Synopsis writing is hard

[cornerofmadness]

The joy of the day was getting to attend the Abney Park streaming concert.

Have a peek at this synopsis, see what you think. Yes it's a bit basic because it's not really for a query. They're already going to read the novel so it's not a query letter sort of synopsis.


Dr. Joshua Zimmermann is a young wild life professor at a college near Ohio’s Hocking Hills. He adores foxes and has made them the central focus of his research. He’s an outdoor enthusiast but he brings the same enthusiasm to his other passions. He and his childhood friends have a paranormal investigation team which he does his best to bring his scientific background to this less than scientific field. As a geek of the first order, Josh is a collector of geeky memorabilia, tattoos and is an avid steampunk cosplayer. He especially loves Star Trek, Doctor Who and the Green Tablet series by B.A. Halloran.

Brendan Halloran had it all. As an author of a successful young adult urban fantasy series and equally successful movie franchise, Brendan should have had it all. He did until his young son, Connor died of cancer. Heart broken and drowning in grief, Brendan stops writing, stops living his life. His marriage to Heather disintegrates in spite of them remaining friends. Brendan is trapped in the moment Connor died.

When he rents a cabin in the Hocking Hills, it’s ostensibly to research his next book, an adult paranormal tale but he is also considering this would be a good place to die. Heather certainly worries on it. He’s hired Joshua Zimmermann who has a website about the paranormal in Ohio, thinking if he does pull out of his tail spin and make good on his plan to write a new book, he might as well do it right. He selects the remains of an old hotel constructed to kill guests ala H.H. Holmes as the place he wants to investigate. If nothing else, Diane’s history as a serial killer would be interesting to investigate and Joshua agrees to the plan.

Completely unprepared for the joy and enthusiasm Josh brings to everything he does, Brendan finds himself swept away. Step by step he reenters life. His head might not be convinced he’s ready to love again but his heart disagrees. Unfortunately for him, Diane’s ghost is every bit as vicious as she was in life and he and Joshua have a target on their back.






Challenge #14

In your own space, do the Fandom Wrap Challenge. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



What were your top 5 fandoms for 2022 based on the amount of time you interacted with them?
1. Prodigal Son
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
3. Angel the Series
4. The Owl House
5. Lucifer

What were your top 5 fandom spaces (Discord, Twitter, etc.) you experienced fandom in terms of time spent?
1. Ao3
2. dreamwidth
3. twitter
4. livejournal
5. discord

What are the top 5 things you did to contribute to fandom in terms of time? Did you write? Comment? Send positive energy into the universe? Create art?
1. write (nearly 300K)
2. commenting
3. supporting the save prodigal son campaign
4. playlists
5. faculty advisor to the anime/manga club

What were your top 5 most appreciated fandom contributions? (i.e. in terms of likes, kudos, reblogs, comments, etc.)
1. Her Boys Prodigal Son

2. Bound by Fear Prodigal Son (novel length)

3. Digging Up Bones Prodigal Son (novel length)

4. Arms Made of Tenderness The Owl House

5. A Little Help From a Friend Venom (porny nonsense but people loved it)

Have a Top 5 List you'd like to share?? By all means!
how about some communities
1. allbingo
2. comment_bingo
3. spook_me
4. intoabar
5. fandomtrees

Comments

[flamingsword]

I will have to go check those comms, thanks! Also, I keep hearing about The Owl House, but I have no idea what it is. Maybe a web search is in order.

If you are asking for some quick nit-pickery, I have two, but if you’re not looking for it they’re fairly minor.

He and his childhood friends have a paranormal investigation team which he does his best to bring his scientific background to this less than scientific field.

This sentence could stand to be clarified? Also there’s a couple of times those paragraphs shift tenses back and forth, and it’s a low-key bit puzzling. Other than that, the premise is compelling and seems well-written.

[cornerofmadness]

The Owl House was a Disney cartoon sadly canceled after 2 seasons with great rep. Luz is hispanic and bi. It's your typical thru a magic door into a magical realm plot but it's very well done with good world building and character arcs (especially considering it's a kids' cartoon) There are on screen lesbian kisses and her friend Willow has two dads, Luz is bilingual. We also have nonbinary and ace rep


thanks for that. I appreciate it. I'll go fix those bobbles (I did whip that out while listening to part of the concert so not surprised I muffed up the tenses)

[flamingsword]

I mess up my tenses when I’m not even distracted! 😅 Fear no judgment from this quarter!

[flamingsword]

Also, I don’t do Disney shows because $$$ but that sounds like a fantastic show!

[cornerofmadness]

I hear you. I manage it on the regular

[cornerofmadness]

this one is on their free stuff on cable/satellite, not disney plus

[shanachie_quill]

There's 3 seasons on Disney plus...but it looks like a single episode in season 3.

[dewladen]

This is a really cool synopsis and I'm curious to where you will take it!

[cornerofmadness]

thanks

[cornerofmadness]

it got canceled in season 2 but they allowed Dana to wrap it up with a couple hour long 'movies' two of which have shown on the non pay for disney

[cmk418]

I like the synopsis, particularly the lead-in with the connection between reader/fan Joshua and author Brendan.

Two general comments- the first paragraph seems a little "He, he, he" which you could solve by tossing a clause or two in there and combining some of those sentences. The second is that Diane sort of comes out of nowhere, so maybe a brief sentence about her connection to the hotel would be helpful.

One specific comment, which you can take or leave - His marriage to Heather disintegrates in spite of them remaining friends. Brendan is trapped in the moment Connor died. This might work better if the two sentences are flipped and might read better as "but they remain friends" instead of "in spite of them remaining friends".

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with it!

[suzume]

Oh, I want to do that sort of fandom wrap-up too! Maybe not today, but soon...

[cornerofmadness]

THank you so much. That's a big help.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I appreciate the signal boost for allbingo. The Valentines fest is up now.

Re: Thank you!

[cornerofmadness]

thanks. No problem. I love my prompt comms.

Got my card tonight

Re: Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yay! Have fun with your card. I made mine with gemstones this time.

Re: Thank you!

[cornerofmadness]

Mine is a mix of everything

[shanachie_quill]

That's super awesome.

[cornerofmadness]

It is. So far the first two of I think three have been so good too. I wish every canceled on a cliffhanger had this chance

[shanachie_quill]

Same