Lee weatherly on writing synopses
Based on the praise and buzz generated by those who attended the synopsis workshop led by Lee Weatherly, it was a great success. People participating in the workshop submitted a synopsis to Lee prior to the event, so with the struggle to create our own synopsis fresh in our minds, Lee had an attentive audience.
She walked us through what has to be included in a synopsis, and what doesn't need to be there. She explained the format that the agent/editor is most likely to find “friendly”, and she provided the time and instruction for an exercise that helped break the synopsis (and hence the story arc) into an easy-to-manage, section-by-section formula. She even shared examples of submitted synopses (kindly and anonymously, of course!) to help illustrate her points. Fantastic! Some great questions were asked and answered, and Lee was gracious enough to sign books and return each person's synopsis to them, complete with her positive comments and constructive criticism.
Oh, and the best news that Lee shared all evening – the synopsis is important, but not as important as it may feel to us as we create it. Most agents and editors will only review the synopsis after they have been impressed by the writing itself. The writing is still what matters most, so keep at it!
Reported by Lee McGovern
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