Writers’ Tip for the Day: Writing an Eye-catching Proposal, Part 3
The Character Sketches and the Backdrop
So far in our review of what makes an eye-catching proposal, we’ve looked at the Title Page, the Table of Contents, the Synopsis, and the Author Bio. Today, we’ll review Character Sketches and the Backdrop.
As previously mentioned, editors and agents might offer different guidelines for their proposal’s components or they might have the components listed in a different order. Always ask for their guidelines before you spend much time writing your proposal for a specific request. However, I think it’s a very good idea to get a proposal ready with the basic components as soon as you start working on a new fiction manuscript. It’s much easier to tweak a 60plus-page proposal than start from scratch, especially if the editor or agent wants the proposal ASAP.
Below I’ve included samples of some character sketches and backdrop. The character sketches are “sketchy,” which might be adequate for some editors, but for others, might not be. Perhaps they’ll request a full-page sketch of the main character or a few of the secondary characters, as well. So be prepared and give the editors what they want.
LOVE SONG FOR LOUELLEN
CHARACTER SKETCHES
Louellen Bidleman Friesen – twenty-five-year-old Amish woman unhappily married to Eli Friesen, a mid-twenties Amish man. Louellen feels trapped in her life for two reasons: she craves love from her husband, which she is not receiving because she can’t give him children, and she is questioning her Amish roots and belief system, which leaves her empty and with no assurance of God’s love or her eternal destiny. Louellen is a beautiful woman, slender with long wavy auburn hair, green eyes, and a rosy complexion.
Eli Friesen – mid-twenties six-foot-tall Amish farmer with thick, brown wavy hair, dark brown eyes and curly eyelashes. Eli is a troubled soul, who publicly fits into the Amish mold but in his heart questions his Amish beliefs and longs to know God more intimately. Eli also guards another secret well that only he and his medical doctor know – Eli is the reason he and Louellen have no children, but his pride and bitterness cause him to resent Louellen and ignore her longings to have an intimate emotional relationship with him.
Dr. David McAndrew – 40 years old; gentle brown eyes, wavy blonde hair, tall, and handsome; doctor of obstetrics; not a Christian; bitter at God for taking his wife; performs abortions; finds himself romantically attracted to Louellen Friesen.
Andrea McAndrew– 18 years old; blonde hair, brown eyes; slender; interested in spiritual matters but doesn’t tell her father because of his bitterness toward God; would love to see Louellen and her father get together; a freshman in college.
Jenna McAndrew – 16 years old; blonde hair, brown eyes; slender; interested in spiritual matters but doesn’t mention it to her father; would love to see Louellen and her father get together; a junior in high school.
Cheryl Whentfield – 32 years old; RN who works in obstetrics with David; divorced with two boys, Brent, 15, and Conrad, 13, and would like to connect with David; deep blue eyes, long styled black hair (bottled because of premature gray); shapely and very attractive; wears make-up fashionably; not a Christian.
Jacob Knapp – Amish farmer; neighbor of the Friesens. Married to Emma and has five children, ages 16 to 5.
Ezekiel Romig – Amish farmer; neighbor of the Friesens. Married to Martha and has six children ages 17 to 3.
Zeb Clouser – Amish farmer; brother-in-law of the Friesens. Married to Esther, Louellen’s sister and has three children, ages 7 to 4. Two girls, Rebecca, 7, and Sarah, 6, and Joseph, 4
Pastor Hugh Grove – pastor of Community Fellowship Church where David and his wife went before she died; mid-fifties; parts graying hair down middle; has pot belly; passionate about soul winning and cares deeply for David’s soul.
Louellen’s family –
- Dad Bidleman – thin mid-forties Amish farmer; graying beard; brown eyes; leathery skin
- Mom Bidleman – plump mid-forties Amish housewife and mother; graying auburn hair in bun and kapp; green eyes and rosy cheeks
- Zeb Clouser – brother-in-law; blonde hair, blue eyes; thin farmer with weathered skin; 28 years old; farmer
- Esther Bidleman Clouser – 27 yrs. old; same features as Louellen; often mistaken for her twin
- Rebecca Clouser – seven years old; looks like father; blonde hair; blue eyes
- Sarah Clouser – six years old; same features
- Joseph Clouser – four-year-old nephew of Eli and Louellen; the boy Eli idolizes
- Samuel Bidleman – Louellen’s brother; typical Amish man; auburn hair and brown eyes; 29 years old; farmer; kind
- Marie Zook Bidleman – Samuel’s wife; 28 years old; plump; dark hair; brown eyes; pregnant with third child
- Samuel Bidleman – eight years old; looks like his father, Samuel. All boy
- Adam Bidleman – five years old; rosy cheeks; brown hair and brown eyes; plump
BACKDROP
Mapletown – small town in central Pennsylvania where the story takes place
Presbyterian Community Hospital– where Dr. David McAndrew works
Washington High School– where Jenna McAndrew attends
Wellington State University– where Andrea McAndrew attends
Bald Eagle Valley– where Friesens and other Amish families live; west of Mapletown
***
In an Amish/Mennonite fiction novel, in which family is so vitally important to the storyline, it is expected that you would include the family members of the main character. However, in most other subgenres, the editors would probably not ask for such detail.
