Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
I hope you didn’t get too excited by the blog title. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about marriage proposals this week. (But wouldn’t that be fun?!) I’m not qualified to instruct others on how to pop the question, but I can help you with book proposals. This week I’m preparing three proposals to shop to publishers, so we’ll talk through common mistakes as I see them.
Let’s get started!
Lesson 1: Be sure that your chapter outline or synopsis and your brief description reflect what is in your chapters.
This is a surprisingly common mistake, and I’m betting it’s because there are two ways to write a book. Some of you outline first and write later; others write first and then put the proposal and outline together. As a writer, you need to do what is best for you, but in the case of putting together an accurate proposal, those who write the proposal after writing the sample chapters will likely have an easier time.
If you do write the book after you’ve written down the chapter descriptions, you’re likely to change the book’s direction, at least slightly, as you write. Be sure to go back after you’ve created the chapters to double-check the book content with the descriptions.
How do you write? Do you outline first and then write, or do you write first and outline after?
Also, if you want to share your marriage proposal story, I’d love to hear it! I’m a complete romantic. 🙂
For someone that is just learning to put together the query letter, proposal, synopsis and chapter summaries… this information is extremely helpful!!!
I write first and outline later. My books take on a life of their own sometimes. I know for the most part what is going to happen and when but sometimes things change as I am writing and I go with the flow. I think for me, if I tried to outline first and write second I would feel constricted and probably have writer’s block.
I outline first and have to comb over my synopsis many times whenever I tweak my chapters here or there.
As far as marriage proposals, my husband was building a house when we got engaged. The foundation had been poured, so he took me out there on a starry night, walked me to the spot right in front of where the fireplace was going to go, and asked the big question. Now I have an extra reason to enjoy the fireplace in what is now *our* house. 🙂
Wow, Sarah. Love this.
Sarah, GREAT story by the way. Does starting out with an outline help you if you get stumped on where your story is going or has it hindered you in any way? I am curious because I haven’t tried it that way before. I would be interested in hearing the pros and cons to both ways. 🙂
My husband asked me to marry him so many times that when I finally said, “Yes,” he said, “Huh?”
Oh, and it takes me a long time to make a decision about writing issues too.
Right now my WIP (a novel) is following its general, pre-writing outline in the proposal, but the story has sprouted all sorts of complications and issues. The decision involves what to prune and what needs to stay on the trunk of the tree as a productive limb.
I outline first. I have to know the beginning, the ending, and each of the major points on how I’m going to get there. However, I also leave room for creativity. Its like a map through the woods, I want to know where I’m going. But the closer I get to the trees, the more detail I see as I write along.
As far as romance, my husband and I met on a football field. He was (and still is) a big guy who could bench press over 300lbs in high school. He was a senior, I was a freshman. We had never spoken to each other.
It was a two hand touch football game on an icy field at a Youth Winter camp. He had the ball. No one but me between him and the end zone. Being the competitive person I am, there was no way I was going to let him by me. I grabbed him and slipped, taking down this huge senior jock with me. He got up, looked at me in surprise, then grinned and called me freight train the rest of camp.
Four years later he popped the question and I said yes. Been married 11 years this January 🙂
lol @ Latayne. That’s awesome. 🙂
I outline first, then write, then write my synopsis. I used to write, then outline, but I found my plots meandering all over the place. Structure doesn’t come as naturally to me as other parts of the writing process. In order to make my stories keep their structure and stay on-task, I now pre-write all my scene descriptions on little index cards. Granted, I ended up with over 100 of these blasted little cards for my latest WIP and I find them incredibly tedious to write, but it has really been helpful. When I go back to make my synopsis, it’s easy to rediscover the main plotline and keep that synopsis tight when I glance at my (color-coded, thank you very much) index cards.
Proposal story: My husband just couldn’t wait until we got into the restaurant to propose. It’s like that ring was burning a hole in his pocket. He dropped to one knee in the middle of the parking lot and popped the question. Passerby were ooing and ahhing (or rather, awwing) and I think I turned beet red and almost fainted from embarrassment. I guess the parking lot proposal doesn’t sound like such a bad idea when you’re 19 years old and just bought something that cost you several paychecks. lol But anyway, we’ve been married over 10 years and nothing has changed. It’s a rare thing, indeed, if he can manage to wait until Christmas to give me my gifts. 🙂
I like to have a general idea of my story before beginning the first chapter. I’m not much of a strict “outliner” though. I do, however, like to write out short chapter descriptions once I’ve come to a clear understanding of the direction of my story.
And considering that I’m still a teenager, I’ve never been proposed to… actually, I take that back. Some guys are a little too cocky and think that the more times you ask a girl to marry them, she’ll eventually say yes.
Thank you for this information! I’m currently in the process of querying agents for the first time, so it’s still all new to me.
Tessa Emily Hall
http://www.ChristIsWrite.blogspot.com
Rachel, You’re exactly right about how difficult it is for the “pantsers” among us to write a synopsis and stick with it. This is especially difficult for me, since I take pride in not knowing myself which twist the plot is going to take until I write the last few chapters, at which point I go back and make sure I’ve left appropriate clues (and a few red herrings) along the way.
And how about the established novelist who’s pitching their next project via sample chapters and a synopsis? This is where an understanding agent and editor can be invaluable, if they recognize and agree that you’re proposing a single scenario, but that an alternate might emerge.
I do a little of both. I began my speculative fiction book with an outline and deviated from it. So I outline and write at different times. Right now I am returning to the beginning because I feel my story begins down the line a little.
Marriage proposal? My husband and I met just like “You Got Mail.” I met him at a coffee shop with a rose in a library book. He proposed to me at that coffee shop, too.
I am looking forward to this series of posts this week. Thank you already!
