tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2789493721156270182..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Question: what the deuce is a "brief synopsis"***Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35788179944216613732015-05-14T21:05:04.229-04:002015-05-14T21:05:04.229-04:00Oh, late to the panty again, whoops, I mean party....Oh, late to the panty again, whoops, I mean party. Poor 'panties', someone has to be on 'panties'' side, so I guess it will be me! I do like the word, feminine and delicate. Now, take the word 'Moncton.' I do not like that word, not at all. The sound of it is hard and ugly. I know nothing of the place. In my schoolyard, we called underwear 'ginch.'<br /><br />@ Eileen - lovely, articulate sentiments.<br /><br />@ 2N's - Most of the time, I get house numbers. One time they were pretty close to an actual past residence of mine! Who lives in those houses, anyone special we should know about?<br /><br />And about us all having 8-year-old minds, I love it! I've always said I'd rather be youthful, happy and crazy than old, bitter and sane.Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86131817811511177582015-05-14T20:13:28.268-04:002015-05-14T20:13:28.268-04:00Thank you for the Harry Potter example. It was ver...Thank you for the Harry Potter example. It was very helpful. Hm...looking at it again, I think this could have gone one step further. It seems it can be just 6 words! "Harry lives with his wretched cousins." After all, does his last name really matter? His first name conveys that he's a male and "boy," as you said, that he is not an adult! SIX words! ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960928682869399863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39051644059371705302015-05-14T02:38:10.312-04:002015-05-14T02:38:10.312-04:00Huh. We call 'em pants and underpants here in ...Huh. We call 'em pants and underpants here in Aus. Or knickers. Panties always sounds rather naughty, like g-strings and lacy stuff and demi-briefs. <br /><br />As for synopses, I always find them pretty easy to write. Kind of enjoyable, in fact. It's like a challenge. I've got a limit on words, and a set of ideas I have to present within this framework. It's like a literary jigsaw puzzle. And I LOVE jigsaw puzzles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7164045255291477642015-05-13T23:23:26.722-04:002015-05-13T23:23:26.722-04:00Ah! Sixteen hours later, but I get it! Brief synop...Ah! Sixteen hours later, but I get it! Brief synopsis = Underpants synopsis. <br /><br />Well, at least you know wherethis Woodland Badger shops for her lingerie where all Creatures of Discriminating Taste shop: Teasing, Tantalizing, and Taming the Shrew, found in high-end forests everywhere and online at TameYourShrew.com.<br /><br />Woodland AngelFishJuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17921506396156995582015-05-13T21:02:09.905-04:002015-05-13T21:02:09.905-04:00Do Woodland Creatures wear underpants? Do they loo...Do Woodland Creatures wear underpants? Do they look at risque catalogues? Now I have this slightly disturbing image of Mrs. Tiggle Winkle and Mrs. Tittlemouse sitting around in rocking chairs squinting and periodically exclaiming, "Ooh!" and "Look at <i> that!" </i><br /><br />You know they do.<br /><br />Just look at their names.<br /><br />In fact, I bet Beatrix Potter had all kinds of off-color subplots in mind when she wrote those stories. 50 Shades of Bad Rabbits and Squirrel Nutkins.<br /><br />And don't even get me started on Mr. Toad and what happened at Toad Hall.<br /><br />(Colin and Karen, aren't you proud of my obviously apparent mastery of <i> italics? </i> I'm going to work on <b> BOLD </b> next!)Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42199172472007995672015-05-13T20:52:51.847-04:002015-05-13T20:52:51.847-04:00Yeah, where DID that underpants thing come from? I...Yeah, where DID that underpants thing come from? I thought <i> I </i> was random. <br /><br />Not that I'm saying she's random. I want to be <i> quite </i> clear, here.<br /><br />Not risking exile over this.<br /><br />Just asking.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61113850305805256912015-05-13T20:50:40.983-04:002015-05-13T20:50:40.983-04:00What jolly comments today! All I have to say is th...What jolly comments today! All I have to say is that I hope Janet uses the word "underpants" in her next flash fiction contest. ;DChristina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75399389845588689412015-05-13T20:40:37.695-04:002015-05-13T20:40:37.695-04:00DeadSpiderEye,
