Saturday Guest Blogger Erica Orloff!
I first met Erica Orloff at a conference in Florida when she lived in Miami and I lived in Tampa. I’d read her book, SPANISH DISCO, I’ll admit, because I loved the cover. I’d seen it post-publication while touring the New York offices at Harlequin and bought it as soon as it came out. (That’s why I don’t believe those “I don’t buy books by their cover” claims…I do!)
It was one of (if not THE) first chick-lit books I’d ever read and I was in love. The book was AMAZING. I didn’t remember ever laughing so hard at a book–at one point, I even called my editor to read her a passage. I was so excited to meet Erica and learn that she is just as funny as her writing. She’s also warm and generous and genuinely one of the sweetest women I’ve met.
I’m so excited to have her here today! Please give her a real Jungle welcome!
——————————————-
Loving Your Synopsis
Ahh, the poor synopsis. The word itself is enough to make the most seasoned writers lose their lunch. But I’ve always loved writing them. In fact, I usually write the synopsis before I finish chapter one. It gives me a general, cinematic idea of where the book is going. It reminds me of how punchy the plot is, how different my character is . . . and if it doesn’t, I know I need to do something before I get in too deep.
I have coached more than my fair share of both aspiring and published writers through composing the synopsis. And most first attempts, I have to say, are . . . well, not so good. It’s as if these writers have forgotten what makes their book sing. They bog the synopsis down in plodding plot details and by page 6 or 8 or 12 (way too long) I’m bored out of my skull. Think of the synopsis as a sales presentation. You want to have the board room eating out of your hand. You want to rivet the room. You want a verbal Powerpoint. You do not want to recite “and then this happens . . . then this.” You want personality and punch.
Okay . . . so I pulled out a synopsis of mine. It sold on proposal. Here are some highlights.
First . . . a tag line.
Freudian Slip . . . A romantic-comedy between heaven and hell.
This is something my agent puts on page one. It grounds the book, it’s pithy, sales-oriented.
Then the synopsis itself . . . in this case, the set-up for the novel:
Julian Shaw expected a long tunnel. Then a white light. Or at least his dearly departed grandmother.
What he got, instead, was Gus.
This is the premise. In four sentences. The minute an editor reads this, she deduces this is about someone who has died . . . sort of.
Moving on, I need to describe my main character in 25 words or less–everything you need to know about him to get through the rest of the proposal.
Julian Shaw, former heroin addict, long-haired, raspy-voiced, sexy DJ, is rich, famous, and hated. His radio show is infamous for inviting lesbians and porn stars on air, and raising the ire of every conservative pundit in the United States.
Note you do not need (nor does it appear anywhere else in the synopsis) Julian’s life story, his past, his back story, anything about his parents or life other than this. That’s ALL you need.
Now . . . major plot point. How did Julian wind up sort of dead?
One morning, Julian is shot in the back by a crazed fanatic and awakes in a place where nothing makes sense.
There you go. I do not need to explain my entire world-building of this place. The editor needs to accept this on face value, and because I present it as a sentence in a synopsis, the editor will just go with it. If they want to know more, they’ll read the chapters. Move on. Keep the synopsis moving.
I’m skipping a little bit, but we meet Julian’s spirit guide, Gus, and continue:
Julian, in a panic, tries to absorb what he’s told. But there’s more. Gus, a Englishman from the 1800s, soon informs him that he has a job to do. He’s been assigned as a sort of celestial social worker, to Kate Darby, who walked in on her boyfriend, and love of her life, in bed with her best friend. Coupled with the death of her fireman father on September 11th, her mother’s hasty remarriage to a creep, and the fact that she has to work in the very next office from her supposed best friend, Kate is seriously depressed.
Kate is very depressed. In fact, the first time we meet her, she’s halfway through a bottle of wine, lying on her living room floor with a box of Kleenex, listening to the same sad song on her CD player over and over. But it’s enough in the synopsis to know this much. We don’t need to know what she does for a living (she’s an editor but it’s not a central plot point), what she looks like, or anything more to get the set-up and how these two characters will interact.
Unfortunately for Julian, he is in Neither Here Nor There, which means he is not as powerful as either angels or devils.
