Much like my haircuts, this is a blog post that I have put off for quite a long time. How to write a synopsis. It's like my own personal kryptonite. I've been meaning to post about this for such a long time, but then I'd think, "How in the world am I supposed to give advice on how to write a synopsis? Ohh! I know! I can write about The Hills instead!!"
But I shall put it off no longer. Today's post will be about how to write a synopsis.
I'm starting now. I can do this.
I mean it. I'm going to do it.
Starting now.
Ok, really starting now.
The reason for my recalcitrance is that there's really no one way to write a synopsis. Everyone has a different idea of what a synopsis should entail, how long it should be, whether it should be single- or double-spaced, whether it should include all of the plot or just the really important stuff... I mean, how I can even begin to summarize this and offer any advice is frankly beyond me.
But here is the thing to know about synopses: A synopsis is not an opportunity to talk about every single character and every single plot point in a "and then this happened and then this happened" fashion. A synopsis needs to do two things: 1) it needs to cover all of the major characters and major plot points (including the ending) and 2) it needs to make the work come alive. If your synopsis reads like "and then this happened and then this happened" and it's confusing and dull, well, you might want to revise that baby.
A good place to start for a model on how to write a good synopsis is to mimic book cover copy, only also include in the synopsis what happens in the end. The blurbs on flap jackets and on the back of paperbacks are usually good synopses -- they're a hybrid of plot points but with a bigger sense of what makes the book unique and interesting (although discard the stuff in cover copy that talks about the author -- that doesn't go in a synopsis). You want to strike a balance in the synopsis between covering the plot and characters, but also conveying the spirit and tone of the book and smoothing over gaps between the major plot points you describe.
So in the synopsis, you definitely want to capture how the novel begins and the hook and include all of the major climaxes and the big climax at the end. Between those points introduce major characters and their relationships, and make sure you're conveying the core of the conflicts between all of these elements. But then, rather than just filling in with more and more plot and more and more characters, connect the dots between them with your own summarizing, in order to make the synopsis easy to read and compelling on its own.
Easier said than done, I know. Synopses are tough. Like mosquitoes (my war against them is going better, btw).
How long should a synopsis be? Unless the agent specifies otherwise or you have found better synopsis-writing advice elsewhere (the odds of that are pretty good, frankly), I'd shoot for two to three pages, double-spaced. If it's longer or shorter than that I don't think anyone is going to be angry, but that should be enough to do what you need to do.
So there you have it. It's done. I did it. Thank goodness. Now about that haircut I've been putting off...
Thursday, August 30, 2007
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79 comments:
First, two days in a row? Crazy!!!
Nathan, question: Do we need to have the same kind of tone (voice?) in a synopsis as in the novel itself? Or do you want it to be very bare bones, factual, fluid and precise?
I ask because some jacket copy has the same tone as the novel.
I'd love it if agents never asked for a synopsis. But, my next project is going to be written backwards. Query and synopsis, then novel. I figure it's worth a try.
And the haircut thing- you could always try the semi-annual approach. It works for me and the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka....
I think it's more about conveying the "spirit" of the novel rather than the "tone" of the novel. The synopsis doesn't need to sound like the novel and shouldn't, say, be in the voice of the narrator, but it does need to convey what makes the novel unique.
I like to start a synopsis with a short (very short)quote from the book. This gives a hint of the writing style as well as lead into the synopsis proper.
It's worked well so far.
Do you know of links to a good synopsis example? Could you post one you liked?
Do you recommend starting with a hook line, Nathan, like in a query? And should the hook line be more a summary line or something that launches the action? (If you say it should do both, I'm going to sic some skeeters on ya!)
ss@s-
Whatever works. Sorry that's annoingly vague advice, but there are any number of ways to lead off, and it all depends on how effective it is, not the strategy involved.
I'm still new to writing and am trying to understand the process to getting published.
Where does the synopsis fit in the process to getting published?
Does it get included with the query letter or do you request it after you receive a query?
burgy61-
Some agents will ask for one along with a manuscript, or they'll ask for a query and a synopsis. Or a publisher might want one later on down the line.
I don't ask for one unless I absolutely need it because I know they're a complete pain to write.
Ah, serendipity. I happen to be struggling with the synopsis beast at this very moment. I've been making blog posts comparing my hatred of synopses with my hatred of gardening, and it's been a close race between the two, even when you take into account being attacked by ants.
