Monday, November 17, 2008

Sum-hurry

Okay, my series summary, in a hurry, goes something like this (as promised):

What would you do if you moved into a new house and found out that your attic held the age old secrets of a fairytale world? Perhaps you wouldn't explore them if you knew that your interference could change endings … including your own. Or maybe you would.

OR the summary could read like this:

Once upon a new town, Hailey discovers the key to a whole new world. When she unlocks the mystery, everything falls apart. Can she put the pieces back together again … and how will she separate out the pieces of her own life in the process?

17 comments:

  1. Well, Hailey sure sounds like she has a big job! Hope she makes it through in one piece:)

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  2. Yes, I need to reword that. LOL--I really am. Our world doesn't fall apart, just this other world, which isn't quite as big and really has no impact on us, just on her well, and several other people. I'm a dork. :) Still laughing.

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  3. You know that was your fault, right, Natalie. You kept me up too late last night and now I'm tired. So how does it read now? Not quite so detrimental to the human race?

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  4. You know, I don't even feel bad for keeping you up late. It makes me happy^_^

    I think it reads fine, but it's pretty generic, ya know? I know your story has to have a special twist and a lot of spunk, because you're cool like that! What details make this world different from, say, Spiderwick? Or Narnia? You gotta bring that out in the blurb (and a query for that matter)—that's what's going to make it shiny.

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  5. I know, Natalie. This is my sly way of hoarding my story. You weren't allowed to pick up on that. :) Of course there are twists and major plot lines and craziness. I just can't explain them in two sentences. And I don't know if I'm ready to post them on my blog. :) Now, in a query letter, that's a different story. Do you all want something less generic? :) Sigh.

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  6. Oh fine, hoard, lol. I can accept that. I can wait for it to be on shelves:) I've learned a lot of patience this last two weeks...kinda.

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  7. Looking forward to seeing those specifics someday... ; )

    And Natalie LOVES keeping people up late. She's a brat like that.

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  8. Kiersten, Specifics?? What are those? I look forward to seeing them some day too. Will you write them for me and then send them out to agents? Apparently I can only write novels, one page summaries are going to be my death. I should write a book about writing summaries.

    This isn't a new problem for me. I used to try to summarize stories (when I taught YW) and my summaries were longer then the stories themselves. The girls used to make fun of me for it. Wow, I just made that connection right now. I have a serious problem. I can't even write a short comment. I know you people out there have noticed that. What am I going to do???

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  9. You know, I hear you on being nervous to reveal your book's special twists and stuff on the blog. I never even gave a hint about my first book.

    No pressure of course. We'll wait. :)

    But hey, if you are stressing about your query, us MoMo's make pretty great query critiquers. When I was writing my first letter, Kiersten and Natalie were AWESOME. Seriously.

    And, *clears throat* I'm not too bad either. Only if you want, my email is on my profile page.

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  10. I love the idea that a house's attic can hold the key to a fairytale world--that opens up so much but also cause doesn't everyone think attics are full of mystery and exploration?

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  11. Natalie and Renee are GREAT help with query letters. I am, too, when I don't have migraines. Somehow I always have one when Renee needs help...I think her waves of concentration are so powerful they travel cross-country and knock me out.

    Anyway--I simply loathe writing queries and synopses, but it's very necessary. And Natalie has super good advice on her blog. And all of the MoMos have done it (and gotten a lot of requests from our queries, I might pridefully add), so we're a great resource wait I've already said all of this and need to stop typing right now.

    Apparently I have a problem with brevity as well.

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  12. I like the first one, it gives a visual of the new house, exploring around the dusty attic (the imagination can do a lot with that), secrets - where are they hidden?, and conflict in your character's decision. Sounds great!

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  13. renee, thanks for the advice on our very special top secret email transaction.

    I'm so sorry, smug is my favorite emotion and I like to feel it often. :)

    Terri, yes, if only you knew just how much it opened up. Maybe you will soon. :)

    Kiersten, it sounds like you might want a top secret email transaction from me as well. Watch out, I might send it to you if you're offering, ask Renee.

    Joanne, thanks. It's pretty awesome, actually, if I do say so myself, and I do, so there you have it. :)

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  14. Don't be such a hoarder! Use the one you sent me. It says so much more, but it doesn't give to much away.

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  15. Oooh, can I read that someday? I'm leaning towards something that reads along the lines of the first example. Miss you!

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  16. Nicki,
    You can read anything you want because you are my ego boosting fan and I love you dearly. By the way, keep bugging me to finish editing book 4 because I am getting sucked into my new world.

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  17. Hmm, they both sound vague but intriguing. If I could ever read them...

    *sigh*

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