I've been working on my synopsis for several days now and thought; "This looks pretty darn good."
I posted it on a writing website and received some much deserved constructive criticism. I really needed someone else to show me what I was doing wrong.
I realized my mistakes far too late, I had already sent it to an agent that I wanted to impress. She most likely hit the delete button before finishing my letter.
I know now that it reads too much like my query, and I am in need of a professional view point.
I have a critique group meeting at the Writers Loft here in Paradise where I live. I hope to come away with a better understanding of what I need, to write a wowzer of a synopsis.
Today as I browsed through several websites that cater to people who want to get published, I noticed some forums that had some instructions for newbies like me. So far, this is what I've learned:
Never use the word 'Was' in your first sentence. That will send your manuscript directly into the slush pile. (Slush pile is a term used by agents for the stack of manuscripts piling up that no one wants to read.)
Never give your character green eyes. I didn't think something like that mattered in the literary world, but someone on the forum claimed that all writers want their hero or heroin to have green eyes and readers are sick of it.
As I read more of the do's and don'ts, I began to wonder if I should just go back to nursing school, and spend the next six years in college as the oldest student in class.
Everyone has their own opinion and they all differ from each other, which can be very confusing. I'm not going to give up now, there must be an agent that likes green eyed people and the word 'was'.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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