Anyway, Nathan, could I ask you to clarify one point? People often talk about synopses in pages rather than word counts. My current draft of my synopsis if four pages using Courier 12pt double spaced, with the usual margins. If I change it to Times, it's three pages. It's about 850 words. Is there a ballpark word count to shoot for, rather than number of pages?
My hook/query for this novel has been a doddle because it's a strong premise (if I may say so myself) and I can pretty much nail it in a sentence or two, but the synopsis is still proving to be difficult. It's so hard to judge what to leave in and take out.
Nathan, earlier you posted what you thought were good query letters. Could you do the same for a synopsis?
Conduit-
I'm a Times New Roman guy, so I'd shoot for 3-4 pages double spaced TNR. Whatever word count that works out to is fine -- it sounds like you're in the ballpark.
topher1961-
I would like to, however I can't really share a synopsis from a client, because that sort of thing is confidential, and I haven't come across one online that I would recommend. So I don't think I'll be able to.
Many thanks on this one, Nathan. Unlike the query letter, it has been difficult for me to find consistent information on writing a synopsis. There are many different opinions out there. But a new author has to start somewhere and should have something prepared.
What is (approximately) the longest synopsis an author would be asked to produce?
Thanks.
I was thrilled to see the topic, as this has long been a particular blind spot of mine.
I was equally impressed by your explanation.
But then I had the "Uhm, weren't we supposed to do that jacket copy thing in the query letter moment.
Now I'm confused again.
Sometimes you'll see an agent who specifies a Chapter Synopsis. That I can handle. But I'm to the point of confusion nowadays where if I see "synopsis" I just click on to the next agent.
Thanks anyway.
I'm with Dwight there, I admit. I've decided not to query an agent because a synopsis was part of the submission. I have to get over that.
Apologies for getting off topic, but I have another question that I haven't found in Internet digging-
After being rejected by one agent, is it alright to query someone else at the same agency?
(preferably an agent who does not want a synopsis...?)
Ug, I'd rather have root canal than write a synopsis. The only nice thing I can say is it's easier and less painful than childbirth.
Heidi-
Yes it's fine to re-query another agent, although I'd wait a month to six weeks. You never know who is sharing assistants, and you don't want to give the impression that you're querying everyone in the business at once.
Coincidentally I spent today working on a synopsis, too.
And while trying to cram 400 pages of story into the 2 pages one agent has asked for, it struck me that maybe the reason I am seeing so many thin plots in genre books lately is that they are being sold off of synopses alone and there is NO way you can adequately describe even the bones of a well plotted character-driven book in 3 pages. A movie, yes. But not a 100,000 word novel.
My understanding was that the point of the synopsis was to give an agent or editor a vague idea about what your book is about. But to ask that the synopsis be an entertaining document on its own--in 2-4 pages while doing all the things you list, and rejecting books because the synopsis isn't a good read seems like a great way to end up missing out on books that really are books, not fleshed out screenplays.
Fair enough, Nathan. I think clarity is the hardest bit anyway.
My synopses look quite a lot like my queries, and they've done all right on getting my book read.
One point: Heidi said something about writing a query and synopsis first, before writing the book. She meant it sort of tongue in cheek, I think. Actually, that's very much my process. I write a character analysis for each character and a complete, fairly detailed synopsis before I write a book or short story, just to know where I'm headed. I try to use good writing, even though I'm the only person who sees these rough drafts, because then I can cull from them while writing a selling synopsis.
A synopsis really proves to me where my logic fails and also what works. I also spot check myself with queries occassionally. Queries tell me if the premise sounds interesting at all.
Just my process, probably not right for everyone, but I think better while writing prose so outlining doesn't work for me.
On the backwards front, I'm planning on writing the hook before I tackle draft 3 of the novel. Maybe a synopsis as well. If for no other reason than to be able to provide, for my crit group, a sense of what the book is about so I don't get into the occasional this is my book dammit moments about where the plot is going (although the crit group member who kept wanting to mold everyone else's writing into her vision has since left).
actually I meant it for real when I said I'm writing the query and synopsis first this time. And...I'm glad to hear that somebody else works this way! I've always been what I've recently discovered is termed a Pantser. Write by the seat of my pants. It's fine, it works, but it's too easy to get off track. I've rewritten my latest piece of work more than I care to admit!!!
I figured out this year that I'm going to have to write a query whether I want to or not, and likely a synopsis too. Why not just get it over with? In truth, even though I haven't technically started my next project(s) I have a notebook full of great notes. I won't get sidetracked (I hope) or find myself wondering after the first draft what the heck it's really all about.
