I learned how to write books via the Library Card method: I went to the library, selected twenty or thirty novels at random, took them home and read them. Still do. I don't know how many books I've read so far, but figure one trip per week X thirty years = 31,200 - 46,800 novels read.
Learning by example allows you to choose what works for you and discard what doesn't, something you can't do with more traditional educational methods. It also requires you to hunt down the examples and analyze them, but most writers are intensely interested in every aspect of the craft, so not like it's a hardship.
Ten Things for Learn-By-Example Writers
1. Meredith Bond's How to Write a Character-Based Synopsis -- Meredith breaks down her own synopsis in the article.
2. Kathy Carmichael's Articles page -- Kathy's Synopsis workshop has examples from her work and others; also the very first pitch generator I've ever seen anywhere.
3. Charlotte Dillon's Resources for Romance Writers -- Charlotte has samples of her work all over the place here.
4. Lisa Gardner's Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis
5. Lee Goldberg's Sample Scripts -- Lee shows you actual scripts he's written for the screen
6. Kristi Holl's Mystery Writing Lessons
7. Alex Keegan's Writing a Query Letter that Sells
8. Chapter 1 of Nancy Kress's Dynamic Characters
9. Holly Lisle's site has tons of examples to follow, but my personal favorite is Revising Vincalis.
10. PBW -- Practicing what I preach, today I uploaded three synopses of books I have in print (note: These were the initial pitches that sold, so the final products are all a little different.) Click here for an inspirational fiction synopsis, here for a romantic suspense synopsis, and here for a SF synopsis.
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The links to the synopsi (is that a word?) don't work.
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