Before Querying

kitytize · Mar 28, 2009

Few questions...

Do I need to have a full synopsis before querying or just the synopsis summary for the query?

What shall I have printed and ready to go? Or do I wait for requests and then print?

Kathleen42 · Mar 28, 2009

Can't answer on the printing. I suppose it depends on how hard it is for you to get copies made.

As for the synopsis, I'm of the opinion that you should have a full one ready. Not all agents will request one (one agent I queried requested that all queries be accompanied by one).

Writing one is not a small task and isn't the type of thing you want to be scrambling on at midnight.

dawinsor · Mar 28, 2009

I can't see an advantage to copying stuff ahead of time. Agents don't usually need the material instantly.

Besides, almost all my requests for fulls and partials came via email and asked for attachments, even if I'd sent a snail mail query.

ChaosTitan · Mar 28, 2009

The other trouble with a synopsis is that not all agents will request one of the same length. Some ask for a single page, others ask for ten-page, detailed ones.

scope · Mar 28, 2009

You don't have to have anything PRINTED and ready to go. Requests can vary widely. However, do have a complete, edited synopsis ready -- a proposal, if appropriate -- and at least the first 50 pages (minimum of the first chapter). I always complete my manuscript before I, or my agent, starts to submit, but I know that many--I think most--here don't believe that's necessary. I respect and understand where they are coming from and I have no objective reason to, and won't, disagree with them, but I won't change what's been successful for me.

Danthia · Mar 29, 2009

You'll want a synopsis ready to go (no need to print it until you send as so many want e-mail queries now). A lot of writers do multiple versions since some agents want a one-page synopsis and others want longer, three to five pagers.

Just a quick note, the query hook isn't actually a synopsis of your novel. It's more of a teaser to entice agents to want to read your book. Like cover copy that gives specific details. Often it's the inciting event, the conflict and the stakes, with a little setting tossed in for flavor. You might be doing this, but you said "synopsis summary" and that caught my eye.

Kathleen42 · Mar 29, 2009

scope said:
You don't have to have anything PRINTED and ready to go. Requests can vary widely. However, do have a complete, edited synopsis ready -- a proposal, if appropriate -- and at least the first 50 pages (minimum of the first chapter).

Yes, sorry, I should have clarified. I meant have the synopsis written, not printed. Though some agents will have specific requirements, I would still have a base one ready that you can use for agents who ask for one without specifying a length.

scope said:
I always complete my manuscript before I, or my agent, starts to submit, but I know that many--I think most--here don't believe that's necessary. I respect and understand where they are coming from and I have no objective reason to, and won't, disagree with them, but I won't change what's been successful for me.

I'm guessing from the nature of the question, that the OP is unpublished and trying to get an agent. Though there is debate about the necessity of published authors having a completed MS, most are in the camp that unpublished authors should have a completed ms before querying agents.

scope · Mar 29, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
I'm guessing from the nature of the question, that the OP is unpublished and trying to get an agent. Though there is debate about the necessity of published authors having a completed MS, most are in the camp that unpublished authors should have a completed ms before querying agents.

I agree, for many reasons, not the least of which is that unpublished writers really don't know if they can complete a ms and/or or do so in the amount of time required by an agent/editor.

kitytize · Mar 29, 2009

Yes, I'm unpublished. My novel is complete. I have revised it and am currently working on editing it. I thought while I worked on editing I would also work on the query letter and synopsis. But I'm confused at what agents want in a synopsis.

Kathleen42 · Mar 29, 2009

kitytize said:
Yes, I'm unpublished. My novel is complete. I have revised it and am currently working on editing it. I thought while I worked on editing I would also work on the query letter and synopsis. But I'm confused at what agents want in a synopsis.

Some agents will request different things. The two agents I queried who asked for it upfront didn't specify. There's a pretty good sticky on the synopsis on the SYW forum. I also found Nathan Bransford's post on it helpful.

Before Querying

kitytize

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

ChaosTitan

Around

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Danthia

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

kitytize

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters