Writers in the Storm

By Shannon Donnelly

When I first started writing, I found out you needed a synopsis to submit to agents. Okay, I thought, I can do that. Well, I did, but not so well—twenty pages later I had a synopsis that rambled, wandered, and just did not do the job. Thankfully, someone pointed this out to me.

These days, I actually like writing the synopsis—yes, that’s right, I like it. Well, okay, maybe, not like, but I find it’s an invaluable tool.

Why?

• A good synopsis shows you where your plot holes are before your book falls into them.
• A good synopsis points out weak conflict and places where character motivation is thin.
• A good synopsis can save you lots of rewriting and thrown out chapters.

Usually, I like to get about 50 to 100 pages done, and then hit the synopsis to make sure I have all the story beats and conflict in place. It’s my road map. I may wander from it, but it helps keep me from getting bogged down.

I’m teaching my “Sexy Synopsis” workshop again this March for Low Country RWA, but in the meantime, here’s the checklist I created to keep me on track with getting a synopsis to be like a little black dress—stylish but covering all the important bits.

Feel free to adapt this to your own list—this came from years of taking apart every synopsis I could read to find out what worked and what worked best for me.

Synopsis Checklist

1. Does it cover the hero and heroine's relevant character traits and goals in a fresh way?

2. Does it tell the scenes with the most conflicts--internal and external--for the hero and the heroine, with an emphasis on the main character's conflict?

3. Does it offer specific dramatic scenes for the main turning points, detailing what happens, where it happens, escalating the risk to the main character's goal, and offering harder and harder choices for the main character in each of these scenes?

4. Does it have scenes that show a developing relationship, including attraction and hero and heroine compatibility, with mention of the feelings of the characters, and also telling what is keeping a relationship from working between these two?

5. Does the story include scenes with sexual developments between the characters and how those scenes impact character conflicts, compatibities and emotions?

6. Does it tell all characters' motivations--including for any villain or antagonist?

7. Are the characters fresh?  Are they developed by looking past cliché to what is core and specific to the characters?

8. Do the characters make choices that come from within that specific person, rather than from the writer manipulating the story?  Can you say, "Yes, if I were this person, I would make this choice."

9. Does it raise questions to keep interest going--and then provide answers to all questions raised?

10. Does it include a scene that is the climax or black moment, and make clear the resolution of the story with an ending that wraps up all story elements?

11. Does it include a strong theme that is woven into the scenes and character choices?  And which is revealed strongest in the climax of the book and the character's ultimate choice?

12. Is the voice active, with all extra words cut, and with the best possible word choices with the clearest, most concise writing possible in a tone that matches the tone of the book?

How do YOU feel about synopsis writing? Do you love it, hate it, or are you somewhere in between?

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Shannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards, including a RITA nomination for Best Regency, the Grand Prize in the "Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer" contest, judged by Nora Roberts, RWA's Golden Heart, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: "simply superb"..."wonderfully uplifting"....and "beautifully written."

Her newest book, Riding in on a Burning Tire, the second book in the Mackenzie Solomon, Demon/Warders Urban Fantasy series is just out from Cool Gus Publishing. Her work has been on the top seller list of Amazon.com and includes Paths of Desire, a Historical Regency romance. Her Regency romances can be found as ebooks on all formats, and with Cool Gus Publishing, and include a series of four novellas.

Shannon is the author of several young adult horror stories, and computer games. She lives in New Mexico with two horses, two donkeys, two dogs, and only one love of her life.

Shannon can be found online at:
Her website: http://shannondonnelly.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SDwriter
Twitter: @sdwriter

By Sharla Rae

Some writers brainstorm on their own, some do it with another writer or a group of writers. My personal favorite is 'what-ifing' with my critique group. Along the way I learned a few things. I think the biggest lesson was that if I walked away disappointed, it was probably my own fault.

There are websites that go into scientific details, spouting lots of brainstorming terms you'll soon forget. I'm not going there. I'm speaking from plain old practical experience and what's worked for me. I hope it works for you too.

Pinpointing exactly what you want to brainstorm is the first step.

Sound easy? Sometimes it is. But sometimes, puzzling out exactly what's missing in a story needs a brainstorm session of its own. If time is short and you need to pinpoint the problem yourself before taking it to your posse, here's a few blogs that might help.