Next time, we’ll discuss the last components of a good proposal: the Sample Chapters (or the entire manuscript), Marketing Information, and the Date of Completion.
Happy writing!
Marsha
www.susquehannavalleywritersworkshop.wordpress.com
Marsha Hubler: Author of THE KEYSTONE STABLES BOOKS 
Today’s Writers’ Tips: Marsha’s Comments About the Beginner’s Writing List
Posted in Writing Tips, tagged Writing like a beginner comments from Marsha on May 9, 2011| 3 Comments »
WRITERS’ TIPS: TEN WAYS TO WRITE LIKE A BEGINNER
Marsha’s Comments
If you read my last blog from last Monday, you might have gotten a chuckle out of several of the points in my “writing like a beginner’s” list. However, I believe that all writers at one time or another have experienced one or many of these strange encounters of the fourth kind in their writing careers. One of my friends recently told me that she’s lived through all ten points, and sometimes still does; yet, she’s still writing faithfully. Kudos to her!
I, too, have suffered from “beginning writer’s syndrome” from time to time over the last 20 years of my serious writing. Every once in a while one or two of these evil little entities will poke their ugly heads into my writing business, attempting to throw a monkey wrench into my creative machine. But the key is to keep pressing on.
Let’s look at this ridiculous beginner’s list a little more closely. I’ve made some comments after each one so you will know my opinion about each.
1. Never read any books in the same genre in which you are writing. After all, you don’t want to steal another author’s voice, style, or story!
Well, it doesn’t mean you can’t read Peanuts in the newspaper or an old Nancy Drew mystery that you find in your attic, for crying out loud!
2. Write when you feel like it, even if the radio or TV is blasting or your family is demanding supper.
Sometimes when the noise level is at its highest might mean writing time for you. If the kids are fighting in the bedroom and hubby is blasting the ball game on TV, at least they’re all busy. Grab your laptop, run for the closet, and go for it!
3. Without trying to publish anything else, start writing the Great American Novel that has plots, subplots, foreshadowing, and complicated characters.
Rarely does a newbie begin nothing else but a book manuscript and get it published. It does happen, but probably one out of five million. There’s SO much to learn before tackling a book project. Work on short stories if you like fiction and articles if you’re a nonfiction writer. All those little nuggets will teach you proper style and good grammar to help you with your book idea in the future.
4. Start your fiction manuscript with five pages of narration and description from five points of view. Have 600 pages in your manuscript.
Bad idea from the getgo! Modern-day readers, and editors, have no patience with the writing style of many of our classics from yesteryear. Our reading society today wants action, action, action!
5. Develop a boring plot with no climax, characters with no depth, and dialogue that is flat and the same for all your characters.
I think you would be better off applying to write obituaries for your local newspaper.
6. Don’t seek any help from anyone or anything like a critique group, “how-to-write” books, or writers’ conferences because God told you to write, what to write, and how to write it.
Honestly, I’ve crossed paths with a number of newbies who have this attitude. (Sorry, guys, but it’s mostly you.) But God is not the author of bad grammar, poor spelling, or lousy sentence structure. Any work written in His name should be at its finest quality. Get help!
7. Send your manuscript everywhere without querying first. Buy the Writers’ Market Guide, start on page 1, and don’t stop until you get a sale!
You might get a sale by 2020 if you go this route. Better still, here’s a big tip. Study the market. Find out which publishing companies want what you’re writing. Work on an eye-catching query letter and send it to five or six editors at one time. As soon as you get a rejection, send another query to a different company. Make a list and check off the companies as you query them.
8. If you decide to write a query letter, write one that is “unique.” Smother it in chocolate or perfume smells and start the letter like this: “Dear Editor, this is your lucky day. My family has read this, and they absolutely love it.”
Oh, my goodness. All my editor friends tell me these techniques turn them off immediately. These ploys are a sure sign that they are dealing with a newbie and won’t give the project a second look.
9. Send your very first draft of your very first manuscript to a different editor once every six months, then go into deep depression when it’s rejected.
While you’re writing your manuscript, send out queries. And while the queries are circulating, write an excellent proposal. (Next time we’ll discuss the components of a proposal.) Unfortunately, it sometimes takes from three to six months to hear from any editor, so you can’t sit around waiting for just that one response. And get use to rejection letters. It’s part of the writing/publishing business.
10. Throw away all rejection letters, including those who suggest changes or editors who would like you to submit other work. After all, if the editor didn’t like your first manuscript, he/she won’t like any of your other stuff, and if you make suggested changes in anything, the manuscript won’t be “your” work anymore.
Danger! Danger! Danger! Do you want to be published or not? What are you willing to sacrifice as far as bad writing? Editors and agents know their business. If they make suggestions about your manuscript, that is a GOOD SIGN. At least, they see some potential in your writing. Take their suggestions to heart, work on improving your manuscript, and revise, revise, revise. Sooner or later you just might see these magical words: “We are pleased to inform you ….”
If you’re dead serious about being published, take my suggestions and run with them. Then let me know when your work is accepted, and I’ll rejoice with you.
Marsha
www.marshahubler.com
www.susquehannavalleywritersworkshop.wordpress.com
www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com
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