Along the way, Julian will meet both angels and devils, but the fact that this strange place in the book has a name (Neither Here Nor There) means it’s obviously aiming for a bit of humor; it’s quirky. And the editor will soon find out that Julian CAN talk to Kate. A little bit later, we get to the crux of the book.
If the connection is particularly strong, she might even find herself blurting out Julian’s words as her own—a Freudian slip.
I added the italics. And there you go. THAT’S the book. The most important aspect of it. What follows are three or four pages of plot twists . . . which I don’t want to reveal here. And then the end. Voila. A synopsis.
What is NOT there? Any more physical description than what I gave, subplots, secondary characters beyond the main four or five . . . endless details about the plot twists–it’s enough to know they’re there. I don’t try to justify the world, I don’t explain how it works or why it works. It just IS.
And most of all . . . it’s breezy and fast-paced, it has the “feel” of the book. I’m trying to sell it (indeed, it did sell). I try to imagine a person who just wants to hear a good story, who just wants to “cut to the chase.” Give me the highlights. Like recapping a movie or book for a dear friend. Make them smile. Make them want to read the book.
Anyone else? What’s the hardest–or easiest–thing about your synopsis?
Julie here again…Erica’s latest two books are Blood Son (isn’t the cover breathtaking?) and The Poker Diaries. Check them out by clicking on the covers here!
Welcome, Erica!!!!!! I’m so happy to “meet” you! I hope you enjoy your time in the jungle!
who INSISTS on character development and details … UP FRONT? What do you do then? Do you bold your GREAT tag line and major (funny) points so they are not missed … and throw it in anyway?
Synopsis question - what if you have an editor (who shall remain nameless although everyone knows who I am talking about by what I am about to say next
OR
Can you do a … one page or so SELLING TREATMENT (what you showed us); then attach pages with the characters and plot points if you know the editor will require it?
I just happen to know some of our readers are working with said editor who we all LOVE. Seriously.
Thanks again for coming to the jungle! You are VERY funny and I’ll be sure to pick up your books. LOVE your humor!
Comment by Carly — December 29, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Hello Jungle Janes:
Character development up front? ARGH! (My books are all character-driven, so I am kidding there . . . it’s actually my fave thing to explore.) No, actually . . . I would do it more like a story bible. I really think if I (me personally) bogged down my synopsis with a lot of that . . . it would sound heavy and stilted and I would lose my rhythm. But I have done a story bible for one of my new editors. So I would have synopsis the way I write . . . story bible for “Main Characters and Setting” in the back so that the editor can dig in there and get all the little details she apparently loves–and also, if this is her thing, to prove that, indeed, I have thought it all out and I am not winging this and writing out of my a**.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Dear Erica,
And now after the blog I like you even more. 
First of all a huge welcome to you in the jungle. Thanks for being here and sharing your writing secrets with us. I simply had to like you after Julie’s warm introduction.
I love all your tips on writing a synopsis (even if I’m not a writer myself) but I’ve always wondered when it is written and how an author decides what’s in it. So great subject here.
Honestly, I haven’t read any of your books but I always love to get to know new authors and I certainly will order ASAP. Even if my to-buy-pile is thaaaat high. But be sure I’ll take my last bills to buy some of your books.
Erica, I hope you had a great Christmas and will have an even better New Year’s Eve.
Enjoy the day and take care everybody
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — December 29, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Comment by Tina Martinesi — December 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Hi Vero:
Since my first book–which was Spanish Disco–I’ve sold on proposal, so by virtue of that, I write my synopsis early on, sometimes before I’ve even started the chapters. It’s, for me, like a big-picture view of the convept. But whether you sell on proposal or sell with the finished product, editors want ‘em–and most writers HATE them. You’re trying to summarize your 350-page masterpiece in . . . oh, about 5 or 6 pages.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Hi Tina:
Yes, It’s called Freudian Slip and will be the November Red Dress Ink single title release. I JUST saw the cover . . . . VERY CUTE! :-)
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Hi Erica,
It’s nce to have you hear and learn more about you.
Comment by Dina — December 29, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Ooh! Look at all the wonderful smilies. I wanted to say something intelligent and now all I want to do is throw a smily party.
