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There comes a point in every book when the overall task seems daunting.  I like to call it the Crap Point.  I’ve started the book with the “Wow, this was an awesome idea” mindset.  The first 10 chapters or so have come out decently.  The mid-point looms ahead, just out of reach.   “Wow” has changed to “crap.”

I’m now wondering how I’m ever going to finish it, let alone make it a good story. My plot seems thin. The characters are irritating the snot out of me. I start to think about killing them all off so I can be done with this horrible mess I’ve created.

But at this point, it’s too late to start over. I’m locked into a case of literary claustrophobia. I’m not going to finish. I’ll miss my deadline. My career is over.

I suck.

Yes, this is the Crap Point.  Everything on my pages feels like total crap. Enter my writing friends to remind me that I felt this was about every other book at almost the exact same point (around 30,000 words).  They give me all kinds of sweet advice, like go to the gym, have a shower, take a day off and clear your head.

But what I really need to do is suck it up, stop whining, and get writing.  Because writing is the only thing that’s going to get me out of this mess.  Even if the first draft does suck as badly as I fear, the book will be revised numerous times.  I must trust in my ability, my love of the craft, and my team of agent and editors who will point out any of the sucky parts that make it through my initial editing process.

So that is what I am doing today.  I am sucking it up and applying butt to chair. I am keeping the faith.

The other day an editor I know asked permission to use my latest synopsis as part of a talk she had to give. I couldn’t believe what I was reading, because up to now, I always thought I stunk at writing synopses.

Who knew : ) She went on to say that it was the kind of construction she looked for but rarely received, so I thought I’d share the steps I take to write a synopsis with you.

When I began writing I was a pantser who  believed that plotting  inhibited my creative process. That’s probably why it took me a year and a half to write my first book, which I never sold.

As time passed, I began to realize that if I wanted to write more books faster, I needed to plan more and if I planned more, writing the synopsis at the end of a project might just be easier.  I’ve played with a few variations of my process over the years but here’s what I’ve found works best for me:

1- Before I start to write a book, I write a character analysis for my hero and heroine because the more I know about who they are, where they’ve been, and what they want, the easier it is to move onto the next step–

2-  I write down my hero/heroine’s goals/motivations & conflicts. Keep in mind, it’s very effective if your hero/heroine’s goals oppose each other (ex: he wants a stay at home wife and she wants a career).

3-Once I’ve established their goals/motivations & conflicts, I write a  chapter by chapter outline. Sometimes this is a bare bones outline, sometimes it’s in depth.  Now I can begin to write the book.

Once the book is finished, I pull out the chapter by chapter outline I did months ago. I pinpoint the most important plot points in the finished book, (only those events and motivations that moved the story forward in a major way), and incorporate them into the outline. Don’t forget to reveal the character’s emotions and motivations. (Leave out secondary characters, you’re only using bare bones here.)

Once I’ve tweaked the outline, I begin to write the synopsis (in present tense) by picking up all the important elements from the outline. I introduce the hero/heroine each in their own paragraph. As they’re introduced, I identify their goals, motivation and conflict in as few words as possible, 1-3 pages maximum.

Wow, talk about pressure.  But take heart. Writing a good synopsis is tons of work but you’re also creating a valuable marketing tool. A good synopsis may even help you discover your blurb or pitch, and in the end, you’ve honed your writing skills too.

Best,

Cathy Tully

Today we’re featuring an excerpt from the action-packed romantic suspense novel, Incendiary by Chris Redding.  Author Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her one husband, two kids, one dog, and three rabbits. When she isn’t writing she’s chauffering her two boys to activities and working per diem in her local hospital. In the excerpt below, it’s clear that Chris uses her EMT experience to infuse her story with gritty detail.

What if your past comes back to haunt you?

 Chelsea James, captain of the Biggin Hill First Aid Squad, has had ten years to mend a broken heart and forget about the man who’d left her hurt and bewildered. Ten years to get her life on track. But fate has other plans.

Fire Inspector Jake Campbell, back in town after a decade, investigates a string of arsons, only to discover they are connected to the same arsons he’d been accused of long ago. Now his past has come back to haunt him, and Chelsea is part of that past.

Together, Chelsea and Jake must join forces to defeat their mutual enemy. Only then can they hope to rekindle the flames of passion. But before they can do that, Chelsea must learn to trust again. Their lives could depend on it.

 Excerpt 5 Incendiary

Jake opened the man’s striped pajama shirt and landmarked for CPR. He searched his memory banks and out of the depths came his training. It had been two years.

Chelsea tore a bag-valve-mask and an airway out of the green oxygen kit. She inserted the airway into Joe’s mouth and placed the mask on his face. The other mask lay discarded still around his neck. “Count out loud.”

“Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.”

When he reached thirty, Chelsea squeezed air into the patient. Brad returned with the automated external defibrillator. “Medics aren’t clear from the last call yet.” He dropped to his knees to unpack the unit.

“Damn.”

Sweat poured off Jake as he watched the exchange and compressed the man’s chest. “Three, four, five.”

“Tell them to get Mercy Seven,” Chelsea demanded.

“Seven, eight, nine.”

Brad relayed the request to dispatch and began setting up the AED. “Let me put these pads on.”

Jake sat back on his heels as the other man applied the pads. Sarah sat on the steps and cried. He wished he could comfort her and leave the rescue to the EMT’s. He could run into burning buildings, but death and dying people unnerved him.

Brad turned on the AED. “Don’t touch the patient.”

A voice from the machine said, “Analyzing patient now. Do not touch the patient.”

Jake could hear his own breathing as he hoped for Joe to start breathing. He didn’t like the gray hue of the patient.

“Shock advised. Charging. Do not touch the patient,” an electronic voice said.

Jake moved further away. Chelsea pulled off the bag-valve-mask.

“Clear.”

Brad pushed the blinking green button on the AED. Joe’s body jumped a little, but not like in medical dramas.

Jake moved to continue compressions.

Chelsea’s red face worried Jake. She bit her lip. He’d never seen her this upset.

“One, two, three, four,” Jake counted.

“It’ll time it until it’s been two minutes. Keep going until the machine says otherwise.”

He went to thirty and she put two breaths in with the mask. The machine cut in as he finished his fifth cycle.   “Analyzing heart rhythm. Do not touch the patient.”

Jake expected to have nightmares about that voice. All three shifted away from Joe who remained still and gray.

Today, Attacking the Page welcomes three authors who are writing fabulous new Kindle Serials: Kim Law, Cheryl Bolen, and Patrice Wilton.  Have you ever heard of a book published in serial format? Many of Charles Dicken’s works were published in installments before being bound into full books, including Oliver Twist and The Pickwick Papers. So the idea is both old and new. Anyway, these lovely ladies are giving away a Kindle Fire, so without further delay…

There’s a new kind of book making the rounds these days. It’s called a serial. Serials are books that are delivered by episodes (usually 2-3 chapters per episode.) Therefore, the reader purchases the book, gets all available episodes at the time of purchase, and then receives the remaining episodes in intervals. Often every two weeks.

Amazon has several serials going at the moment. They are for the Kindle/Kindle Fire or free Kindle apps, cost only $1.99 (this includes ALL episodes), and future episodes get delivered automatically as soon as they are released. Readers get an email notifying them that they have a new episode, and all they have to do is re-open the book on their Kindle/app, and they’ll be right where they left off, with the new episode appended and waiting to be read.

But why would you want these instead of just buying a whole book? Three reasons:

1)      They are fun!

It’s a totally different way to read—sort of like watching your favorite television show and then having to wait until the next episode airs—and serials “promise” to leave you hanging at the end of each episode. That means, you’re going to WANT to turn that page, only you can’t.  J But then you get to let the anticipation build of what might happen next. This is what I enjoy. As the day approaches for a new episode, I can hardly wait to see that email come across so I can hurry to read the next episode!

As noted, it’s a totally different way to read, and though at first it may seem like something you wouldn’t want to try, I encourage you to spend the two bucks and give it a shot. To me it’s fun getting to the brink of something good and then knowing I have to wait! Frustrating, but fun. And the more you are frustrated, the more you know the author is doing a great job! (Side note…it’s fun, but no, I would not want to read every book this way! But I do like to mix it up once in a while.)

2)      They are cheap!

For only $1.99 for a whole book, it’s a steal! But when the serial is fully released, the price will go up, so get them early!

3)      They are short enough to read during your lunch hour, while waiting to pick up the kids, while cooking dinner, etc.

So many of us are short on time, and don’t pick up a book because we know we’re going to get sucked into the author’s world and not poke our heads out for several hours. While fun, this is often just not feasible in our everyday lives. Serials force you to put the book down and get back to your life.

So there you have it. What is a serial, why you WANT them to leave you hanging, and now…how to win a Kindle Fire…

Three Kindle serial authors have teamed up to bring readers a great and easy opportunity. Go to our websites and answer a simple question about our serials, and you’ll be entered to win a 7” Kindle Fire HD. Answer one question, be entered one time. Go to all three websites and answer all three questions, be entered to win three times. It’s that easy! And all answers can be found in episode one of each serial.

Please see any of our website contest pages for full contest details.

Ex on the Beach, by Kim Law – Andie Shayne is getting ready to host the wedding of the summer at her resort on Turtle Island. As the guests arrive she’s taken aback to learn that her ex–who left her at the altar–is the best man. What he did was unforgiveable, and now he’s back with an agenda for her affection.

Kim’s contest page.

Falling for Frederick, by Cheryl Bolen – Laden with mystery and suspense, Falling for Frederick is a fast-paced romance that takes place in contemporary England. Aided by the lord of the manor, a lovely doctoral student seeks a priceless medieval artifact – just a step ahead of those who’ve already murdered to get it.

Cheryl’s contest page.

A Hero Lies Within, by Patrice Wilton – Old secrets linger and two reunited lovers are faced with more deception and mistrust. Can their love survive a second time around? Jake Harrington left her once when her life was falling apart, and now he’s back, and so are all the emotions she fought hard to expel. Can she forget his bitter betrayal, and will he forgive hers when to save her career she must betray his trust?

Patrice’s contest page.

Contest closes at Midnight EST on March 31^st, so get your entries in today!!!

Now tell us…do you think you could enjoy reading in the serial format? Or maybe you’ve already tried a serial. If so, tell us what you thought!

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

Love is in the air…and in the movies…and, of course, in romance novels.

Let’s have some fun on this day of romance and talk favorite couples. Who is YOUR favorite Romantic Couple? I don’t care if they are from a movie, a play, or a book. Tell me who your favorite couple is.

There are so many to choose from, but I have to say that my favorite romantic couple has to be Jamie and Claire from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Love, love, love Jamie! Seriously who wouldn’t love a man in a kilt who sacrifices himself for the safety of the woman he loves? *Swoon*

It’s your turn…tell me in the comments section who your favorite couple is and where I can find them.

Enjoy the day with your sweetheart.

~K.M. Fawcett