I'm actually getting kind of excited about this. Hmm...I think I'll bark the kids into bed and run a dishcloth over the kitchen and get back to work...
Nathan 'gets it' - why go through all of that work at the outset - everyone (agents) wants something different anyway. Jenny nailed it - lots of books will get skipped over because of the required 'brevity'.(It's like using an old pay phone without having enough change for the whole conversation.) Dwight - I'm with you - I wouldn't send a synopsis at the very start either. Some of the 'requirements" are just roadblocks used as a means to weed out via discouragement. I'm not giving up my beach time so I can work to spoon feed a story to someone who 'may call - if we're interested - in 4 to 6 months'. Heidi - check the vegetable drawer.
When I wrote my first synopsis, it was painful because I had to leave so much "important" stuff out. But by the time I'd written a one-paragraph synopsis and a one-sentence synopsis, having 1-3 pages felt like a luxury.
You didn't say much about style. My understanding is that a synopsis should always be in present tense.
I also found it easier when I decided to focus on character rather than plot. The most important plot points come out when you talk about the character's trials, tribulations, and development.
Not that I'm any kind of an expert. Could be my synopsis is as bad or worse than anybody else's.
Add me to the 'working on a synopsis now' crowd-- I'm trying to psych myself up to do battle with the hideous beast. The duel will be met tomorrow at noon.
And yes, it's that bad. My current draft makes Baby Jesus cry.
I'm doing the 'backwards' thing on my new project as well-- when I was trying to pick among the various ideas I had on the backburner, I wrote a query letter for each and went with the one that prompted the best one. Now I'm trying to do a synopsis of it, then an outline, then the book. And then, of course, I'll have to go and rewrite the query, synopsis, and outline to accommodate the massive changes that will undoubtedly sneak their way in.
Thanks, this is very educational.
Some comments hint at queries being rejected because of the synopsis.
Nathan, would you dismiss a query based on a dull, confusing synopsis? If the query letter is good, and the sample pages are fine, can the synopsis be the dealbreaker?
P.S. At least the Kings tied up K.Martin for a reasonable price, right?
www.lisagardner.com
Click on tricks of the trade.
She has a course on synopsis writing.
Long, short, character driven or plot driven.
I read it again before I write a synopsis. I find it fill in the blank easy. Then I hash it out to hae the spirit of the novel.
Still, I don't enjoy writing them.
cmr
Heidi, I'm doing just that, writing my query and synopsis first - it's really helped clarify my characters' GMC, and plot structure.
Some of my writer buddies think I'm nuts for doing it this way, but, hey, whatever works, right?
I highly recommend taking a synopsis writing workshop with Laurie Schnebly Campbell.
http://www.writeruniv.com/
The good news is, it will make syn. writing 1000x's easier; the bad news is that the workshop ends today, and won't be offered again till this time next year.
Nathan, thanks for the pointers! You have confirmed everything I learned in the workshop.
I find it much easier to write the synopsis before I write the book because I don't get bogged down in the details. But I still hate sending a synopsis to an agent.
Once you get to the point of selling on proposal, you'll need to be able to write the synopsis first. Otherwise, you'll have to write the entire book before selling it.
But the publisher doesn't expect you to stick to every word of the synopsis. Which is good because I don't even plot out my book before I write the synopsis.
I think maybe it's easier to to look to the movies for guidance. In Britain, anyway, not only are the trailers often better than the actual film, the ADS are often better than the films. (Stella Artois, Haagen Dazs, Levis' Stone-washed Jeans, Carling Black Label all had brilliant ads.) Strangely, audiences who lap up these brilliant trailers and ads would never in a million years turn up for a season of short films... In other words, the synopsis should not aspire to do justice to the book; it should do what a good trailer does, make people want to read the book.
I just checked out Lisa Gardner's site and the synopsis section was brilliant. I've arleady managed to distill my main plot down to a handful of points, which will make the synopsis much easier to write.
I'm not looking forwards to it, but I need to get it written.v
Aargh, it's utterly mind-boggling how long it takes me to condense a novel into a couple of pages. Too bad we writers don't get paid by the hour . . .
Oh, this is great! I'm working on mine right now too. Sort of in the stewing stages.
I've come to the conclusion that writing up a synopsis before the novel is the best approach. One of my mentors has a method that's pretty well known among my spec friends: The Snowflake Method
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
It's the backwords method, so to speak, but really explained in detail. And it works really well if your in the middle of a project and you're stuck on plot--this gets you focused again.
