tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post58597837403048282..comments2023-05-05T06:53:58.257-07:00Comments on Stacy Green - Turning The Page: Your Book in One Sentence.Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-59115360827461474112011-06-13T14:33:25.873-07:002011-06-13T14:33:25.873-07:00Thanks, Robin. I'm not sure which is harder: l...Thanks, Robin. I'm not sure which is harder: loglines or synopsis. GLad you liked the post.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-60944943112843220712011-06-13T14:29:06.619-07:002011-06-13T14:29:06.619-07:00Lots of good advice here -- and I need it. LOL Got...Lots of good advice here -- and I need it. LOL Gotta agree with you about the amazing resources social media provides us.Robin Lythgoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16537065567549375928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-55631533438315042352011-06-08T14:47:27.967-07:002011-06-08T14:47:27.967-07:00It's always fun trying to boil it down to one ...It's always fun trying to boil it down to one sentence. You've got a great start and great info in the comments. I recently found myself drawn to the one-sentence summary in picture books. Good luck.Stacy S. Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646270238659432058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-52823967509992919872011-06-08T06:33:03.779-07:002011-06-08T06:33:03.779-07:00Hi Beverly! That makes sense - sorry for the confu...Hi Beverly! That makes sense - sorry for the confusion. <br /><br />You're right, it is almost all about the bad guy. I need to work on that. Thanks for the advice!Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-64777501083293542862011-06-08T06:28:48.971-07:002011-06-08T06:28:48.971-07:00Hi Stacy - I think what threw me off is your link ...Hi Stacy - I think what threw me off is your link was to your blog, in general, not to the specific post. That, and it being a Monday.<br /><br />"After a strange and frightening stalker bungles a kidnapping attempt and makes one of the most ... "<br /><br />My problem with the above is it's almost all about the bad guy. I agree with Kristen, it's got to be about Emile, who she is, what she's trying to do.Beverly Diehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392288953821757887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-20121592633414834632011-06-06T20:46:26.237-07:002011-06-06T20:46:26.237-07:00I will definitely be following Kristen's advic...I will definitely be following Kristen's advice. Thanks for the comment:)Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-63968640353672526702011-06-06T13:50:50.899-07:002011-06-06T13:50:50.899-07:00I like the first one better. It's a cleaner m...I like the first one better. It's a cleaner more high concept description. I would remove the title and genre and follow Kristen advice above.raisingmarshmallowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042942174027281627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-66087279264814560502011-06-06T12:11:34.939-07:002011-06-06T12:11:34.939-07:00You're welcome, Brenda. The resources social m...You're welcome, Brenda. The resources social media provides us are so amazing, aren't they?Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-42721598992362111332011-06-06T12:06:30.562-07:002011-06-06T12:06:30.562-07:00Thanks .. I am in the same place with my own work,...Thanks .. I am in the same place with my own work, the pitch. I enjoy and learn, have learned from others who are steps ahead of me. Many thanks to Kristen, as well.Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425528423649700111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-6972162825855881172011-06-06T11:57:48.353-07:002011-06-06T11:57:48.353-07:00Kristen, thanks so much for taking the time to sto...Kristen, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by. I don't have a lot of experience with loglines, so I really appreciate your breaking things down.<br /><br />I know I have to cut out some back story, but learning to understand and accept her past enables my MC to outwit the antagonist. I just need to work on implementing that into the logline.<br /><br />Thanks again!Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-91537299982817626882011-06-06T11:45:12.409-07:002011-06-06T11:45:12.409-07:00Oh and what happens if she fails? We need a sense ...Oh and what happens if she fails? We need a sense of that (part of stakes).<br /><br />Kristen LambAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-76858684659180282322011-06-06T11:43:45.713-07:002011-06-06T11:43:45.713-07:00You need protag, antag, goal and stakes. I don'...You need protag, antag, goal and stakes. I don't see a goal or stakes. Also, Emilie Davis means nothing to me. Who is she and why do I care?