can you carry my glasses? Do you have room for this?” Blah blah blah. I bet he isn’t the only hubs like this!

]]> By: toni mcgee causey http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/29/ten-pounds-of-crap-in-a-five-pound-bag-2/#comment-224310 toni mcgee causey Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:34:17 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1148#comment-224310 I am cracking up. Because yeah, that about sums up how I've done synopses. Ten pounds of crap in a five pound bag. I know how they're "supposed" to look when they're done. I just hate (loathe, despise) doing them. I am cracking up. Because yeah, that about sums up how I’ve done synopses. Ten pounds of crap in a five pound bag. I know how they’re “supposed” to look when they’re done. I just hate (loathe, despise) doing them.

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