Synopsis is the debil! :(
Hello,
Well I have my entire manuscript, I painstakingly wrote my synopsis
(thank you for the tips, by the way), my question now is, how do I go about finding an agent/editor/publisher?
So I thought, why not just go with the flow and ask the a question or two since some are indeed bothering me.
Nathan -
Genre descriptions. I have read your examples on great query letters and come to the conclusion that they do explain what the story is about, but never say EXACTLY what genre it is. Now, everywhere I've read so far it says that one of course has to figure out the genre. I admit, voluntarily, that this is killing me. Why, you may ask (or maybe not, but I've now made you ask nevertheless) and I will tell you: There is N-O help to find online. At least it seems so forever hopeless to look for sites that will help clarify the genre. I've only found one, which did not explain too many genres and I must admit I am terribly stuck on the whole "Umbrella"-koncept, taking quite a few genres under my wings.
So, what I was wondering was if you know any websites (any websites at all) that could perhaps clarify the genres a bit for me? It would probably save my day and I would be forever grateful.
The second question is more of a sub-question, existing only because I was wondering how publishing houses feel about authors sending material though they are not English? I mean - My first language is not English, which I suppose my writings could suffer from (though I will be seeking the guidance of a much more qualified person in Dk before sending it to the UK). Sometimes I just fear that more or less everything might be against me (on this one any way), due to my rather young(?) age and the Danish nationality - but maybe that's just me being silly? I don't know. However -
If you have any sites on genre descriptions? (:
Nathan,
I just want to ask is it possible to publish a book in USA although author lives in another country and if he has to translate book into English?
Thanks.
P.S.
Sorry for my English
Do you have any advice on how to write a synopsis or brief outline of events for a memoir?
thanks for posting this blog.. this really helps for those who are into synopsis writing.
So pretty much a sale pitch. Letting you know who is in it what to expect without giving it away. Naming names, the whose who of the book.
Really 2 to 3 pages long?
Hi Nathan, would you entertain a synopsis by me? Well, it's a novel, a chinese box, tales within tales...somewhat like Canterbury Tales...portraying a certain theme, and a lesson to an eavesdropper in the book.
I am based in Delhi, India. Tell me if your favour awaits me!
Bye.
vickydun@gmail.com
Thanks Nathan for providing the much needed advice. One question about the synopsis: What if the work is a children’s picture book and the entire story is about 3 to 4 pages? When the agent asks for a synopsis, is it ok for the author to send the entire story instead?
Thank you! I thought my confusion over this synopsis thing was just me being a flake. I totally understand now.
Okay, sorry, I've got to share my mind here because I wrote about twelve different synopses at various different lengths. I had a real problem with this endeavor. In my writing community someone told me that they took a class on how to write a synopsis and said that it's basically akin to writing a report on the book. You only want to mention your MAIN characters- 3 or 4 of the most important. Hit major plot points, but save your details for the ending of the book which is what agents want to read the most about. I took this advice to heart, and when I rewrote my synopsis I was amazed with myself. It came out better than all its predicesors and I'm very happy with the out come. I have a hard time keeping my words to a minimum and writing a two page piece on a whole book has never been my thing, but this system worked for me.
Now the trick is to shrink it into two or three sentences for an outstanding query...
Justine
Ok, quick question... and I know there are a lot of posts on this so I hope you still answer this even though it may be comment # 1,000 or something. What do you do in the synopsis if the manuscript sort of ends on a... um... a suspesnful note? I'm writing a series here, and my first book doesn't really have a solid ending because I want the reader to go on to the next book. Is that a good thing or not? And what do you do synopsis-wise with a book like that?
To Nichole,
Look, I don't know how other people feel, but I too am writting a series and thought that a cliff hanger would be a good way to draw other readers into the next book. Then I did some research, asked other writers thier thoughts on the matter and it all boiled down to a "NO CLIFFHANGERS!!" Finish your anti-climax. The main reason for this is people now a days need closure. If they have to wait a year to finish that suspenseful note, they'll become bitter and not want to go there in fear that you'll leave them hanging again.
What really made my decision for me is the "write what you want to read" rule. When I read through my ending I thought to myself... "would I be happy with this if I had to wait a year or more for the next book?" My answer was "No way." Maybe you should ask yourself that same question?
Sorry, just trying to be helpful.
Justine
I am in the process of writing a novel, i wrote a synopsis of sorts before i began. It has the main aspects of the story and my aims for how i want the character of the material to come across.
Would this summary be sufficeint to send to agents as a synopsis provided i stick with the main flow?