Okay. That’s enough.
Erica said:
“And most of all . . . it’s breezy and fast-paced, it has the “feel” of the book”
*sigh* my problem laid bare in a single sentence. I can get all the facts down in the required 3-5 pages, but usually even I’m nodding off by the second paragraph.
I need to learn how to make my synopsis stand up and do this
Or this
Instead, it just makes me do this
or this
And Vero, BUY the books and move them to the TOP of your TBR. “The Roofer” and “Invisible Girl”, involving, gut punching and at times gritty. “Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven?”, humorous with a bite to the heart you don’t expect. Erica’s Sil/ Bombshells fast paced and meaty for category length stories.
Okay…I’ll stop now.
Well, maybe one more…
Comment by lainey bancroft — December 29, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Hi, Erica! Welcome to the jungle!
Your article was GREAT. I’m guilty of writing the 12+ page synopsis, so I love how you broke it all down in a way that I could whittle my own synopsis down to just a few pages. Thank you!
Comment by Janelle — December 29, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Hey Miss Lainey:
I know . . . they have all these cool little icons here. What a party!
And yeah . . . to me, that’s the crux of it. Showing off your own writing in the synopsis.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Hi Janelle:
I get bored by details–so it’s pretty easy for me to trim–but I know how hard it is to condense it down . . . especially if it’s a complex plot.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Good Morning everyone!
Welcome to the jungle, Ms. Orloff
The first book of yours that I read was Trace of Innocence which I LOVED! In fact, it’s still on my shelf. Then of course Bombshell was cancelled… Your new book covers are fabulous and I look forward to reading those books!
You are a real ace at writing the synopsis. I bow to you. The first draft of mine are always long and rambling then I have to go back and cut, cut, cut. Of course, then I realize the plot totally sucks and I need some serious help. I don’t think of myself as being the best plotter so I’m not great at writing a synopsis.
Carly, “the editor who shall remain nameless” too funny and so true. And boy is she a killer at Trivial Pursuit.
But she is such a love and I give thanks each day that I have her in my corner. 
Take care all and have a wonderful day,
Cher
Comment by Cher — December 29, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Hi Erica~ thanks so much for being here! And thank you for describing the synopsis is such a clear and concise way (I’ve printed out your post and am going to remember to try and make the book sing). As an aspiring author, the synopsis is important and it makes me cringe just thinking about it. I find it so hard to write! There’s nothing easy about it for me.
What troubles me the most is that I don’t feel like my voice and tone of the book (the “feel” as you put it) comes across in the synopsis (granted I’ve only written two so I haven’t had a lot of practice). But with your great example, maybe next time (panicking just thinking about it) it will be easier.
Being new, I was a little confused about what you and Carly were talking about regarding adding pages (story bible) to your synopsis. It sounds like you can take a little creative license, something I would be afraid to do. Could you explain what you meant a little bit more? Thanks.
Julie~ Congrats on your Reviewers’ Choice Award nomination from Romantic Times for Stripped!!
Comment by Robin — December 29, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Ok, I just noticed that I spelled some words wrong, it was too early in the mourning I guess.
Hope everyone has a great day. :snowmanhead:
Comment by Dina — December 29, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
ive loved all of your books, but some WOW!
you rock!
it seem yuo have a blues, mafia and several more ppl living in you!
Comment by tami — December 29, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Thanks for sharing your insight with us. I have ambition to become an author but I do love to read.
Have a great weekend.
Donna M
Comment by Donna M — December 29, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Whoops! That is suppose to be I have no ambition to etc.! I forgot to proof my response!
Comment by Donna M — December 29, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Hi and welcome!
Like Robin, I’d love some more info on the Character Bible and also have another question. What if in the process of writing the book you find your characters wanting to go somewhere you didn’t plan? You sold on the synopsis, but it seems like where they want to go will make the book stronger…what then? Are the details vague enough that you still have the basics but the smaller things can change and not effect the story you sold?
Thanks for being here and for the great information!
Comment by Jodie — December 29, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Wanted to thank Erica again for coming today! The questions/answers are just fabulous!
