This is a short synopsis (summary) of my memoir that I wrote for my author page on NaNoWriMo 2018. It is written in the third person, present tense just for the synopsis, but my memoir is written in the first person, past tense as most memoirs are. I will change my synopsis and improve it before I send it in to agents etc.
Would you be interested in reading this story from this description? Does it sound interesting to you?
If you have any advice, I welcome, encourage and appreciate any and all feedback, good or bad.
Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for your feedback. I need all the help I can get and more.
NO MORE SHAME
Rising Above the Stigma of Mental Illness, Suicide Attempts and Addiction
Written by Susan Walz
Attempting to die by suicide and choosing to say goodbye on social media is both a blessing and a curse. Saying goodbye on social media saved her life, but now she must recover from the embarrassment, shame and destruction from a suicide attempt with the extra burden of the world watching her.
While she recovers from severe depression and Klonopin addiction that almost cost her to lose her life more than once, she must also survive severe withdrawal symptoms after being forced off Klonopin cold turkey after nearly twenty years of overuse and misuse of the powerful Benzodiazepine. Right before her near lethal attempt and during her stay in two psychiatric hospitals and while recovering at home, she openly and honestly relives the events that led her to such a dark, lonely and hopeless point in her life that she believed ending her life was her only option.
It all began in an abusive and dysfunctional childhood home and worsened after being diagnosed with postpartum depression after giving birth to her first child. Soon she was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD. Once she obtained her mental illness diagnoses, the negative labels, stigma related experiences and many losses in her life accumulated astronomically.
The never-ending, revolving combination cocktail of psychotropic medications, repeated psychiatric hospital stays, electroconvulsive therapy treatments and many life altering events consume her life. There seems to be no way out from the continued destruction, pain, and loneliness until one day a small flicker of hope ignites her spark to keep living, to keep fighting and to find a way out of the darkness.
This is an inspirational story that will encourage you to never give up. Her journey shows you that it is possible to overcome any obstacle in your way. Survival, recovery, mental wellness and happiness are possible. She is living proof of that.
"You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise." ~Maya Angelou
Copyright ©2018 Susan Walz | myloubipolarwhipsers.com | All Rights Reserved
My Loud Whispers of Hope 
It’s a good summary. But I think the summary would be more grabbing if it’s in first person POV. Third person made me feel a certain detachment from it. That’s just my opinion though. Good luck and congratulations in finishing writing your memoir 🙂
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Thank you. That’s great feedback. This is just a synopsis for Nanowrimo that goes on your author page. My memoir is written in first person.
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Just an FYI… a synopsis is written in third person, present tense, regardless of what POV or tense the book is written in. I just recently learned that myself as I am learning as I go. Thank you very much for your feedback as I am going to make my real synopsis better. So, I appreciate any and all feedback for sure. I need all the help I can get.
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Oh I see… I guess there’s always something new to learn about everyday. Thanks for the heads up.
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You are very welcome. Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. It is good to know you lost your attention a little. I need to be aware of these things. I appreciate it. Everything helps. Much love and hugs, Sue
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You’ve got lots of great descriptive words in the summary. Depending on what you’ll be using it for it might be a little on the long side, and I think you could trim out some of the descriptive words and still have the same emotional effect.
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Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it greatly. This is just a synopsis for Nanowrimo that you put on your author page for Nanowrimo.
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I’ve been working on writing better using more descriptions etc. I know a real synopsis should be very short, concise and to the point.
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You did very well with the descriptions
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Thank you. I’m trying to write my memoir like it could be a fiction novel. The only difference is it is all true. My memoir will be written in first person though of course.
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Oh that’s a really interesting approach
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I’m not a great writer but have been learning as I go. I just have a story to tell and now I’m trying to write it well.
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And that’s what really matters.
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Yes I think so. Thanks for always reading and for your always great insight. I appreciate you.
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❤️
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Congratulations and keep writing. If this is your memoir, it’s good to keep it written in the first person. I’m excited for you as you make your edits and continue to write. 🙂
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Thank you. Yes. I agree. My memoir is written in the first person. I just wrote my synopsis like this for NaNoWriMo’s author page. I wrote my memoir in the first person and have been writing it as much as possible to read like a fictional novel even though all of it is true and is my story.
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Ohhhh, that’s interesting. Just in case you decide to not make it a memoir? Thats an interesting way to write it. And yes, that makes total sense about it being a synopsis for a author page. I thought it was your books intro. 😊
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I’m going to make it a memoir but am hoping it will read like a novel. I want it to be a good read besides it being inspirational and educational etc. I’m just trying to learn how to be a better writer.
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Just an FYI… a synopsis is written in third person, present tense, regardless of what POV or tense the book is written in. I just recently learned that myself as I am learning as I go. Thank you very much for your feedback as I am going to make my real synopsis better. So, I appreciate any and all feedback for sure. I need all the help I can get.
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Yeah, that makes total sense as a synopsis to describe the book. For some reason, I thought it was your books intro. I must have been in excited I want to read your book mode. 😊
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Thank you. I might add the beginning soon to see what people think. I know my story would make a great memoir, but I am not sure if I will tell my story well. I’m trying my best…
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I absolutely loved it! A great summary! I’d read it!
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Thank you Carol Anne. I also posted the first draft of my memoir today. Please read if and when you have time. Thanks in advance. Much love and hugs, Sue
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Thanks i sure will read it 😙
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