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I Have This Nifty Idea ... Now What Do I Do With It?: Presenting Novel Ideas to Book Editors [MultiFormat]
eBook by Mike Resnick
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$7.99 |
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$6.79 |
eBook Category: General Nonfiction Hugo Award Nominee
eBook Description: This book contains outlines for science fiction and fantasy novels which real authors (new and old) used to sell their books to major publishing companies ... actual examples drawn from authors' files, not idealized versions prepared just for a textbook. Whether you're a beginning writer looking to break into novels, an experienced professional seeking new tools and techniques to sell books, or a fan curious about the remarkable thought-processes of some of the great genre writers of our time, you will find something here which enlightens, educates, and entertains you. I Have This Nifty Idea is the perfect addition to every library of books on writing. Includes work by Robert Silverberg, David Brin, Joe Haldeman, Mike Resnick, Robert J. Sawyer, Barry N. Malzberg, Kevin J. Anderson, Charles Sheffield, Katharine Kerr, Jack Dann, Jack L. Chalker, and many more.
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: 2002
Fictionwise Release Date: August 2004
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [1.3 MB], eReader (PDB) [326 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [333 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [289 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [260 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [330 KB], hiebook (KML) [665 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [434 KB], iSilo (PDB) [275 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [338 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [415 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [442 KB]
Words: 96210
Reading time: 274-384 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
Introduction
Ask any science fiction writer what question he hears the most often, and the odds are that he'll tell you it's "Where do you get your crazy ideas?"
But ask that same writer what question he hears most often at conventions and workshops, and in e-mail from fans, and it's "I've got this nifty idea for a novel. How do I write a synopsis or proposal to send to a book editor?"
I heard that almost hourly when I taught Clarion. I hear (or read) it daily as the author of the Ask Bwana column. It comes up at least twice a week on the Resnick Listserv.
And I'm not alone. Every pro who has led a workshop or lectured beginning writers hears the same question: how do you write an outline or a synopsis for a book editor? And then, almost in the same breath: how long should it be? How short? How thorough? How vague? What do you cover? What do you leave out? How impersonal should it be? How formal?
So, after a couple of decades of answering one questioner at a time, I thought it might be useful to put together a book of outlines, synopses and proposals.
You'll find all types here. One-pagers. Forty-pagers. Formal proposals. Informal letters to friendly editors. Trilogy synopses. Movie synopses. You name it, we've got it.
In closing, I want to tell you a little something about the contributors. We've got some unquestioned giants of the field here. We've got some bestsellers, some award winners, some first novelists. Every single one of them contributed their pieces free of charge. Why? Because in the science fiction community, we take seriously the notion that you can't pay back and therefore you must pay forward. I don't know of any other community of artists in any field that is so unfailingly generous with its time and possessions. I salute them, and I am proud to be included in their fraternity.
--Mike Resnick
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