I typically write first, then outline. A new non-fiction article begins in main thoughts and phrases for me. The article’s direction forms as I begin to write. Like you’ve described, many articles began one way only to turn into a new or sometimes more focused (and hopefully) better direction. Occasionally I will outline first, but so far, that’s just not how my writing mind works.
I have found that once I write a good bit and see what path a non-fiction article (and current book idea) might take, fleshing out the outline can help. If I go ahead and outline after getting a good start, that outline helps keep me on track and not flail in different directions.
In writing children’s stories, I begin with a simple outline of character, main motivation, and an event or ending. Those expand and change as I write, rewrite, and rewrite some more.
I’m loving these marriage proposal stories! My mom actually leaked information on my upcoming proposal. (I was a young’n at the time, and she had a bit of motherly nervousness, though that has dissipated now.) So when I saw my sweet husband that day, he kindly and gently proposed in the midst of a normal afternoon. If I can share my parents’ proposal though: my dad was a bit scared and told my mom “I guess we better go ahead.” They’ve been married for over 30 years. How’s that for sweet?
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who strays from outlines. I think novels are like stew. They get richer as they sit and simmer.
My husband proposed in the middle of a Sunday School class. My dad was the SS teacher. Hmmm. I told my-husband-to-be ‘yes’ three days later as we were driving home from college classes. I guess neither one of us was very romantic in those days! All these years later, my husband has morphed into the most romantic guy ever.
I do some of each. If I don’t outline at all I have a mess, but if I outline in great detail I get bored with the book before writing it. What works best for me is a general framework outline of the main things but wiggle room about the details.
My husband proposed by asking me if I’d be willing to get rid of my cat because he’s extremely allergic to them.
I’m working on my first book(non-fiction). God gave me most of the outline during a single morning commute. Next came a short version of each chapter. Brevity has always been my strength, and whole chapters have proven to be the challenge. Thus far, I haven’t strayed too far from the original outline.
We were engaged as low-budget college students, and I had no expectation of an engagement ring. Later, my future father-in-law asked how I felt about that. “I don’t need a ring,” I said. “That’s too bad,” he responded, “because I just happen to have a diamond in my pocket.” It was a diamond from his father’s ring. I felt honored to wear a family heirloom, but it wasn’t quite the romantic presentation of my dreams!
I definitely outline first…but I never stick to it! The story takes on a life of it’s own, and my outline gets pushed aside. 🙂
My engagement story is one I love to tell! I was studying abroad in Italy during college, and my then boyfriend, came over and proposed to me on a gondola in Venice! I was totally caught up in the racket of the Grand Canal, and ignored about have of what he said before he got down on one knee! All I can remember is thinking, “this is so unromantic with all the noise” and then my husband made it one of my most romantic memories ever!
I do both. I always start writing the chapters first. As I go, I take a trillion notes on what comes next. I make sure I add those notes where they go. I guess I generate a mini outline in doing so. It’s helpful to keep on track of where I intend my YA novel to go. However, I let God and my characters dictate. I find them doing lots of fun things when I’m not so rigid.
Nevertheless, the basic storyline is from God. After writing the first novel, now complete, I cannot let go of my characters. I am working on book two and have book three in my head.
Proposal: it was an odd sort. My husband and I are years apart in age, and though we were in love, deeply, we both hesitated due to our age difference. While in prayer together seeking some sign if it was God’s will for us, there was a knock on my door. His uncle, a strong Christian who has never been to my house before or since, walked in and said, “Why aren’t you married yet?”
That was 20 yrs ago and it has been heaven ever since. I think our age diff. makes us try harder, forgive easier, and we are a perfect team.
I usually have the beginning and the end in my head before I start writing. About halfway I outline the twists and use it as a guide to finish it up. When it’s complete, I write the synopsis!
After my husband and I talked about marriage and gettting engaged, I picked out my own ring. We couldn’t afford the diamond wedding band I wanted. I chose a simple gold one. The night he came to propose, I opened up the box and to my great surprise-the diamond band! He said, “Jess, I can’t tell you no.” However, he’s learned to in the last 15 years!
This is great, Rachel. I wrote a synopsis when I thought my manuscript was complete, but then changed the ending just slightly. I was pretty upset with myself when I realized I had to revisit the dreaded synopsis. It didn’t hurt too badly, but…
Like Jessica, I usually have the beginning and end in mind. It helps me to rough in a few plot points to keep myself on target and also to visualize how my character gets from Point A to Point B in their spiritual growth. But after that, I just write. The surprises I encounter when my characters take over is delightful–way better than anything I could plan in advance. In fact, so far I’ve had to come back and rewrite my first chapters (the ones that were more thoroughly outlined) because they feel stilted by the time I get into the flow of the story. When the story’s finished, I come back to the sketchy outline and fill in the details to prepare my synopsis.
Thank you all for sharing! I love all of these stories!!!
I love the art of writing and how everyone has their own method.
I love getting the bones in an informal outline as the idea perks in my head. My favorite thing to do is to to think about my story as I try to sleep. I am slow to fall asleep and feel like most of my novel was formed in that pre-sleep haze. Too many nights I jump up and scribble out ideas in a notebook or avoid sleep completely when I pull out the laptop and ground out a few thousand words.
I thank God for these moments of inspiration but also journal a list of to-dos in my writing journal. It keeps me on task and gives me a places to jump back to when I am stumped for what to do next.
Great blog and advice, I appreciate the info and the good hearted nature of the sharers.
With the story I am working on polishing now, I did not do an outline. Of course, I am incredibly new to this whole thing and didn’t really know what outlining was…That said, in the future, I will be outlining (the benefits to me as a perpetual list-maker seem boundless). Also, in preparation for the writer’s conference I want to attend this summer, I am preparing my proposal. AFTER I have written my novel. Thanks for the tips!