Martha and Tilley just enjoy looki...DeadSpiderEye,<br /><br />Martha and Tilley just enjoy looking at the male models and ordering the risque underwear and costumes for their husbands. One of their escapades leads to a murder of another senior. <br /><br />Senior delinquents, what you gonna do with them?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67434915473185585742015-05-13T20:39:51.278-04:002015-05-13T20:39:51.278-04:00Good for you, Karen. And great lesson there. You&#...Good for you, Karen. And great lesson there. You're absolutely right.<br /><br />And if anyone is wondering if Janet will mind all the underpants talk, she did practically tell us to do it.<br /><br />"**please notice I managed to go the entire blog post without mentioning underpants, which is one of my all time favorite words (Yes I am eight years old)."<br /><br />It was practically a dare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3815673762398137522015-05-13T20:37:15.315-04:002015-05-13T20:37:15.315-04:00Karen - Silly Creatures Wear Boxer-briefs Inapprop...Karen - Silly Creatures Wear Boxer-briefs Inappropriately?<br /><br />And as for leopard-print thongs, thanks so much, now I need brain bleaching for the indelible image I have of my overprotective male MC standing in tan twill, bent over his suitcase, considering, "Hm. Will I scare her off if I just get undressed? Perhaps I should put on my exercise shorts. Nah, this leopard-print thong will do the job nicely."<br /><br />What's a Catholic radiologist to do?<br /><br />The 50 Shades of Gray as read by Gilbert Gottfried video on Youtube was less jarring.<br /><br />;)Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28937005448300997462015-05-13T20:24:57.857-04:002015-05-13T20:24:57.857-04:00My grandmother used to hang her gotchees (sp) on t...My grandmother used to hang her gotchees (sp) on the clothesline out back, along with my pop's longjohns. There's something really personal about letting your undies hang out for all the world to see.<br /><br />Donna, love your husband's sense of humor. You should rent him out.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91234499530713965762015-05-13T20:07:16.848-04:002015-05-13T20:07:16.848-04:00Sorry all--late to this party. More sinus surgery ...Sorry all--late to this party. More sinus surgery complications this morning (blurg) but things seem to be better this afternoon. <br /><br />I was put head-first into the shallow word pool with my SCBWI WIP contest submission--painfully squeezing the full scope of my novel into 250 words, per the contest requirements.<br /><br />After I did it, I was proud because it was something I didn't think I could accomplish. <br /><br />We must get rid of our doubt monsters. Only then will we accomplish the seemingly impossible.Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88143372428936421472015-05-13T20:01:54.603-04:002015-05-13T20:01:54.603-04:00Donna, no, Wil and I have always been best of frie...Donna, no, Wil and I have always been best of friends, nothing more. Lol. I love your wedding pants story.<br /><br />Julia, yeah, I hesitated before commenting with my story, but then Janet wrote she was 8 years old. I thought, she won't mind she's too busy reading comic books. Loved the story about Victoria's Secret.<br /><br />Julie, because so many people are against panties, I was going to write knickers, but then I opted for underwear. I should've thought of bloomers. Poor John, but that rodeo must've been hilarious. You're right, though, we do go way off topic at times.<br /><br />Kdjames, it goes to prove, sometimes showing your underpants can lead to great things. Who knew?<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88324801028702272612015-05-13T19:42:00.439-04:002015-05-13T19:42:00.439-04:00Julie.M.Weathers:
I like that, how do you work th...Julie.M.Weathers:<br /><br />I like that, how do you work that into a plot, something like:-<br /><br />'Notice the footprints in the flower bed, the impression of of the left toe digging in? That can only mean he's adjusting his crevice creep. What we have here ladies is man wearing thong, a leather one, two sized too small judging by the tight spacing of the footprints'. DeadSpiderEyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687178085803686186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9195732539932951492015-05-13T19:37:37.716-04:002015-05-13T19:37:37.716-04:00Donna,
Too funny. He's a keeper.
