Samhain Publishing

Why is a synopsis so important? Well here at Samhain, we use them for several purposes. Today I’d like to talk about one of those purposes and then move on to an interview with author, Denise Vitola. The interview covers a bit of world building and how to write that often dreaded synopsis. Even better, at the end of the interview is a way to get her free publication on How to Write a Fiction Synopsis That Will Sell.

As an editor, I look at the synopsis before reading the story. Why? Well I look at the synopsis as a story. It not only gives an outline of what the story is about and the main characters, it gives away the ending. [Please, make a note of that: It GIVES away the ENDING.] The synopsis shows whether the author has a good, well thought out and comprehensive story. I want to see that the story I am about to read is compelling, intriguing and has an interesting set of characters and plot. The kicker is, the synopsis is short. A story that may have taken the author several hundred pages to write is now condensed into two or three pages. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? It’s not. But it’s not an easy task.

I’d love to introduce you to a friend of mine, Denise Vitola. She is the author of eleven novels and numerous short stories and articles. Her novel, Opalite Moon, the second in her popular Ty Merrick Mystery Series, was nominated for the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award for Excellence in Science Fiction. This series was optioned by Universal Studios to be made into a television show. Denise has also been a freelance editor and writing mentor for over 30 years.

Denise, I’d like to thank you for giving me this interview. How about a few quick questions to get everyone a chance to know you?

Bethany: Favorite color?
Denise: Brown

Bethany: Favorite movie?
Denise: Blade Runner

Bethany: Director’s Cut or Voice Over Theater Version?
Denise: Voice over—definitely! I’m enamored of the setting, of course. Each time I watch it, I seem to see new stuff.

Bethany: Favorite hobby?
Denise: Knitting, and right now I’m into driving myself crazy with intricate lace shawls.

Bethany: If you could visit anywhere in the Universe, where would it be?
Denise: The ancient ruins of Zeta Reticuli III.

Bethany: What’s the square root of 144?
Denise: 12

Bethany: Ha! Thought I’d throw in a math question. Favorite character in a book?
Denise: Ty Merrick!

Bethany: Kirk or Picard?
Denise: Picard

Bethany: Whew, nothing like a lightning round of questions to get the juices flowing and give everyone a quick sense of someone.

I love your Ty Merrick series. This is a series I re-read at least once a year. One thing that has always stayed in my mind is your descriptions of how people survive the day-to-day world of the future. World building is such an important part of a book. How do you develop your worlds?

Denise: I start with a premise. The premise for the Ty Merrick series was a future earth where life is so poor, so ruined, that people make magic out of ordinary pieces of junk. Of course, the magic doesn’t work…until it does. Merrick is, much to her chagrin, part of that magic that works. She has a paranormal disease called lycanthropy and though she doesn’t turn into a werewolf, she does change. She’s a cynic right down to her unclipped toenails, especially about all the magic people are trying to throw at her, but by the end of each book, she’s pushed into some paranormal realm and has to admit that not everything is flapdoodle and eyewash.

So, by building upon Merrick’s cynicism as she tries to work her way through murder investigations and solve her own lycanthropic problems, we begin to see this world from her perspective. We begin to learn how unfair the government is, how poverty-stricken District One is, and how people will go to just about any length to give their lives meaning and purpose.

Successful world building requires that the author keep the perspective tight. You can describe a world until your brain explodes, but if the reader doesn’t feel like he’s in the middle of it, then you’ve missed the mark. Filtering the world through a character’s point of view will make your world tactile in every way. Once I have a POV, I use the ‘pluck from air’ method to fill in the world. I read, I surf the Internet, I watch the news. Odd things strike my fancy, and I keep a notebook full of ideas. When writing the story, I go back to my notebook and sift through the information I’ve collected, finding just the right things. I then fold these bits like tattered origami paper until they are twisted out of shape. Then I know the information is ready to put into the book.

Bethany: When and why did you begin writing?

Denise: I wrote my first ‘book’ when I was twelve. It was a detective/paranormal murder mystery. I come from an artistic family, and I began writing because I couldn’t draw! There were so many stories inside of me that needed to come out. I had a fascination with words and reading, so it felt natural to create art through language.

Bethany: What are some of your current projects?

Denise: Currently, I’m reissuing my Ty Merrick Mysteries making them available for Kindle and as oversized trade paperbacks. I’ve been creating a lot of short fiction in the last couple of years, and doing reviews for E-on Software, the makers of Vue 7 Infinite, a 3d art program used in many movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones. I’m also concentrating my efforts as a freelance writing editor/mentor and work with many student writers to help them to become published. Plus, I’m working on a stealth project that should be available sometime next year as an e-book for writers.

Bethany: Denise, one thing that you give away with a subscription to your newsletter is a guide to writing a synopsis: How to Write a Fiction Synopsis that Sells. (Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll have information about that at the end of this interview.) Why is a synopsis so important? What are several things to address in a synopsis?

Denise: The synopsis is a writer’s best selling tool. Agents and editors look to the strength of your synopsis. If it’s well written, then they feel they can afford to devote time to reading the book, or if you’re a seasoned writer, they will buy an unwritten book on the synopsis alone. One of my very successful students calls my method of synopsis writing, ‘the man at the bar’. Pretend you walk into a beer joint, pull up a seat next to a fellow drinking at the bar, and tell him a quick story. You make it as interesting as possible, all the while remembering that the guy next to you has a short attention span because he’s well into his cups. That’s exactly what you have to remember when writing a synopsis.

A synopsis isn’t an outline; it’s an enticement. You must draw the reader in with a unique voice and hit the high points. Make that first sentence a killer and that last sentence the reason for the editor to move on to your manuscript.

Writers suffer from the old rumor that writing a synopsis is hard. This tittle-tattle was started by authors who knew the secrets of writing a great synopsis and didn’t want the word to get out to the up-and-coming talent. I bust the myths and share those secrets in How to Write a Fiction Synopsis that Sells.

Bethany: The synopsis is an important part of our submission requirements. As I mentioned above, it is very helpful to an editor to get an overall feel of the story. Your publication is something I have recommended to my authors. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from them on how much easier it is to write a synopsis. I’m not sure if it takes the dread away, but it has definitely helped them and made it easier to write. I’d like to thank you for making that publication available.

Denise has a monthly newsletter that is full of helpful tips and information for writers. In addition, there is always a great flash fiction story. If you are interested, you can subscribe to this newsletter at http://www.mycoolwell.com/subscribe/subscribe.html. With that subscription, you will receive Denise’s publication HTWAFSTS (free). And, no worries, your email addy is safe w/Denise.

Denise, thank you once again for agreeing to today’s interview. I really appreciate it.

Denise: I’d like to thank you, Bethany, and the good folks at Samhain Publishing for giving me an opportunity to introduce myself to your readers.