How I read

1.You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

I’m learning that when I write down a book recommendation from someone, I need to write a little blurb of what about it appeals to me so that I know why I liked it. That helps me know whether to start on it based on my mood.  (“Contest chasing space junk and space lawyers in love? Sign me up!” [Manx Prize, by the way. Great book.])

2. You’re halfway through a book, and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

I will skip to the end to see if the ending is worth slogging through for. If it’s not, I’ll stop.

3. The end of the year is coming, and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

What Goodreads reading challenge? No idea what that is. I’ll read what I read, thank you, and not according to a contest. Unless there are bucket-loads of cash involved. Then maybe I’ll think about it.

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?

Don’t care. I’ll read it anyway.

5. Everyone and their mother love a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

I will respectfully share my feelings and ask with curiosity about what the draw is for that book.  If I don’t share opinion and ask, how will I even find whom to bond with over shared feelings?

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

I will cry. Quietly. And then maybe go hide in the bathroom for a while.

7. A sequel to a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

I will re-read. This means more time for enjoyment in that author’s carefully designed world.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people no when they ask?

I will let people borrow my books. I will write my name in them, though. And maybe write down who has them.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

Ask my sister and a few of my friends. Try something new. Maybe read some non-fiction for a while.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

As many as I can afford with my book budget.  And then write down the others for later.

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

I'll start a few right away. It can take a while.

12. Do you re-read books? 

Yes. It is a special book that is re-readable, but it takes time to figure out which ones those are. A re-readable book is one that you will get just as much enjoyment out of reading the 11^th time as you read the 1^st time, even if you know what happens.  Re-readable books are those that contain such insight on the human experience that you learn something new from them each time you read them.

Chapter synopses as a writing tool

Writing a synopsis of your story is generally one of the last things that you may do in preparation for submitting query letters to agents, but I really think the synopsis is an indispensable writing tool for the author as they go through the process of revision. It might even be an important tool for use as you’re writing the last half of your book.

I’ve written elsewhere about how making a reverse outline of each chapter helps me know what I’ve written. (The reverse outline is essentially a chapter synopsis.) It helps me evaluate how much conflict I have, what kind of tension I’ve included, what promises I am making to my reader, etc.

In my big climactic court scene where all my characters argue back and forth about what happened and why, I can use my synopsis document (which I have been building all along) to quickly make lists of things 1) that characters should argue about, 2) that characters can say to rebut and defend themselves, 3) of evidence they can show, etc. I want my characters to have the strongest arguments possible, and the synopsis helps me find and collect those points together because I have usually forgotten some. (Of course, my characters will look like they have brilliant memories, but they have to be brilliant when their lives and freedom are at stake!)

When I gather all those chapter synopses up in one document, they become a short-hand version of my book that I can use as a reference document as I revise. I don’t have time to get distracted reading through my book to find where the dragon has built the terraces on his hillside. I can find that in my synopsis document. (This synopsis is not what I’d submit to agents, by the way. This is a version for me to use.) Then I can use the working synopsis document to figure out what other later scenes I need to add mentions of the terraces to give a better sense of setting for the reader. (And of course I make notes of what needs to be added and where.)

Finally, even though I’m not quite to that point yet, the synopsis document can become a transitional step between the book and the real synopsis that is put together for a query letter.  It’s nothing more than summarizing the synopsis, distilling it down further until it is in a short enough form to submit.

The process goes like this:

1) Write chapters

2) Write each chapter synopsis

3) Gather chapter synopses into one document  (use for revisions)

4) Update working synopsis document

5) Summarize several chapter synopses together and repeat through story

6) (check length)

7) If still too long, summarize further until length is appropriate.