Comments on: Saturday Guest Blogger Erica Orloff!

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:42:18 +0000

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!

By: Jodie

Jodie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:55:35 +0000

Huge congrats to both Julie and Leslie….very, very cool!!

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:41:34 +0000

Yay Leslie! I didn’t see that. Congratulations!!

By: Amie Stuart

Amie Stuart — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:50:03 +0000

Total dweeb that I am, I actually LIKE writing synopsis!

By: Julie Leto

Julie Leto — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:31:50 +0000

Robin! Thanks for the congrats…I was very happy! Leslie is up for a Career Achievement award, too, which is tres cool.

By: Erica Orloff

Erica Orloff — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:18:25 +0000

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.

By: Jodie

Jodie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:54:04 +0000

Thanks, Julie and Erica, for great explanations!

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:00:41 +0000

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….

By: Erica Orloff

Erica Orloff — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:56:38 +0000

Hi Edie:
Good luck with it. As my agent says, “Make it sizzle.”

By: Edie

Edie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:51:20 +0000

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.