LOL - you're freakin hilarious, Nathan. Love seeing someone in the business with a sense of humor.
I know I'm late on this, but I'll say anyway - synopsis writing is not difficult if you write a chapter outline first. Yes, a chapter outline for fiction.
When you're finished the first draft, read through it, and while editing and revising, write a brief chapter outline. Every chapter should have special points that move the story forward. It's those points you want for your synopsis.
The most important thing though is don't go into it thinking you can't do it; it's just a different kind of writing, a different muscle, and the more you use it, the stronger it will get. Cross training for writing, drafting/original writing, editing/revising/etc, each requires a different muscle.
Am I a great synopsis writer? Absolutely not, but I do them for every book, requested or not, and I enjoy that grunt work because in doing it, I get a different perspective of the book, see what can be removed, and what needs filling it, and when I'm through, that particular muscle is stronger, and that feels good.
Don't fear it! Just do it. :-)
Leighah
Good comments
I don't mean to be "that guy," but this blog is a near complete plagiarism of an author on another site. Based on the date given by both, it's Nathan who is doing the plagiarizing since this blog is dated 2007 and the "original" is 2002. Not everything in it is the same but large chunks are word for word carbon copies. It's not even that hard to find the original. All you have to do is google "how to write a synopsis" and the original article should appear higher on the results list than this.
anon-
Take off the tinfoil hat, my friend.
Mine is a flash fiction collection and though most stories are dark or dark humoured, there are other kinds of stories too. Do I HAVE to beat a theme out of it in the synopsis?
Nathan,
Do you mean "Much like my haircuts, this is a blog post that I have put off for quite a long time." or do you mean "This is a blog post that I have put off for quite a long time, much like my haircuts"?
Hi Nathan;
Is it totally bush league or is it sort of technically appropriate to use the word 'protagonist' in the synopsis? In other words, if I write, "We find the protagonist sitting on a log with a broken ankle..." will the agent be put off, or is the synopsis an acceptable time to speak in plain terms?
anon-
I think using the second person is more problematic than using the word "protagonist." But why not just use the character's name?
But ultimately: if it works it works.
So my situation is that I've got 5 short murder mysteries that I have to write a synopsis for. I have already written "teasers" as I call them, for the covers (I'm currently publishing them by hand at the moment). Can I use these as my synopses? And if not, do I need to get into so much detail of the plot that I reveal the murderers? Thanks!
Most writers don't like to write synopsis', so I must be in the minority. I simply scribble a phrase/sentence summarizing each chapter during a read through(a chapter that doesn't have a main idea or purpose probably can be deleted). I line up the ideas, throwing out those that are unnecessary details, to keep it succint. Then, I add transitions, make a few tweeks, and end up with a synopsis. I hope this helps someone as I know I've been helped many times!
http://www.kathycarmichael.com/fasteasy.html
it's about fantasy, but it works
adamsjp007@yahoo.com
Hello Nathan
Can a synopsis for a short story collection also mimic the jacket cover form, i.e., discussion of overall theme of the collection, brief description of individual stories' characters and conflicts, etc.? Should every story have a sentence or two?
My problem is complicated by the fact that my pieces are short-shorts, some of them less than 200 words long. Hmmm...
Thanks, Zpooka
zpooka-
Yeah, just a brief description of each story would be fine.
Cut that hair, hippie! <3
Hi,
If the novel has a sketch [of location], is it advisable to attach that as part of synopsis?
Thanks,
Thank you for this post. Very helpful info.
Nathan...firstly thank google I found you after trawling through numerous articles on the subject of writing a synopsis, only to be left confused and a little frustrated.
But I have a question.
Obviously youre an agent, so the question is, does a synopsis differ if one is sending it to a publisher directly, rather than an agent?
Hi Nathan!
Some agents ask for a query, synopsis and the first few pages of a MS when you query them.
At the risk of sounding redundant, why would an agent want a synopsis on top of the query initially?
I understand that a synopsis should be two to three pages long, and cover the entire book. Does it not undermine the importance of writing a catchy query?
What's your point of view on requesting a synopsis right off the bat?
Chris Redding, Thanks for posting about lisagarner.com. Extremely helpful!
Nathan, Thanks for covering this topic.
Nathan, thanks for the info. I am writing my synopsis now and it really is a pain in the posterior. Do you have any insight on how to approach the matter if the book is written form three different points of views?
Thanks,
Kareena
Hey, the article seems to me very useful because I often have to write a synopsis and every time I’m puzzled about starting or and with a definite structure. I’m often forced to use custom writing In order to have everything done properly.