Poor Janet....Donna,<br /><br />Too funny. He's a keeper.<br /><br />Poor Janet. She gives us this great information about writing a synopsis and puts a post script in tiny print at the very bottom about underpants and what do the woodland creatures run with? Yeah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11589822846691243952015-05-13T19:10:14.499-04:002015-05-13T19:10:14.499-04:00Oooo, ooo me, me!
I have an UNDERPANTS STORY!!!...Oooo, ooo me, me! <br /><br />I have an UNDERPANTS STORY!!! (I am practically screaming that in case ya'll didn't catch it.)<br /><br />On my lovely wedding day, what did my dear husband pull from under my wedding dress rather than the "virgin" white garter I'd yanked up my thigh only an hour or so before? <br /><br />A LEOPARD PRINT THONG WITH BLACK LACE.<br /><br />Oh yes. He did.<br /><br />The "wascally wabbit" tucked it up his sleeve and when he spent oh, like WAY too much time up under there, as if hunting around - which was QUITE embarrassing to me with my Dad and Mom STANDING RIGHT THERE, he yanks those out, and says, "What? What are these????"<br /><br />I actually screamed and it was all captured by our wedding photographer. <br /><br />Not exactly an underpants story...but still..., worthy of sharing, no?Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15951499886319558752015-05-13T18:16:26.957-04:002015-05-13T18:16:26.957-04:00I am sorry my Queen but I feel the need to lodge a...I am sorry my Queen but I feel the need to lodge a complaint.<br /><br />It is not that the information you so freely give us is not timely, valuable and important. It is that it is timely, valuable and important. It is like you are reading the thing I call a mind.<br /><br />If I had known all of this some time ago I would not have made the promise. I would not have let people piss me off so much that getting published became personal.<br /><br />Almost every day you give another jewel that I have to do something about. It is beginning to look like I will never get around to querying because there is always something else. Like a 250 word synopsis.<br /><br />You really need to write that book. It could be the first of the new "SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE" series. "SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE: SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER"<br /><br />You can explain how the money works and all of the peripheral things that it takes before even contemplating making a venture into publication. How you might have a better chance of winning the lottery and things of that sort. I'd buy a couple.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76109852560076240052015-05-13T17:14:03.618-04:002015-05-13T17:14:03.618-04:00Maybe agents ask for a synopsis just to see if you...Maybe agents ask for a synopsis just to see if you'll do what they want you to do. Maybe it's a control thing. Maybe it's a, "I like to see you squirm thing". Then again, maybe it's not. And then again maybe it is.<br /> <br />I am scurrying to my wheel now. My little squeaky wheel makes me feel much better.<br /><br />I got house numbers. Whose house numbers are they anyway. If I saw my house numbers I'd freak.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84753238364282276932015-05-13T17:06:35.541-04:002015-05-13T17:06:35.541-04:00DeadEyeSpider,
My geriatric lady sleuths spend a ...DeadEyeSpider,<br /><br />My geriatric lady sleuths spend a lot of time perusing a male lingerie catalog named Duds For Studs at the senior center. Research.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43356687352213457422015-05-13T17:01:23.383-04:002015-05-13T17:01:23.383-04:00This was a real insight, 250 words and -no- world ...This was a real insight, 250 words and -no- world building, that's gonna cause some sporadic hair tugging. Meanwhile, some cultural drift was evident in the comments again, so I had to look up Victoria's Secret -- that was an hour and half ago.DeadSpiderEyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687178085803686186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39093699942492617582015-05-13T16:56:15.474-04:002015-05-13T16:56:15.474-04:00When I was eight, the only mention of underpants w...When I was eight, the only mention of underpants was in that old taunting rhyme:<br /><br />"I see London, I see France,<br />I see Jessie's underpants!"