The information on this page is an excerpt from the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer (by Lori Soard). It is only a small sample of the valuable information contained in the 127 page complete guide.

 

How to Write a Proposal an Editor will Love

 

"A common problem is that an author will send in a proposal that has no spark. They've done everything right-except imbue the story with spirit."
- Brenda Chin, Editor at Harlequin 

 

One of the most important parts of your proposal is the synopsis. A synopsis is a short recap of what happens in your book. You sum up the story in 2-10 pages, hitting the high points. Think of the blurb on the back cover of a book, only with more details. I believe a winning synopsis can get you a request for your entire book. The problem is, where do you even start with a synopsis? How do you sum up 50,000 or 100,000 words in 10 or fewer pages?

People often dread writing a synopsis. They moan and groan and gripe and whine. Why do I have to do this? I wrote the book, can't they just read that? Well, actually, no. Again, editors are really busy. Many have offices that look like they are carpeted in manuscripts. 

I remember reading an article by Malle Vallick of Harlequin Duets where she said her dream is to be able to see her carpet and what color it is. She vaguely remembers it as being pink. Imagine, that is the mountain of work with only proposals to read through. Read the whole manuscript? Dream on! 

To make things easier for myself, I always write my synopsis before I write a single word of the manuscript: it is part of my plotting. Sometimes it changes, but usually not much. I find I write better this way and the story flows more easily because I have a sense of where I'm going, and I don't get bogged down in those middle-of-the-book blues. But if you are one of those people who absolutely cannot do this - to do so would cause you to lose interest in the book - then don't. Finish the book and then write the synopsis. Here are some dos and don'ts to help you with this task.

Dos and Don'ts 

• DO include the five basic elements:

• • First meeting (included in this, you introduce your hero and heroine, showing their internal conflict and how that plays into the romance)

• • Their first kiss (focus on emotions-this is the worst possible person for each to be involved with)

• • First love scene (emotions-why was this a mistake? At least one character really should feel this way or your conflict is reduced)

• • Big black moment (the moment when all seems lost, how will this couple ever get together?) 

• • Resolution (wrap everything up, tie off any loose ends)

  

• DO make sure the opening paragraph hooks the reader, just like the first paragraph of your book.

• DO write the synopsis is present tense: "She runs from her stalker," instead of "She ran from her stalker".

• DO make the hero and heroine's goals clear and believable.

• DO make the synopsis match the tone of the novel. If your novel is light and funny, your synopsis should be, too.

• DON'T leave out the ending because you think it will entice the editor to look at the rest of the manuscript. The editor needs to know you can tie up all loose ends and write a convincing story.

• DON'T add a lot of details or dialogue. The editor simply needs to know how the characters overcome their problems and get to their ultimate goals, not that they did so on a sunny mountainside in Western Vermont on a fine spring day filled with the scent of the blooming wildflowers. You get the idea.

• DON'T send in a synopsis that reads like a textbook.

Sample Synopsis

A Christmas Truce
Synopsis

Jack Riggs lives life on the edge - in and out of the bedroom. Macy wants a dependable man who will be there when she needs him and sexy, brazen Macy always gets what she wants.

One week before Christmas and a year to the day since he walked out on her, Jack Riggs shows up on Macy's doorstep. She's about to slam the door shut in his face, when he collapses. Jack is dangerous and Macy wants him as much as ever, but she's determined not to go down that guaranteed path to heartbreak a second time.

Jack hadn't intended to stay away from his beautiful, sassy bride for so long but his job as a Navy Seal often kept him on assignment and unable to call home. Now that he's home, he's determined to win his way back into Macy's heart and her bed.

Macy agrees to help nurse Jack back to health, although other than a slight limp he looks exceedingly fit to her. While she might owe him the human kindness of a place to stay, she doesn't owe him her heart on a platter, and Jack has made it clear that he intends to go back to Sealing as soon as he recuperates from his injury.

Four anxious wanna-be grandparents add some minor comic relief as they try to figure out ways to keep Macy and Jack together while keeping tabs on how this temporary reunion is coming along. They want these two together and they will do whatever it takes to achieve that and gain a grandchild. They spy, they lie, they push for reconciliation.

When she married Jack, Macy thought she could live with his absences and life-threatening work. She'd quickly discovered the heartbreak of not knowing if your man is alive or dead. She needs stability, security and a partner who will help her raise the children Jack claims he doesn't want. While she might enjoy their steamy nights, she holds a little of herself back for fear of losing herself forever.

Jack's physical therapy isn't going as well as he'd like. The harder he pushes himself, the further he gets set back. Macy begins to hope they might have a chance at a normal life but she fears he will never recover from losing the ability to be a Seal. Jack is determined to overcome his limitations. In the past, he has been able to overcome anything with hard work, and he believes he can do that again in this situation. 

Macy is determined to distract him from his own self-destructive determination, and what better place to do it than in the bedroom?

Jack leaves for an appointment with his superiors and Macy is terrified they will send him on an assignment. His leg seems a little better and he's been restless and moody. What if he disappears again? What if, this time, he never returns?

Jack is offered the opportunity to work as a trainer to new recruits but he chooses to return to Macy. The desire to save the world and seek out dangerous adventure that once ate at him is now gone. Instead, he wants nothing more than to start a family and settle down. Now he only had to convince Macy that this is what he wants.

At first, Macy is uncertain if Jack will truly be happy living a quiet life, but Jack kisses and caresses her doubts away. Brazen Macy can finally make love with all her passion blazing and nothing held back, every night - and day, and midday, and early morning - for the rest of their lives.

**The above is only a small sample of the valuable information in the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer   . The complete guide describes additional ways to impress an editor, along with detailed information on how you can become a published romance writer.

About the author: Lori Soard is co-founder and Chairperson of World Romance Writers and co-founder and past president of From The Heart, Romance Writers of America Chapter. She moderates a writing workshop on America Online, teaches writing courses and speaks all over the country, and has won numerous contests and writing awards. In addition to the more than a thousand articles and short stories of hers that have been published, Lori is the author of several books including romance novels. She shares her experiences and expert advice from more than 75 published romance writers, editors and literary agents in the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer