Writing synopses of my novel or short stories has been a tricky, sticky, and quite unpleasant activity for me. But, from now on, I declare it pleasant, playful and fun. ¡He dicho!
My latest synopsis writing excercise was a few mornings ago, as I prepared my submission for the Santa Fe Writers Project Contest.
So, dear readers, forget that you haven't read my whole short story "Jesus Never Had To Pay Rent" (Chapter 1 of my novel Beba). Let's say that, out of the blue, you read a synopsis like the one in italics below. Would you be intrigued? Would you have pointers to tighten it up? Or even pointers to overhaul it completely? I'm all ears—and eyes!
Beba Fernandez is an extremely book-smart 26-year-old about to complete a Ph.D. in anthropology of religion. Yet her intelligence in practical matters leaves a lot to be desired. She has somehow fallen under the spell of Josue Laguerre—the main informant for her dissertation, the leader of an East Harlem Spiritist cult, and the lover who for years has lived off of her meager grad student wages. After years of putting up with him, in the heat of a fight, Beba finally gathers up the courage to break up with him and kick him out of her apartment. But he continues to hound her by astrally projecting himself into her dreams and even into her waking life. But wait a minute. Beba doesn’t really believe in spiritual apparitions and powers. So why are they starting to seem so real? Kicking him out of her head is proving to be the hardest challenge of all.
* Image borrowed from Heaven to Earth.
4 comments:
Wow. Those last couple of sentences really pulled me in. At first I thought oh no, another one of those other worldly fantasy type books, but when I read on to see that Beba didn't believe in astral projection, it left me intrigued because regardless of which way the story goes (astral projection, etc. is portrayed as real, or not) I still want to read it because Beba shares the same view I do.
I am definitely intrigued and want to know more.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Rubye Jack. You actually address one of the things I've been wondering; how will my work be received by readers who are believers vs. non-believers of these particular traditions.
It's been tricky trying to portray how a non-believer like Beba can be pulled so far in. Slowly, slowly, I'll keep molding this into shape.
Happy Christmas, my dear!
Happy Christmas to you and yours, dear Suze. I'm visiting the Republic of Hialeah (near Miami) but I'll soon be back to our lovely Planet. Un abrazo.
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