Old People Writing for Teens, IV

[JKRowley]

I hate writing a synopsis. I can understand a wish to flee into self publishing to avoid them. LOL.

Not really. Then you have to pay money and stuff.

I have heard it is easier to write a synopsis BEFORE you write the book. Too bad I didn't do that yet. I do like having quotes and blurbs saved, because I need them pretty often.

I am doing something fun. I am reviewing my cover art. .

[justbishop]

Ooh, fun!

And whaaaa? You mean to tell me that I'm going to have to write more than one of these freakin' things?!

[Bing Zabriskie]

I think the hardest part of self publishing isn't the money. It's the time and effort in marketing. I remember reading annetpfeffer's thread about self-publishing her "Loving Emily". She paid for professional editing, pro cover art, even IIRC paid pro reviews and she'd spent countless time on the project, so much it had become her full time job.

Well, unless you've already set up a massive network and a loyal following.

I'd rather drill the synopsis and hope a dumb agent + dumb editor come by and give me down for a used car.

[Dorothy]

I hate synopses too. I really suck at them. I had one written for MSR but I'm so glad my publisher never asked to see it. They editorial staff read my novel without it. Phew!

I did, however, have to sum up my proposal for book 2, and that felt very synopsis-ish to me. Blah.

For my last few books, I wrote the query letter first, before I wrote the book. I get a better query letter doing it that way.

[lisalulu09]

Hi, guys.

[lisalulu09]

Originally Posted by Sage

I love to do other things like hand crafts. I cross-stitch or needlepoint the most. But I also have crocheted some blankets.

It's about a boy who fights alongside the girl he loves for the rights of androids that are created to be the perfect boyfriend, only to find out that he is one of them and created for her. (ha, one-sentence pitch)

That sounds awesome.

How DO you come up with your ideas?!

[justbishop]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

I hate synopses too. I really suck at them. I had one written for MSR but I'm so glad my publisher never asked to see it. They editorial staff read my novel without it. Phew!

I did, however, have to sum up my proposal for book 2, and that felt very synopsis-ish to me. Blah.

For my last few books, I wrote the query letter first, before I wrote the book. I get a better query letter doing it that way.

Yeah, I will probably be trying that next time!

[Smiley0501]

I love writing query letters. Ashley if you need some help with yours, I offer my services. Also I really should start doing QL crits on my blog - might help w/traffic...

[justbishop]

If I'm understanding it correctly, a good QL is pretty much jacket blurb copy, right? If that's correct, then it should be much less painful than the synopsis has been. Would love to be a subject for a public critique on your blog, though!

[Smiley0501]

Yes QL is "jacket blurb"-esque. I'll post mine (and then snipping it cos...well...I'm paranoid like that)

snipped cos I'm shifty-eyes like that

[lisalulu09]

That sounds like a exciting read, Smiley!

[mellymel]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

I hate synopses too. I really suck at them. I had one written for MSR but I'm so glad my publisher never asked to see it. They editorial staff read my novel without it. Phew!

I did, however, have to sum up my proposal for book 2, and that felt very synopsis-ish to me. Blah.

For my last few books, I wrote the query letter first, before I wrote the book. I get a better query letter doing it that way.

I actually did this for one of my next thriller/horror stories I'm planning on writing and I admit that it really did help me to figure out the overall story/plot and see the "whole" story.

[lisalulu09]

Which of you are mothers/biology experts? I need to know how "feeding" the baby works while your pregnant for Invincible.

[Smiley0501]

Originally Posted by lisalulu09

That sounds like a exciting read, Smiley!

Thanks. I always worry it's too crazy/angsty for YA.

[justbishop]

Originally Posted by lisalulu09

Which of you are mothers/biology experts? I need to know how "feeding" the baby works while your pregnant for Invincible.

Do you mean nursing/breast feeding while pregnant? If you can give me more detail, I can probably give you some insight. I only have the one kid and bfing didn't work for us at all (my boobs are for decoration only, apparently), but I mod a cloth diapering forum, and those ladies tend to be big breast feeders. I can put out a call for personal experiences if you'd like.

[lisalulu09]

I meant the fetus.

[justbishop]

Ah...I'm sure there's lots online about that sort of thing. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not quite sure, but I remember being told that the baby basically saps omega 3s from the mom's body, which is why pregnant women are so absent minded, lol!

[Sage]

Originally Posted by justbishop

YA...and I have no idea after that. People keep comparing it to The Lovely Bones, so whatever that was?

Yeah, I would say contemporary, but it depends on how big a part Maye plays because the more ghost/spirit/angel you have the closer it becomes to fantasy.

Originally Posted by lisalulu09

That sounds awesome.

How DO you come up with your ideas?!

These days? By taking a metaphor (usually from a song) and making it literal. ("What if the boy really was tailor-made for her?")

And thanks

[justbishop]

Originally Posted by Sage

Yeah, I would say contemporary, but it depends on how big a part Maye plays because the more ghost/spirit/angel you have the closer it becomes to fantasy.


These days? By taking a metaphor (usually from a song) and making it literal. ("What if the boy really was tailor-made for her?")

And thanks

YA contemporary. Sounds good to me. Maye is basically only involved first person wise to observe and reminisce.

And the next thing I'm planning to work on is also inspired by a song

[Smiley0501]

OMG I love when things are inspired by songs.

*pause**pause*

It so rarely happens to me, happens to everyone else I know sooo frequently Good luck!

[Sage]

Taylor-Made, Fireflies, Hero/Villain, In a Pear Tree, and Trouble were all inspired by songs.

[lisalulu09]

I get a LOT of inspiration from songs. Underdogs was partly inspired by "Animal" by Neon Trees.

Now for YouTube and research.

[Smiley0501]

I got the idea for my currently revising WiP/novel/thing from just discussing with a friend "Why hasn't anyone written this yet?" Then she told me to.

I do work with a playlist so music does inspire me - just not for plots/stories.

[lisalulu09]

Speaking of ideas: "Superman" by Joe Brooks just inspired me to write a YA superhero story. No plot, just concept.

[Dorothy]

So I got 5 chapters revised in 3 and a half days. I'm beat. I'd love to keep going but I have the early shift at work tomorrow plus a meeting AND the phone guy coming to fix our line. I have a feeling I'm not going to get a lot of sleep in the next couple weeks.