Simply work through the same process, keeping only what is critical to the manuscript. Likewise, if the guidelines suggest you have a few hundred words more than your original draft, use the extra words to show off. You might even be able to weave in one of those secondary elements you had to cut from your original. Be sure to save each new copy.
Give it to friends and family. Just like you did with your manuscript, listen to feedback and be sure that your synopsis is the best it can be before you format it, ready for submission.
But when it comes to writing your synopsis, telling is absolutely fine. As best you can within the word count, find a balance between showing and telling. All writers work in different ways. Some like to plan out their novel from the beginning; others like to see where their writing can take them, with little or no planning at all.
Consider this: writing your synopsis from the very beginning, even before you write your opening scene, has two main benefits. It will already be there, a working document that will just need a bit of tweaking. Sure, your story might take you to a place you never considered when you wrote the original.
But again, you can simply rewrite the synopsis as you go. This will help you out when it comes to that all-important final kilometre. The synopsis can also assist you in multiple ways for the process of editing. A structural edit will be made easier if you can see the development of your plot and your characters just by skimming over one document. This is especially helpful in longer manuscripts. Study the layout, style and language. Look for the strengths and try to emulate them. Navigate with a critical eye.
Not all synopses posted online will be good examples. For editors on the hunt for their next project, the synopsis is the doorway to your story — the last post guarding entrance to the world that is your manuscript. Welcome them inside and give your manuscript its best chance to get published. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
This from a reader: Lately, I am seeing more requests, especially from publishers, for a one-three paragraph synopsis. Thank you. No literary agent worth their salt is going to object to a really good one-pager.
What you definitely need at or near the top of the synopsis is your pitch line. This is usually the key question, dilemma or driving force of the novel — or the heart of the novel, to put it another way. And if you know you have a great hook or a high concept, that should be your pitch line.
Some people like to include a quote from the novel: quotes can offer a glimpse of the tone of your novel as well as teasing and enticing the reader. Zink manages to introduce the main characters, a sense of peril, and a key area of conflict in a single line. This will form the bulk of your word count. You can find out how to write an expert plot summary below. In the meantime, take a look at this extract from J. Rowling splits her paragraphs into plot points.
Spell out exactly what happens at the end of your book - your synopsis is no place for a cliffhanger. Reid largely removes the sense of anguish, fear, and ultimate relief that comes with the climax and resolution of Cinderella.
Follow these steps on how to write a book synopsis to write a succinct, professional summary of your novel. If you started your book with an outline, this will come in handy here.
Using the following prompts, write one sentence for each of these points in your book:. Some writers swear by marking the timeline of the story or mapping out the events to help them stay on track. Try to keep your word count below words. This gives you leeway to fill in any extra detail later.
That said, you may not have given enough detail about their motives or personalities to make your story sing. Note down any crucial character points you need to include in your synopsis, but be frugal with the detail. Extraneous backstories are a waste of words in your synopsis, so be careful not to let your personal connection with your characters get the better of you here.
Build up your outline into a synopsis by filling in the gaps that will help the reader make the leap from one plot point to the next. If your story is solid, it will more or less tell itself at this stage - your job is to make it sound compelling.
Let it sit for a few days so you can get some distance from your work.
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