I freely admit I haven’t written a detailed, professional synopsis in about 2 1/2 years (bless you, Ellora’s Cave! *g*). Once I sold to EC I didn’t have to any more. Cause enough for celebration.
However, I’m faced with having to write several now for various projects. This may come as a shock to those who place writing a synopsis on the same level as a root canal without anesthesia, but I actually enjoy it.
Ow! Quit throwing tomatoes at me! Seriously, there’s nothing more stimulating than sitting down and detailing your story from beginning to end. Then again, I’m a plotter and a linear writer, so for me it’s much easier to write one than those who pantster their way through their manuscripts, not wanting to know what happens next.
I have to know what’s going to happen in the story, beginning to end, before I write it. Doesn’t always happen that way because sometimes I’ll get a germ of an idea and run a few chapters with it, then write the plot outline for the entire book. But typically I start the synopsis first. It helps me get to know the characters, their histories and motivations, and how they change from the first chapter to the last. It’s the way I measure plot, conflict, growth of the characters and the progression of the romance. Without it, I’d probably sit there at the end of a chapter and stare helplessly at my monitor and think….Annnnnnd dennnnnnnnnn?
So color me weird…but I do like writing them.
Then again, I’ve been working on a synopsis for about three days now. Check back in a couple days and I’ll let you know how I feel about them…my opinion could vary greatly by then. 😉
Jaci