Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Week 11 -- Synposis

This is topic Week 11 -- Synposis in forum Writing Challenges at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

Presiding this week: skadder--so entries to me.

Ship’s Rules:

• The synopsis writer (SW) sends the President or a nominated Vice-President (here after called the Committee) the synopsis on the Friday before it is due to be posted—a week early. If the synopsis has not been received, the committee will contact the next SW and request their synopsis by Sunday night. If this is not received a committee member will post a reserve synopsis.

• The ship sets sail every Friday when a new synopsis is posted by the President or one of his Vice-Presidents.

• Once the synopsis is posted, you may begin writing 13 lines (see Hatrack guidelines for ensuring it is 13 lines).

• You can begin the story from any chronological part of the synopsis.

• Any details not specified in the plan can be made up as long as they do not SERIOUSLY alter the story.

• Remember, this contest is ABOUT mastering the hook--so have one.

• The President or his nominated stand in, will assign your story a number and post it between Monday and Thursday. They will not be posted over the weekend.

• PLEASE don’t look at what other people have done until after you have sent yours to the moderator.

• Edit your work before sending it—no corrections will be made after it has been emailed, and email it only once.

• Email your entry to the President, or his nominated deputy (a post will identify any changes) by latest Thursday night (GMT in my case). Ensure any bold or italic formatting is included exactly as you would format it if you posted it on Hatrack yourself.
Example:

skadder (my hatrack nickname)

Entry # (Committee will fill in number)

Title: The Wrathful Gaze of Allah

The scout’s hand shook as he pointed to the dune. “It lies on the other side, my Lord.”
Caliph Abu Bakr eyed the dune. The cool evening breeze plucked at his robes. Yes, let’s see. He began to walk up the hot sand.
“Caliph, you must not go—it could be a desert djinn.”
“Perhaps.” Abu Bakr turned to grin at the shivering guard. “If Allah wills it so--but Allah put it here, so I will look.”
As he crested the dune he gasped. Before him, half buried in molten, glowing sand, lay a vast metal structure. To one side lay a winged creature with a body like a man. It was totally covered in intricate armour and a single crystal was set in its helm. An angel--a dead one. Then it stirred.
“Quick,” Abu Bakr shouted, “It is messenger of Allah—bring the h

This is the format that you should use to send your work in. I have not included formatting--but you should--as the above is exactly 13 lines--if yours is longer it may get cut. More detailed instructions on how to ensure your intro is 13 lines can be found here.

• I will post the competition is closed and voting can commence. If you enter you are expected to vote. People who enter and don’t vote will be mocked in a 'Walked the Plank' thread. Critting, although useful, is not required, but you are expected to identify a first, second and third, and best title.

• Future Synopsis Writers:
1) Doctor
2) Tiergan
3) illiterate
4) skadder.
5) Annepin.
6) JustInProse
7) Unwritten

o Copy the above and add your name to the list if you wish to write a synopsis, however pay attention to point one above and try to get something ready at least a week earlier.
***************************************************************

Synopsis by: Doctor

quote:
Despite an addiction to coffee and a passion for literature, Alex Bacon often wants to escape from his worry-prone life, which is filled with rising credit card debts, deaths of recent family members, and the loss of his only friend, Fido, a local baker. His apartment is a closet--at best, with barely enough room for the basic ammenities. His only luxury is his laptop computer, running windows 95, aside from his beloved, though worn-down, expresso machine. He spends his idle moments staring out the window, tracing the landscape with his eyes, and dreaming of distant lands and magical journeys. His nights are spent toiling as a much outdated chimney sweep, whenever he can find work, so his days can be free to explore fiction and poetry, his greatest loves (besides coffee). He is a regular at Hatriver dot com, a writer's workshop, where he plays the fifteen line challenge. He's never won, despite dozens of attempts, sometimes several per week using various pseudonyms and aliases, but with no success. He has contemplated suicide many, many times. But the thought of instant JK-Rowlingesque success just around the corner inspires him to keep writing. This week he's given himself an ultimatum. With one hand on the mouse, glazing over wikipedia for story ideas, and the other hand gripping his handgun, he's decided that if he doesn't win this time... then it's time for a lead popsicle.

[This message has been edited by skadder (edited June 14, 2008).]

Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :

Could we make this weeks a 63 line challenge? Oh what I could do with this one.

Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :

I'm out this time.

Posted by MrsBrown (Member # 5195) on :

LOL! Can we/should we introduce a requirement for a speculative element, or let it stand as-is?

Posted by kathyton (Member # 7780) on :

You can introduce whatever speculative element you want

I already have my idea ---

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

I think it is certainly acceptable to add to the story-- the situation remains the same, merely with a few added speculative components. What you can't do is change his name or his problem/situation.

If his laptop is possessed, that is acceptable for example--mine is!

I have my idea, and it is definitely speculative.

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

Oh it's meant to be open ended. I personally dislike situations where everything is invented for you, I'd rather give you a character, a bit of setting, and what a problem is, whatever you choose to add is where the real fun is. Bring in aliens, or ghosts, or magic, or whatever you want. Don't limit yourselves.

Posted by Devnal (Member # 6724) on :

Uh ohhh.. Skadder can you post the formatting to use in word here to get the 13 lines again? I know I saw it somewhere but can't find it now..

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

I have emailed you a properly formatted doc.

Please be aware I will cut entries to the proper size before posting them--so you may lose your hook before anyone sees it.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Devnal, I put the 13-line template (that's what I'm calling it, anyway) in the Please Read Here First area, in the "How to tell if it's exactly 13 lines" topic, here .

So anyone should be able to go there and find it.

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited June 14, 2008).]