Valerie Ormond's Thoughts On …

Writing Tips from Valerie Ormond

Author: valerieormond

  • The Synopsis and its Friends

    This post sponsored by Grammarly. Use Grammarly’s plagiarism checker because you want to write right (Has anyone said that before? – No!)

    When I am asked what my books are about, I try to respond with one sentence. That answer is not a synopsis, but what I would consider one of the synopsis’ “friends.” Books descriptions serve specific purposes. And just to make it easier, not everyone agrees on the rules. I’ve pulled together some thoughts and resources on what I consider the three most common forms of synopses.

    Three Forms of Synopses

    The Synopsis

    What it is:  Tells the entire story, particularly the conflict

    Length:  One-page single spaced or two pages double spaced maximum

    Purpose:  To interest an agent or publisher to request manuscript

    Tip:  Convey emotion

    Example:  Spoiler alert! This synopsis includes the ending of “The Way Way Back.”

    The Book Blurb

    What it is: The 30-second elevator pitch normally seen in advertisement copy or on a book’s back cover or inside jacket flap

    Length:  100 – 200 words

    Purpose:  To tell potential readers enough to get them interested or used by sales representatives to pitch titles, post on retailers’ websites, and post in catalogues

    Tip:  Make a connection with readers and book buyers

    Example: Distributors’ book blurb (advertisement copy) for “Believing In Horses, Too”

    The Super Short Synopsis

    What it is:  My term for the short answer to describe the book in conversation or to append to a biographical line in a written post

    Length:  One sentence

    Tip:  Not much written on this one, but it’s the one I use most

    Example:  A girl in a military family overcomes fears through her work with therapeutic riding programs (“Believing In Horses, Too”)

    Additional Resources

    Following are some additional useful resources I’ve found, with a brief description of each.

    Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis (Jane Friedman) – Outstanding advice, and many useful links.

    Five Tips on How to Write a Novel Synopsis (Chuck Sambuchino) – This article and links to other articles on the synopsis; the author also provides freelance services for synopsis writing.

    Query Shark  –  Blog providing advice on how to write query letters that work – much based on synopses. Writers may submit their queries for critique.

    How to Write the Back Blurb for Your Book (Joanna Penn) – Advice on back cover blurbs, and a little more.

    Conclusion

    Now you try – at the very least, ensure you have a super short synopsis ready to describe your writing, your business, or whatever it is that you do. Feel free to share here!

  • Answers About Illustrators and Copyrights

    The following is an email I received from Jon Bard, CEO of the Children’s Book Insider Clubhouse. Anyhow, since both of these questions had come up at times in the Accokeek Women’s Writing Group, I thought I would share this on my blog and on the writing group’s blog, Women’s Pages. The copyright response is applicable to all writers, not just children’s writers. Happy writing, all!

    “Hey there, it's Jon from Children's Book Insider.  Hope you're busy working
    on your children's book!  🙂

    I’m back with quick answers to the two most common questions new writers
    ask us.

    1. I’m only a writer, not an artist. Do I need illustrations to send my
    manuscript to a publisher?

    A: It depends. If you’re sending your story to a traditional publisher
    (someone like Scholastic or Random House, let’s say), the answer is “No.” If a publisher buys your story, their art director will match your words up with the right illustrator. The publisher will pay the illustrator and you may share royalties for books sold.

    If you’re self publishing — either electronically or in print — it is up to
    you to find and pay an illustrator. You can find illustrators many places, but one resource we really like is http://99designs.com

    If you’re hiring an illustrator, you most likely will do it on a “work for hire”
    basis (you’ll pay the illustrator a flat fee for the work and the you will own
    it and not pay royalties for further usage fees).

    2. Do I need to copyright my work?

    A. Here’s what the US Copyright Office has to say:

    “As soon as the idea for your novel, poem, or manuscript
    is written down in a fixed copy, the work automatically
    has copyright protection. “

    (Fixed copy means that the idea has been fixed in a material
    object that can be read or visually perceived directly or with a
    device — for example, either with a computer or a physical
    copy of a book.)

    So, essentially, if you create a story and place “Copyright (year) (name)”
    on your document, it is copyrighted.

    There are some advantages, though, to formally registering a copyright.
    To learn about those, along with complete instructions on how to do it,
    go to http://bit.ly/copyright-basics

    I highly recommend you check out this link – understanding the dos and don’ts
    of copyright is vital.

    That’s it for new.  Keep writing!

    All the best,

    Jon Bard

    * Managing Editor, Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s
    Writers

    * Fightin’ Bookworm in Chief, The CBI Clubhouse — The Essential Children’s
    Writing Resource.  Visit http://cbiclubhouse.com and Come Join the Fightin’
    Bookworms!”

  • Memoir Writing Workshop by Maryland Writers Association

    Hi folks, this came to my inbox this morning, and I thought at least one of our members might be interested.  Here you go:

    The Howard County chapter [of Maryland Writer’s Association] is offering a a free memoir-writing workshop led by memoirist and poet Barbara Morrison at its next monthly meeting, Thursday, February 21, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Sunrise Senior Living, 6500 Freetown Road, in Columbia.
     
    Sometimes getting started is the hardest part of writing; other times, it’s getting restarted after you’ve stalled. Barbara Morrison, author of the award-winning memoir, Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother, will provide tips and tactics for kicking off (or reviving) your memoir and lead some writing exercises to jump-start your creativity.
     
    After the workshop someone will get a door prize, and if you bring a new or gently-used book for Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, you’ll receive an extra ticket, doubling your chances to win.
     
    About the speaker:
     
    An accomplished poet, Ms. Morrison is also the author of the poetry collection Here at Least, and a contributor to the MWA Books Life in Me Like Grass on Fire and New Lines from the Old Line State.
     
    For more information, visit the Howard County Chapter website. Click here for directions to Sunrise Senior Living.

  • Greetings!

    Hello, everyone.  I started a WordPress.com blog so I can contribute easily to the Women’s Pages blog, as a new member of the Accokeek Women’s Writing Group.

    I have a separate blog at http://believinginhorses.com, but you know how blogs don’t always talk to each other?  🙂 UPDATE: Due to an unfortunate PAID website “upgrade,” the Believing In Horses website disappeared in 2021, so I am in the process of deleting links to it from this blog.  So sad – like losing a diary or a journal.

    Look forward to contributing a tidbit or two.  I came across this post today, and thought some others may find it of interest, on creating contradictions in characters.  I follow Lauren Grimley’s blog and enjoy her sense of humor (and insights).

    http://blog.laurengrimley.com/2012/09/12/wise-word-wednesday-quite-the-contradictory-characters.aspx