Slice and Dice

[Bryan James]

Simon & Schuster for the plot synopsis for Under the Dome. Here's your first peek at the story line:

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener’s hand is severed as “the dome” comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when—or if—it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens—town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician’s assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing—even murder—to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn’t just short. It’s running out.

My only question is...who wrote THAT?

I hate to critique. One man's trash is another man's treasure...but come on!

“Entirely normal, beautiful? Inexplicably and suddenly?”

It's just my opinion, but I hate to read a press release "synopsis" like that about one of my favorite author's upcoming books.

BJS

[Moderator]

That's S&S's copy and for now is the official plot synopsis for public release. After the book comes out, we may change it to read more like a synopsis and less like ad copy.

[jackson992]

I guess I didn't see anything wrong with it?

[Bryan James]

One fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, something unexplainable happened.

A translucent field of...something...slipped down over the town and completely sealed it off from the rest of the world.

Nothing at all could get through. No radio. No telephone signals…and no fresh air.

Families were separated…and an Elder Matron of the Holy Council maintained a long-rehearsed sermon for a full six seconds before she realized that her Bible had hit the ground along with both of her hands. All three were on the other side of the Dome.

The Dome cut fast. The Dome cut clean.

The Dome was impenetrable.

BJS

P.S. I was going to have The Dome divide a strange model Buick that doesn't exist, but I just jammed it out. It would kind have been cool to have Ted Braughtigan cut free...oh let's not go there.

I didn't talk about the main characters mentioned...THE DOME is the Mainest of characters.

I complained about the press release, so I can't just hide in a glass house (although I know a whole poot of a lot less than the synopsis writer).

[Matthew.Degnan]

I agree, but for now it will do, I think Under the Dome sounds fantastic!

[kjyoung]

I have to agree with Bryan on the "synopsis". I suppose I find it unacceptable based on some I have submitted with queries of my own work that were rejected. If S&S think what they have there is a "good" synopsis, then I'm making a note to myself to send my next work off to them for publication. I should be picked up for sure based on that display.

-k

[Bryan James]

I have to agree with Bryan on the "synopsis". I suppose I find it unacceptable based on some I have submitted with queries of my own work that were rejected. If S&S think what they have there is a "good" synopsis, then I'm making a note to myself to send my next work off to them for publication. I should be picked up for sure based on that display.

-k

Thanks for that support, KJYoung, but I'd bet that their acceptance rates have different standards than their aversion to "smash something together" synopses for writers who sell by name alone.

King's NEXT big book (if he wants to pull a double-triple-lindy-reverse-Bachman) should just have "King" at the top. Big font. Then the title. Fifty percent font. In his position I'd go Black and White, with NOTHING else on the cover.

Talk about sticking out in an international airport?

The man's an industry. His new "Big Book" deserved a better press synopsis...even a minimal one or NONE would have been better than the S&S. Or maybe it's a crummy book, I dunno.

BJS

[kjyoung]

Agreed, and hence the slight sarcasm in my previous post. I have no doubt whatsoever that S&Ss acceptance/rejection criteria would be different . After a couple years worth of querying, I'd say most publishers have different criteria even for "seasoned" versus "n00b" writers. *sigh* Such is life.

-k