I'm trying to figure out how to explain my question clearly. If a chapter has several scenes, how do we indicate that in a chapter summary? Or is it necessary to say how many scenes there are? Should I lump all the scenes together in the summary? Is this even making any sense LOL?
I wish I could take your Expressive Writing Course. It sounds awesome. I was able to afford an annual subscription though, thanks to your Black Friday offer. :)
Ah! THANK YOU for offering that extra info. Super helpful. Okay, so with a chapter summary, you're writing it as if it's a short essay about what happens in the chapter. It reads like a mini story, with a beginning, middle, and end. It also includes setting, key emotions, and movement (or lack thereof) in characters' quests. Distill the KEY elements from a chapter into a mini story that summarizes what happens in this chapter. Potential agents and publishers will read your book proposal (which includes chapter summaries) to quickly assess what happens in your story with out having to read the entire manuscript. So, give them the BIG POINTS, making sure we see character development, forward momentum, and your VOICE. Lmk if you want to set up a free 20-min consult (or a discounted hour) and I'll walk you through examples!
Brilliant tips for writing chapter summaries. And as you say, could used to plan out a book.
So is there a place (or a need) to indicate how many scenes are in each chapter? Would that come in the "details" section?
Tell me more about what you’re asking. Happy to help.
I'm trying to figure out how to explain my question clearly. If a chapter has several scenes, how do we indicate that in a chapter summary? Or is it necessary to say how many scenes there are? Should I lump all the scenes together in the summary? Is this even making any sense LOL?
I wish I could take your Expressive Writing Course. It sounds awesome. I was able to afford an annual subscription though, thanks to your Black Friday offer. :)
Ah! THANK YOU for offering that extra info. Super helpful. Okay, so with a chapter summary, you're writing it as if it's a short essay about what happens in the chapter. It reads like a mini story, with a beginning, middle, and end. It also includes setting, key emotions, and movement (or lack thereof) in characters' quests. Distill the KEY elements from a chapter into a mini story that summarizes what happens in this chapter. Potential agents and publishers will read your book proposal (which includes chapter summaries) to quickly assess what happens in your story with out having to read the entire manuscript. So, give them the BIG POINTS, making sure we see character development, forward momentum, and your VOICE. Lmk if you want to set up a free 20-min consult (or a discounted hour) and I'll walk you through examples!
Oh yes, I would love to do that when I get a little farther along in my summaries!
Very useful. Will share with fellow writers.
Just wow - thank you so much for this terrific post! 🙌