• 4 Steps For Organizing Plot Ideas For A Novel by Judy Hedlund
• For discussion points: When Middles Sag by Elizabeth Craig
• Kara Lennox’s Plot Fixer Series:

Part 1 – Your Premise Isn’t Compelling
Part 2 – How To Fix a Weak Opening
Part 3 – A Lack of Goals
Part 4 – Is Your Conflict Strong Enough?
Part 5 – Raising The Stakes
Part 6 – 5 Tips To Help Improve Your Story’s Pacing
Part 7 – Pick Up the Pace
Part 8 -  Is Your Plot Predictable
Part 9 – Plots That Rely on Coincidence and Contrivance

There are as many possible topics to brainstorm as there are stories. Below are a few common topics that are frequently discussed.

• Brainstorm a plot for a particular character personality you want to write and the reverse, finding the right characters for a story plot that’s begging you to write it.
• Brainstorm how to choreograph a scene - action, fighting, even a love scene
• Brainstorm how to write yourself “out” of a corner.
• Brainstorm a character’s psyche, that is how a particular personality should handle a situation.
• Brainstorm where the story begins – 1^st chapters are the hardest chapters in the entire book.
• Brainstorm the turning point in the plot, how to get there and what comes next.

Showing up with a problem is not enough. Being prepared avoids wasting your time and someone else's on explanations or background information. It's also the best way to get more our of your 'what-ifing.' 

Before the Brainstorming Session:

1)  Explain the specific subject you want to brainstorm.

2)  Prepare an outline of facts you already know about the story. Keep it as short as possible but provide all the information needed to help you brainstorm. The blogs listed above might help organize your thoughts.

3)  List ideas that won’t work so your partners don’t waste time considering those scenarios. Of course, realize that they just might tell you how to make one of those scenarios work.

4)  E-mail the outline a couple days before the group meets so they have time mull over some ideas.  (This saves a lot of time at the meeting) If it’s not possible to e-mail the outline ahead of time, at least be prepared with handouts.

During the Brainstorming Session:

1)  Make sure everyone is clear about “what” you expect to accomplish. Invite questions. Don’t be surprised if you don’t have all the answers to those questions. Sometimes the questions engender an 'ah-hah' moment that is key to a fruitful session.

2)  Be open to all suggestions. In a good brainstorming group, one idea will trigger another and then another. Don’t automatically discount anything. Some of the craziest suggestions inspire the best results.

3)  Take notes. You might think that you couldn’t possibly forget the best of ideas, but it’s the little details that really count. I repeat, take notes.

4)  If you are brainstorming another writer’s work, study the outline ahead of time, be prepared with questions and if you have time, jot down ideas. Above all, remember that in the end this is the author’s book, not yours – no matter how brilliant your own ideas might be.

5)  Have fun. Most of the brainstorming sessions I’ve attended include lots of laughter and we're all excited when a scenario comes together in a great scene or story plot.

Not everyone has a critique group or even wants one. That doesn’t mean you can’t start a brainstorming or plotting group. 

The benefit of meeting with the same people each time is familiarity.  Once the group has a feel for your writing style and the type of stories you like to write, they're  better equipped to offer appropriate solutions to your story problem. Some might argue that new faces will offer new perspectives. That could be true but remember this new group will still need the background info.

Be as picky about choosing a brainstorming group as you would be choosing a critique group. For some ideas you might like to read my blog: Critique Groups: How To Find Your Dream Team.  Joining a group that includes even one ego-maniac who believes his or her ideas are the end all - be all will put a damper on the entire group's productively.

Can you brainstorm with non-writer friends and family? Some writers tell me their spouses are great at brainstorming and in my own experience, friends will jump at the chance to brainstorm ideas. The problem? Most don’t understand story craft and sometimes that’s problematic. So the answer to this question is … whatever works for you.

Websites on brainstorming: Some of these take a scientific approach but it's fun to explore all methods. You'll also find ways to brainstorm by yourself.

Brainstorming at Mind Tools
7 Unique Brainstorming Techniques
Brainstorming at the Writing Center
5 Brainstorming Strategies for Writers

How do you brainstorm? What works best in your experience?

by Linda O. Johnston 

If you’re a writer, what’s your favorite part of writing a story--and how do you make an element your favorite?

How about character?

I always like to focus when I’m starting a new book on determining who my protagonists are going to be.  What are you going to do to them in your story, and how will they deal with it in a way that makes you, and your readers, care?

If you do it right, characters are a shoo-in for being your favorite part of your story.

So how do you decide on your characters?  So much about who your protagonists are depends on the kind of story you’re writing.

If it’s a romance, you can imagine even as you start thinking about your story who you’d like your hero and heroine to be.  What will make them attracted to one another?  Their appearances?  Sure.  But there’s got to be more.  Something about the personality of each of them will draw the other.  But there also must be differences and flaws so they’ll not run into one another’s arms at the very beginning but fight their attraction till the end, and the happily-ever-after.

There are as many different kinds of characters as there are real people.  It’s so easy for a writer to fall in love with their human creations... and that’s half the fun of writing about them!

So... yes, a writer’s favorite part of a story can be its characters.

But wait!  There’s also plot.

Do you love figuring out what happens to your main characters, and why?  How does that plot develop in a way that keeps you writing and will keep readers reading?  Oh, yeah, if you have the most fun deciding what will happen in your story, then plot can be your favorite element.

Your plot depends a lot on what you’re writing--what genre or subgenre.  Plus, there are different ways of plotting.  Let’s say the story is romance, yes--but romantic suspense.  Now you have the fun of figuring out even before you begin not only who your characters are and what their characteristics are that keep them apart, but also the external factors, like danger, that they additionally have to overcome.   That danger can make them work together, fight together... make love together.   So plotting a romantic suspense story can really be enjoyable.

Or make it a mystery.  Yes, there can be a romantic interest there, but the focus on that kind of plot has to be on figuring out what the mystery is--a murder, or something else?  And if someone is killed, who and why--and how will your protagonist figure that out?  It has to be over the course of the story, and plotting it out can be lots of fun.

Yes, plot, too, can be a writer’s favorite part of a story.

Then there’s setting. 

It’s important in the development of both the characters and the plot.  In fact, location can be a character unto itself.  And just think of how much fun you can have if you decide on someplace far from home... and just have to take the time and effort to go research it!

Okay, maybe it’s too far and too expensive.  But there’s always the Internet to help.  So, location as a favorite part of a story?  Sure!

For example, a story set in Alaska, like my Harlequin Nocturne ALASKAN WOLF, may have similarities to others in the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters, but the atmosphere is quite different from the others such as the first story, ALPHA WOLF, set in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, or the newest one, UNDERCOVER WOLF, set in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Acadia National Park.  In my Pet Rescue Mystery Series for Berkley Prime Crime, and the series from which it spun off--my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series--nearly all the stories are set in Los Angeles where I live.  L.A. becomes a character of sorts, too, and helps the stories develop.

Okay, what else can be your favorite part of a story? 

That’s up to you.  But you can also have fun with minor characters and subplots.  They each help to support the protagonists and keep the stories going.   For example, in my Harlequin Nocturne miniseries, the protagonists of one story may become supporting characters in subsequent ones.  That’s because, the main characters are always the hero and heroine in romances, but the covert Alpha Force military unit remains the background for all the stories.  And in my Pet Rescue Mysteries, I usually have something else going on besides the murder mystery, often involving--what else?--rescuing pets.

What part of a story I’m writing is my favorite? 

Usually it's a combination of factors, that can often change.  Mostly, I like to get to know my characters, get them talking to me about who they are and how they want to address whatever is going on in the story.  And they do talk to me--usually when it’s late at night and I’m taking a bath or lying in bed.  I always have pen and note cards so I can jot down what they tell me.

They’re all different.  Lauren Vancouver, protagonist of my Pet Rescue Mysteries, is quite different in her outlook and activities from her predecessor Kendra Ballantyne, from my Pet-Sitter Mysteries.  The various characters in my Alpha Force Nocturnes are always unique, and yet many--but not all--of them have the common trait of being shape shifters.  And, yes, the werewolves talk to me, too.

So... do you know, starting out, what your favorite part of what you’re writing will be?  Or does it come to you as you’re writing?

Is everything equally fun? You know, as I reread this, it’s pretty clear that everything is entwined (as if I didn’t know!).  So maybe you have a favorite element and concentrate on it as you write, but each other element must fit with it for your story to work.  Keep that in mind as you both plan and write.

Now, how about you as a reader:  what’s your favorite part of reading a story?

Linda O. Johnston is the author of 31 published novels, with more to come.  She currently writes the Pet Rescue Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, a spinoff series from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries, also for Berkley .   The first Pet Rescue Mystery, BEAGLEMANIA, is part of the Penguin Group’s Read Humane Program promoting animal rescue and the Humane Society of the U.S. , and its spokesperson is Nora Roberts.  The second Pet Rescue Mystery THE MORE THE TERRIER, was an October 2011 release, and the third, HOUNDS ABOUND, was an April 2012 release.

Linda additionally writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne--the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters, and her first Harlequin Romantic Suspense, UNDERCOVER SOLDIER, is a July 2012 release.