Plot Synopsis Project

Taken from jerrygordon   because it's an excellent subject:
Joshua Palmatier [Unknown site tag]jpsorrow has put together an excellent post on the subject that includes links to twenty-five authors offering nuggets of wisdom (and their own examples) on the subject:

"I set up what I’m calling the "Plot Synopsis Project". Essentially, I gathered together a group of authors who were willing to post an entry about their own plot synopsis writing technique as well as a sample copy of one of their own plot synopses OR post an entry about how they got published without using a plot synopsis, to show everyone how different people write their synopses, and that it isn’t necessarily required to get published. There are other routes. I would say that MOST people have to write a plot synopsis in order to get published though . . . and most of us hate doing it. I personally do.

And just to clarify, by plot synopsis, I mean the (usually) 3-5 page summary of the book that is (usually) included in a submission package to the agent or editor, along with a cover letter or query letter, and sometimes with the first few chapters of the novel. This is not the one paragraph pitch, or even the one line pitch. Some of the other authors will talk about these other things as well in their discussion, but the main thrust of these posts is the 3-5 page synopsis."

Check out "The Plot Synopsis Project" (jpsorrow's entry of 3/17/08) here

If you'd like to read why Kate Elliott's tale of plot synopsis, and the reason why she did not participate in the project, go to SFF novelists Here   (I'd like to call her a lucky dog, but it's just damn talent is what it is!)

Thanks Jerry!