This is a months-late reply to Joan, based on what I've read on various agent blogs.
Agents request a synopsis on top of a query because the query is a blurb that's meant to entice. The synopsis (which, yes, DOES have to reveal the murderer/secret plot twist/what have you) is to demonstrate to the agent that you haven't taken this really cool idea and completely gone off the rails somewhere around page 100.
It shows the agent you have a plot, complications, hooks that keep the reader going, and a satisfying conclusion without them having to take the hours and hours to read through your entire manuscript.
NATHAN:
YOU ARE AMAZING ALL THE INSIGHTS YOU GIVE IS SO USEFUL TO WRITERS, THE QUERY LETTER HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR ME MAINLY BECAUSE I AM HAVE TO DO A LOT OF CONVINCING WHY MY YOUNG ADULT/VAMPIRE NOVEL WILL BE A TWIST WITHIN THE OVERWHELMING MARKET. I JUST STARTED SENDING QUERIES SO I THINK WHY I MESSED UP IS 1.EITHER I HAD ANXIETY OR CRAZY ADRENALIN THAT MADE ME SEND MY QUERY WHEN IT WASN'T IN IT'S PRIME. 2. PERHAPS BOTH I APPRECIATED YOUR REJECTION BECAUSE IT ENABLED ME TO REALIZE MY MIXTAKE AND I DID NOT FEEL BADLY YOUR COMMENT MADE ME FEEL THAT OUT IN THE VAST WORLD OF AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER. I TOOK A FEW DAYS AND REFLECTED ON MY QUERY AND I LOOK AT MY ASPIRATION TO GETTING PUBLISHED LIKE A JOB I AM DYING TO GET SO I HAVE TO REALLY SELL THAT I KNOW THE MARKET I AM WRITING ABOUT; I AM CONFIDENT ABOUT MY NOVEL; EDITING, EDITING...AND MORE EDITING BEFORE SENDING MY QUERY LETTER.
THE SYNOPSIS WAS MUCH EASIER THAN THE QUERY LETTER I GUESS BECAUSE I ENJOY WRITING LONGER PIECES OF WORK AND I BOLDED THE MAIN CHARACTERS NAMES, GAVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEM AND USED THE LAST QUOTE OF THE ENDING OF MY NOVEL-- IT SOUNDS AWSOME, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES FOR ME TO GET A AGENT I LOVE THIS PROCESS LEARNING/RE-WRITING AND NETWORKING WITH OTHER ASPIRING WRITERS AND THE AWESOME SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY.
Great post as usual, thank you for writing all this informative content on a regular basis.
I have to ask this because it's been driving me crazy for the last couple of months: how do a synopsis and a proposal differ? And how exactly does one write a good proposal for fiction? I've been searching online for examples, but most of what I come up with are proposals for nonfiction. Any words of advice?
star-dreamer-
A synopsis is just a synopsis - it's just a summary of the plot of the novel. Proposals typically include more than just a plot summary and usually include a synopsis.
Proposals for fiction vary, but are usually mainly comprised of a synopsis and sample chapters.
Hahaha......Nathan, if you think the mosquitoes are bad there, you should see them in Oklahoma. They multiply quickly in the pond out back.
My partner and I have worked on getting his book published for weeks now and since you declined our Query, I am now having to write a synopisis to another agency...(thanks) LOL......I like you though because you aren't stuffy like some agents seem to be.
Thank you for your enlightment on how to do this....I will be thinking of you while I am writing....
Best of luck with your haircuts,
Dawn
Hahahaa Nathan, if you think the mosquitoes are bad there, you should visit Oklahoma where I live....they seem to miltiply quickly in the pond out back.
My Partner and I have been tirelessly working for three weeks trying to get his book published. You turned down our Query so now I am seeking a new agent that wants a synopisis. I will be thinking of you while writing this....thanks...lol....
But seriously, thank you for your input. I like you because you aren't stuffy like some agents seem to be.
Good luck with the haircut,
Dawn
What do you suggest in a synopsis for a true adventure/inspirational story? Do the same guidelines hold true or would you suggest something different?
Thanks.
Thank you for what you said about length on the synopsis. I've read books that say a synopsis should absolutely not be more than a page long. How can you tell the story with only one page? This blog definitely takes some of the nerves out for me.
Do you have any website that has examples of a good synopsis? I believe this is one of the most important part when submitting a book. Good information though. Thanks!
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