A passion of Pen Dames is to help other writers by sharing tips and insights we have learned along the way. We hope you will find the pointers beneficial to your writing process.
Barbara Cairns
I get lots of ideas but only a few of them get fleshed out from the bare minimum to a completed project. Sometimes, this involves research, which I love, to enhance the story with factual information interspersed throughout the story. Weaving a bit of history into my stories, either from research or from my own experiences and interactions, requires time and effort so as not to bog down the story itself. I try to focus on getting readers to empathize with my characters by including details about their daily lives and the places they inhabit.
Jennifer Taylor
As you likely know, writing a book is a bit of a marathon. And like any marathon (although I've never run one!), it's very important to pace yourself and to take a rest when your body tells you. Fiction writing is the same. Let's say you have been working for a couple of hours (let me just say that physical therapists recommend getting out of your chair every forty-five minutes). Your mind is spinning its wheels and going nowhere. I have two words for you: POWER NAP! Get up, walk around, and lean back in your favorite chair. Set the timer for, say, fifteen minutes, and breathe deeply.
Diaphragmatic breathing is an important skill to use for many reasons. It's how babies naturally breathe. It's a technique singers use to maximize their power. Take a look at a YouTube video. Once you get the hang of it, you won't be sorry. It will help you relax as you close your eyes and try to empty your mind. If little squirrel thoughts scamper across your mind, sweep them away. Maybe with this meditation, you'll fall asleep. If your alarm goes off, enjoy your nap. You probably need it.
I find that when I use this technique, it refreshes me and I'm once again ready for action.
Happy writing!
Flossie Benton Rogers
Revision Task – Examine the Character Roster
You have typed THE END! After a well-deserved celebration and rest, many other tasks must be performed on your way to publication. Among these is revision. One facet of revision is assessing your lineup of characters. Look closely at each one on the roster. Does each serve a unique purpose in your story? Are the characters distinguishable from one another? Are one or more unnecessary? Does it make sense to combine minor characters? Writing too many characters is a common occurrence, since you may not know all of your plot, or who is necessary to carry it out, until you get into the thick of writing.
This happened recently with my cozy mystery in progress. Two stalwart women are icons of the town. Each one has a son around the same age. When I started the novel, I had thought Woman A was the murderer. It turned out later that – no – the murderer was Woman B. Part of the thinking process is to determine the roles of the sons. Obviously, the son of Woman B will have more at stake than the son of Woman A. Is the son of Woman A necessary to the plot or is he redundant? In this case he was clearly redundant, and I moved him off the canvas. The fact that he was so easily removed illustrates how redundant he was. If he’s needed in a later novel of this same series, then at that time he can “return from overseas,” Woman A’s son who lived elsewhere and now comes back to his hometown. I don’t have to say anything about him in the current book, unless I want to set up the plot for the next book in the series.
Don’t fret about combining or even eliminating a redundant character. Let him live in your “to be used later--maybe” file.
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Loretta C. Rogers
How to Begin Your Story
Figuring out where to start telling your story is one of the bigger challenges most writers face. You have limited time and space—a few pages, at most—to seize your readers’ interest. If you start too slowly and include too much of the characters’ history, readers may get tired of waiting for the interesting stuff to start. If you start too fast, with too much action, they may get confused. Either miscalculation can make a reader put the book down and never pick it up again.
A Good Rule of Thumb for Starting Your Novel with a Bang!
1. Startle readers with the first line.
2. Begin at a life-changing moment.
3. Create intrigue about the characters.
4. Use a setting as the inciting incident.
5. Up the stakes within the first few pages.
6. Introduce something ominous right away.
7. Set the mood.
8. Make your characters sympathetic — and relatable — immediately.
Katherine Eddinger Smits
The Dreaded Synopsis: How to Ease the Pain
Crafting a compelling synopsis is an essential skill for any author. However, it's common for writers to confuse a synopsis with a back cover blurb, leading to frustration and missed opportunities.
Let's Clear the Confusion:
A synopsis is not a back cover blurb.
The back cover blurb is designed to tease and entice potential readers. It offers just enough plot details to spark curiosity, often including comparisons to similar books, provocative questions, and sometimes even glowing review quotes. It avoids spoilers and doesn’t reveal the book’s ending.
So, What Exactly is a Synopsis?
A synopsis is a detailed summary of your entire book, covering the main characters, major plot points, and key information. It's a crucial part of your submission package when querying traditional publishers or literary agents, and it’s often required for writing contests. Unlike the blurb, the synopsis must include the ending.
Why Include the Ending in a Synopsis?
Publishers, agents, and contest judges rely on the synopsis to get a full understanding of your story. They don’t have time to read every manuscript cover-to-cover, so they depend on a concise, one- or two-page summary to make decisions. A well-written synopsis provides a clear picture of the entire plot, including how it all resolves, helping industry professionals determine if your book is worth pursuing.
How to Write a Synopsis:
Many writers dread writing a synopsis, finding it challenging to distill an 80,000+ word novel into a page or two. But it’s a necessary step, and with the right approach, it can be done effectively.
Here are some tips to make the process smoother:
• Format: Use present tense, third-person point of view, and a 12-point font. Aim for about 250 to 300 words.
• Introduction: Start with a brief overview of the genre, time period, and setting. Mention key tropes.
• Main Characters: Write a paragraph about the protagonist, including their name, what makes them unique, their primary goal, and the stakes if they fail. If you're writing a romance, add a similar paragraph for the love interest. For thrillers or other genres with a significant antagonist, include a paragraph about the villain as well.
• Plot Summary: Identify the major plot points, such as the inciting incident, call to action, midpoint, all-is-lost moment, climax, and resolution. Condense each of these into a single sentence, then expand those sentences into short paragraphs as needed to include only the most important information without going into too much detail.
• Process: If you’re a plotter, use your outline as a guide. If you’re more of a pantser, pull the key moments directly from your manuscript.
Pro Tip: Consider writing your synopsis before drafting your novel. It can serve as a roadmap, keeping you focused and helping you overcome writer’s block if you become stuck.
Whether you’re just starting out, revising your manuscript, or preparing to publish, a well-crafted synopsis is a vital tool in your journey to success.
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