<br /><br />For instance:<br /><br />A fraidy cat romance author must brave the jungles of South America to rescue her kidnapped sister from murdering thieves.<br /><br />That was Romancing the Stone.<br /><br />Protag--fraidy cat romance author. Gives us a picture of WHO she is. We can envision her.<br /><br />Antag--Murdering thieves.<br /><br />Stakes--used the word "murdering" so gives a ticking clock and stakes. This is life and death.<br /><br />Goal--Rescue sister<br /><br />What is the goal of your protag? When anyone mentions "facing a past" that preps me to expect a lot of backstory, flashbacks and info dump which are all bad.<br /><br />But if she must face the past in order to solve a future problem that is well-defined with clear objectives, that is different.<br /><br />Good start. Keep refining. <br /><br />Kristen LambAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-82509780218869569542011-06-06T10:59:33.354-07:002011-06-06T10:59:33.354-07:00Annette - I'm sure sharing the book and bounci...Annette - I'm sure sharing the book and bouncing ideas off someone you trust is a tremendous help. I'm fortunate enough to have an amazing critique partner that's brutally honest and helpful. Thanks for the advice!<br /><br />Patrick- 15 words?! Holy cow, that's a challenge. And dumb question, but what is a modified snowflake method?<br />Thanks!Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-3898909610207596262011-06-06T09:58:57.896-07:002011-06-06T09:58:57.896-07:00Randy Ingermason suggests the logline should be le...Randy Ingermason suggests the logline should be less than 15 words if you can manage. I hate them, but I'm getting more and more practice with them since I use a modified snowflake method for planning.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07089536676983697237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-47818862562356579232011-06-06T09:54:26.225-07:002011-06-06T09:54:26.225-07:00Yes, that elevator pitch is crucial! I spent a few...Yes, that elevator pitch is crucial! I spent a few brainstorming sessions coming up with mine but I must say it helped tremendously in shaing the book - in my case, a memoir. A friend who has published a memoir told me it took her six months to come up with hers, so be patient!Annette Gendlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006606888883773812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-82649025068320374582011-06-06T09:49:34.535-07:002011-06-06T09:49:34.535-07:00Thanks for the comments, guys. K, the contest soun...Thanks for the comments, guys. K, the contest sounds like great practice.<br /><br />Jen. Duh, loglines! I could not think of the name this morning, lol. Thanks for the advice. I never thought about the question - of course you'd want to know where he escaped from.<br /><br />Your logline is very good and definitely gives me something to think about.<br /><br />Thanks!Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-22974463556539321282011-06-06T05:48:00.082-07:002011-06-06T05:48:00.082-07:00Ah, loglines... we spend so much time fretting ove...Ah, loglines... we spend so much time fretting over them! For starters, you want to sum it up the plot in one line; the title and genre are not needed here. But there's no way to do it without leaving a lot of the meat out (and that's going to include your second protagonist, for sure). Of the two attempts, the second one is definitely the stronger one in my mind. But it did leave me with a question (and you don't want that in a logline) - the stalker made one of the most daring escapes... from what? A Houdini water tank (it is Las Vegas after all)? Jail? The location of the kidnapping?<br /><br />If it helps, here's the log line for my manuscript that's currently on submission, and this was how I started off many of my query letters as the hook to get the agent interested (this is also the opening to the blurb of the book as listed on my website): <i>When a single human bone is found on a lonely stretch of coastline, a determined homicide detective and a reluctant scientist risk their lives when they join forces to bring a serial killer to justice.</i> As you see, no title or genre. That comes in a separate section/sentence in your query letter.<br /><br />Good luck with it! This is really tough stuff, no question about it...Jen J. Dannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817943866838270699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649625493148641418.post-975139129959782302011-06-06T05:34:37.385-07:002011-06-06T05:34:37.385-07:00I like the second one better too. I've seen co...I like the second one better too. I've seen contests online where you enter your Twitter pitch. Those are tough because you only have 140 characters to work with. They're fun though!Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.com