Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What I did...

Thanks so much for all the great advice on Monday. So this is what I did.

I got home from work, and I went for a walk to clear my head and because a blizzard was coming, and I wanted to enjoy some sunshine. I took a bath. I did some laundry. I watched TV.

The next day I worked on finishing the chapter and I think I was making it more difficult that it needed it to be. I was over thinking it. So I made my changes, and my husband read it and understood what was going on. Yeah! Now I can mark that off of my things to do.

Later on Tuesday I tried again to work on my synopsis, but with not much luck. I went to my soccer game, which started at 9pm. Scored a goal, got an assist and we won 5-0 (sorry I just had to brag, since I don't get to do it very often). Woke up Wednesday with a horrible headache and slept for four hours. Got up and actually made progress on the synopsis. Slowly I'm inching my way toward finishing this thing.

With my current WIP I've alredy written they query and it was way easier to do it while writing my draft. I'm thinking I should do the same for the synopsis.

Which bodes the question. Do you think it's easier to write the synopsis before you write your book, during, or after?

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Hope you are feeling better soon :)
Thanks for posting this.
Elana started me thinking about Query letter first.
The query letter for the new wip I started before the book and alter a little every day.
I thought about doing the synopsis as I was going along but that is far harder to do.

Catherine Denton said...

Hmmm, for me it's after.
Catherine Denton

lotusgirl said...

Much easier to write the synopsis after the book is finished. Congrats on winning the match.

Anne Gallagher said...

I did the first book while I wrote it. It was easy. After writing the scene (or whatever) I opened the writing pad to 'synopsis' and jotted down what I wrote.

This last book I waited and I am kicking myself now. I know how to write one, I just can't get it with this book.

Colene Murphy said...

Hope you're feeling better and glad to know you're making progress you're please with!

I can't say a thing about your question. I waited to finish my rough draft and it has gone through at least 3 edits now and I'm just starting work on the query (which is a mess...and hard!) So good luck!

Carolyn V. said...

That's a good question!I'd have to say after-with a little help from my writing buddies (because synops just sound hard) =)

Southpaw said...

After, too much changes during the writing process.

Heidi Willis said...

Congrats on the chapter progress and the game!! Sounds like you have a very productive week! :)

I have to write the synop after, because even though I faux-outline before, it never takes the path I expect. Even from draft one to draft four, this last one changed drastically.

Still - if you can do it while you're writer, or even before, what a bonus that would be!!

Stina said...

That wicked snow storm must have given you the headache. It gave me one. ;)

I prefer writing the synopsis afterwards. By the time I've finished writing the outline, I just want to get started on the first draft. And I hate writing synopses.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I have to go with after. I'm not organized enough to do it before. :-)

Tina Lynn said...

I think after as well. Definitely.

LTM said...

hmm... well, in the last book I wrote, I wrote something like a synopsis first, which I knew would change as I got more into the story. But I *do* think it helped as I had other projects/revisions going... I'd never done it before, and true confession: I *hate* writing synopses. But I think in the beginning when you're all psyched about the story = best time to do it. :o) <3

Melissa Hurst said...

I wrote my query after finishing the draft and I'm still not happy with it. I haven't even gotten to the synopsis yet. For my next WiP, I'm going to try to write the query up front, but the synopsis will probably have to wait because I won't know all of the details right away.

Congrats on your win and I hope you feel better soon:)

Terri Tiffany said...

I have yet to write one before or during--usually after but I wish I could write it as I go. I think it would be so much easier!

Ellie Garratt said...

I would say after.