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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:17 pm
by Deb Porter
I'm happy as long as the synopsis isn't as long as a chapter. It's just an overview. So two pages is okay, but possibly verging a little on the long side. 700 words is fine.

The key is to communicate briefly where the story is going so that we can see whether the promise of the first chapter is likely to be fulfilled in the entire story.

Love, Deb

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:24 am
by yvonblake
okay...

Thanks, Deb... I think mine is ready to enter!! :D

Vonnie

:typing2

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:52 am
by Deb Porter
To all those entering, if you don't get a message from me within a day or so to let you know it has been received, could you please check with me? There have been a couple of glitches with the system (mainly to do with file type).

Also, please make sure you save your chapter as either an old version of Word (97-2003 doc) or as Rich Text Format. If you have any problems at all, please let me know and I can help you.

Love, Deb

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:18 am
by Wrider
BreathFreshAir wrote: The key is to communicate briefly where the story is going so that we can see whether the promise of the first chapter is likely to be fulfilled in the entire story.
Sorry to get so particular :roll:
So does this mean that it's okay if it's a teaser-type, like you'd see on the back of a book? Or are you looking for a more overview that gives away the ending?

I'm thinking either one is fine, but I wanted to make sure before I submitted mine, which is more the teaser type.

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:36 am
by Deb Porter
Either is fine, Rachel. Again, it's really just a case of showing the author knows where the novel is going and is able to give an overview of what the story is about (because the first chapter may not really do that).

Love, Deb

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:41 am
by Wrider
Thank you, Deb! You're always so patient. :) Where would we be without you? :shock:

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:29 pm
by kahoosbt
Thanks, Deb, for the clarification--that helps a lot!

With a little style modification, I should be able to get my synopsis down to ~500 words.

Well, if I get back to work on it, that is... :wink:

I sure like how many people are entering this, and chatting about it etc... This is fun!

Shelley

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:17 pm
by South-paw-Scribbler
ThreeDee wrote:One further question about the synopsis. Should that part also include your target reader, approximate length, anything like that? Or is is strictly story-based?


I'd really like to know too. :?

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:08 am
by Deb Porter
If you are targeting kids or young adults, then yes, it would probably be a good idea to make a note of that in the synopsis. Not worried about the approximate length.

Love, Deb

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:23 am
by Hoomi
Deb, I tried sending you a couple of e-mails this past week. The one to the address from a couple of years ago bounced, and never heard anything from the new address that I found on your web page. Did it get through okay?

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 1:37 pm
by South-paw-Scribbler
I find myself somewhat confused as to the previously published claus.

If it was published with FW (anthology or otherwise), but expanded; on a blog, but revised; is this disqualifying?

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 11:16 pm
by Deb Porter
Dear me, Karlene, you are overthinking things.

Has the whole thing been published in a book? If it hasn't, go for it.

Rick, I've had to get rid of my office email address for Finesse. It was being used to spam me, but even worse, being spoofed to spam others. So I'll send you an email with my new email address.

(The one on my Breath of Fresh Air website is spammed to the max. I don't even check it these days--just delete things. I've got to get in and change all the references to my email address, but have a form set up to replace it.)

Love, Deb

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:30 am
by South-paw-Scribbler
Thank you Deb. :lol: I'll be ok. I'm sure someday I will. :oops:

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:22 pm
by RuthAnnCC
Hey Deb, Don't mean to be a pain, but I've sent two PMs but haven't heard back. You said to let you know if we hadn't heard anything in a couple days after submitting our entry. I think I submitted it 5 or 6 days ago. Is there some way to check if it got through. I know you are really busy. I'm really not trying to be pushy. It's OK, I'll wait to hear from you whenever you can. There's still plenty of time to submit it again if for some reason it didn't go through.

Thanks,
Ruth Ann