When I’m driving somewhere I’ve never been before, I’ll look at a map or log onto Mapquest. But if I decide to sew something that I don’t have a pattern for, I will find a picture of the item I want to make and just wing it. I like to try new recipes and for the most part I follow the recipe, but not always. When my goals are concrete (as in getting to some place) I plan ahead. But when it’s my creative half embarking on a mission- I just jump in and hope things turn out.
As most of you know, I generally write a book in the same manner as I do all creative things. Start out with an idea and then wing it. So here I am, with my ‘shoot from the hip’ attitude trying to write a synopsis before I write the book.
I’m stoked and I’m petrified. I have gathered together all the handouts I’ve ever picked up at workshops on writing a synopsis. Some make sense and some make me cross-eyed. Before I even think about a synopsis, I need to decide all my major turning points- which is the part that petrifies me. When I write a book BS (before synopsis), I know my opening, the first turning point and the climax. It is usually the outcome of the first turning point that dictates the second and the second the third, and so on. Which I do as I write.
But since I have to plot this before I write it- I've thought this whole process through and decided to get out some colored index cards and write down things I think could happen, and the reaction of each character. Then when I get done, arrange them (or toss them) in hopefully a way that makes sense and then I’ll take that arrangement and write the synopsis. And hope this works for me.
My question for those of you who write synopsis before you write the book and have more in the plot than just emotions, such as a mystery, do you do one outline/storyboard for the romance and then one for the mystery and then combine them? Or do you write it all at once? Also, those who have done a synopsis/plotting before writing the book - do you use index cards, story board, or outline to set up the story before you write the synopsis? Or do you just sit down and write the synopsis building the story as you go?
