Are you prepared for the zombie apocalypse? I'm not. Shoot, I'm not even prepared to make dinner tonight. I've got more important things on my mind, like should I stick to my synopsis or deviate in a whole new direction even though I'm 2/3 of the way finished?!  Don't smirk. This is a serious crisis. 


What do you do when you suspect your storyline might be one of the living dead?


First off, don't panic. I never do. Oh, I did on the first 3 or 4 manuscripts, but now I see a pattern. I get bored with my own story. Yeah, I said that out loud. And newsflash: If the author's bored, the reader will be bored. It's a valid reason to stray from your original outline, b ut there are a few other reasons you might want to consider when deciding if you should revamp or ditch your plan altogether.


You might want to change your synopsis if:


1. You thought of a better idea for an ending.


2. A new character shows up and takes center stage.


3. You realized an angle to turn the story into a series.


4. You came across information that makes your original idea not only implausible but outright impossible. 


Remember, a synopsis written before a story is finished is really more of a guideline than a legal contract. It's okay to change things up, unless you've already got a contract on the piece. Then you'll have to clear it with an editor first.