<br /><br />Jessie was a fearless golden-haired tomboy who liked to hang upside-down from the highest bar of the jungle gym during recess. Her poor deluded mother apparently thought forcing her sweet precious girl to wear hair ribbons and a dress every day would stop this behavior. Unsurprisingly, Jessie went on to accomplish great things. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38700334382054110852015-05-13T14:34:25.777-04:002015-05-13T14:34:25.777-04:00BJ, Thank you for the answer. Great advice also a...BJ, Thank you for the answer. Great advice also as to why synopsis writing is important.<br />angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80630096030720480832015-05-13T14:33:58.210-04:002015-05-13T14:33:58.210-04:00@Lisa - Captcha is making you eat rats? Ergh! :P
...@Lisa - Captcha is making you eat rats? Ergh! :P<br /><br />I don't know how you all feel about psychological markers when writing, but I just passed 50K words. To me, that's when things get "Real." So I'm a happy camper, now.<br /><br />Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.<br /><br />Another underwear story.<br /><br />My daughter had her first big dance this year. It was a Valentine's Day dance. I decided to Do It Right. (Watch out, kid. Too bad for you. Should've signed on for some other parent.)<br /><br />Got her the dress, the tights, the leggings - now it's time for the Victoria's Secret Bra! Very special Mom and Me time.<br /><br />Only, Mommy doesn't really DO Victoria's Secret very often, so Mommy actually went in there and found out what Victoria's Secret actually WAS.<br /><br />The store was packed (PACKED) with guys of all ages - like 14 to 80 - picking out lacy bits and bites and bytes and megabites for their girlfriends / women friends / wives. And I went in, tra la la, naive as anything, probably more naive than my daughter, and ordered up a Special Black Bra For My Daughter's First Special Dance. With fitting, please.<br /><br />We got a wonderful girl to help us - very pleasant, kind, compassionate - treated us with kid gloves.<br /><br />We stood in a line that could've been at Disney World given as long as it was. It's a Screwed Up World, After All. (You're Welcome). Then, we got to the front of the line, and the Nice Helper Girl rang up our purchase and presented me with a dollar figure. I won't tell you what the dollar figure *WAS,* but I'll tell you this.<br /><br />I generally don't swear.<br /><br />Really.<br /><br />But that day, at the top of my lungs, in a room packed full of guys and with my nubile daughter by my side, I shouted, "HOLY HELL, ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"<br /><br />I couldn't help it, it just flew out of my mouth like some demented Raven.<br /><br />Nevermore.<br /><br />And then I spent the next half hour saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But... really? I'm sorry. Really, I'm so sorry. But did you say... $$$?"<br /><br />Meanwhile, my daughter tried very hard to impersonate a catatonic corpse by my side. After jumping so high that she clawed the ceiling. Her and everyone else within a five-mile radius.<br /><br />We got out of there with a Less Special Black Bra, and my daughter saying over and over again, "You scared them to death, Mommy. Oh my God. I can't believe you just swore at someone. Oh, my God, Mommy."<br /><br />We don't say "OMG" in my house.<br /><br />But that day, I made it fair game because I swore at the Victoria's Secret Angels.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />Angel FishJuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50299061227589695652015-05-13T14:32:19.335-04:002015-05-13T14:32:19.335-04:00Thank you my Queen. This changes a lot for me.
I ...Thank you my Queen. This changes a lot for me.<br /><br />I was hoping to get a brief synopsis down to a page and then fluff it up a bit to a page and a half. Now I am going to re-write my original outline and bring it up to date. That seems like all I really need.<br /><br />The query shows your writing chops so the synopsis doesn't have to.<br /><br />Is a milk shake really ice cream?Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85222728502114619382015-05-13T14:26:20.527-04:002015-05-13T14:26:20.527-04:00I hate the word panties too… It just sounds naff....I hate the word panties too… It just sounds naff. I prefer 'knickers'. There's something almost wicked about the word.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.com