Regarding the character bible…this is something I didn’t start doing until after I’d sold. I don’t know exactly how it would go over for an unpublished person, but I think it’s just another valid way of doing a synopsis. Basically, you tell the story in your synopsis with the minimum of detail in regards to backstory and character and then you submit a separate sheet that is just characters–name and their pertinent backstory and motivation. No more than a paragraph per character. And you don’t do all the minor characters–hero, heroine, villain and any important secondary characters–sort of like what Intrigue does in the beginning of their books, but with a tad more detail.
In regards to straying from the synopsis…most new writers are submitting a full manuscript, so by then, you should know if you’ve strayed and then you fix the synopsis. Once you’ve sold and are selling on a synopsis (or proposal) no one cares if you’ve strayed. However, it can be important to fix the synopsis later on for the benefit of the marketing and art departments. When I rewrote and replotted Dirty Little Lies, I did not submit a new synopsis and marketing wrote my back cover copy to go with the old plot. We had to do a lot of rewriting to make it match the new book–and there are still a few phrases leftover that we just couldn’t get out. But not a single reader complained…they were so minor.
Comment by Julie Leto — December 29, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
You make it sound easy!
Comment by Estella — December 29, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Hi, Erica! I can’t wait to read Freudian Slip - it sounds great!
Comment by Wendy — December 29, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
Cher:
Thank you! I loved the line as was very sad when it was cancelled.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Hi Robin:
Julie describes a story bible perfectly. It’s something “extra” that probably pubbed authors use a little more.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
Thanks, Tami . . . All writers are a little . . . eccentric, I think. So yeah, more than a few folks living in my head.
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Hi Jodie:
My completed books often vary from the synopsis. It just happens. But the CORE of it–the tone and POV, the voice–doesn’t stray. Writing character-driven books mean that often doesn’t. The plot can veer . . . but not its heart. If that makes sense . . . . For me, the soul is what’s at its core, not the details.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Estella. Come on. It’s a snap.
LOL!!!!!!!!!! (yeah right)
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Thanks Julie! And thank you again Erica.
Comment by Robin — December 29, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Erica, you sold me on Fruedian Slip! I’ll be buying it the first week it’s out.
This is so timely. I’m writing a synopsis now. Or I was, but I let myself be interrupted and was planning to start again tomorrow. Maybe it was serendipity that kept me from the crappy one I started. I’m actually looking forward to writing it tomorrow.
Comment by Edie — December 29, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
Hi Edie:
Good luck with it. As my agent says, “Make it sizzle.”
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Do you reveal the ending in the synopsis or leave them wondering? I wrote a romantic who-done-it and didn’t reveal the person who did it. Should I have? Also, I have read that a synopsis would be best kept to 2 pages or less. True or not true? I am a first timer trying to get noticed. I know this is not on topic but should I be trying to get the agent first or an editor? I’m soooo confused! Some say agent first some say editor first. Thanks for the great info on synopis’, excuse me while I rewrite mine….
Comment by Beth — December 29, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Thanks, Julie and Erica, for great explanations!
Comment by Jodie — December 29, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Hi Beth:
I think a 5 to 8 page synopsis is typical. Could be 4 . . . but 2 is REALLY short . . . maybe you are cutting too much.
And some publishers willa ccept unagented manuscripts (Harlequin is one, most e-pubs are another), but most publishers want to see only agented works . . . so depending on your goals, that may determine your route.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — December 29, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
Robin! Thanks for the congrats…I was very happy! Leslie is up for a Career Achievement award, too, which is tres cool.
Comment by Julie Leto — December 29, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
Total dweeb that I am, I actually LIKE writing synopsis!
Comment by Amie Stuart — December 29, 2007 @ 11:50 pm
Yay Leslie! I didn’t see that. Congratulations!!
Comment by Robin — December 30, 2007 @ 12:41 am
Huge congrats to both Julie and Leslie….very, very cool!!
Comment by Jodie — December 30, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Update! I hope you get this email. Thank you Erica! I rewrote my query and synopsis and sent them out to a few more agents. I already got a response for a full manuscript and another for the 1st 3 chapters!!!!
That happened the day after I emailed the query & synopsis. Thanks for your advise! When I get published I’ll send you a book! 
Comment by Beth — January 10, 2008 @ 8:42 pm