Suspension of belief in a synopsis?

Julie Worth · Jul 27, 2005

Suspension of (dis)belief in a synopsis?

I just had a publisher reject a thriller after reading the synopsis, saying she was not able to “suspend belief” [sic]. Now, I wasn’t aware that you had to suspend belief (or disbelief) while reading a synopsis. Especially with thrillers, where plot elements are supposed to be outlandish. Was she off base?

SLake · Jul 27, 2005

Suspend this!

Welcome to the weird and wacky world of submission editors!

To my understanding, the creature meant, 'unable to believe the story could actually happen,' or believe whatever you had written about your work -- apologies for stating the obvious, but at least you were given a comment, which in my estimation is constructive, even if you consider that comment to be way off base with your understanding of what synopsis should constitute.'

Around the Net and here, you can find many suggestions on how to write synopsis,' even by editors and agents themselves. Not surprisingly, the advice varies.
But basically if it sounds excitingly saleable (and agrees with whatever seasonal fetish they think is in vogue) they'll buy it, that's how it works.

Easy, eh?

Jamesaritchie · Jul 27, 2005

Julie Worth said:
I just had a publisher reject a thriller after reading the synopsis, saying she was not able to “suspend belief”. Now, I wasn’t aware that you had to suspend belief while reading a synopsis. Especially with thrillers, where plot elements are supposed to be outlandish. Was she off base?

I don't think "outlandish" is a good word to describe thriller plot elements. I read a lot of thrillers, and the last thing I want is an outlandish plot. I have to believe it every step of the way, else the books loses me completely.

I wouldn't want to read a synopsis and think, "I just don't believe this."

maestrowork · Jul 27, 2005

Like in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons... they were able to fly from Boston to Geneva in 1 hour... unbelievable. If the story is full of stuff like that, it would be difficult for me to suspend my disbelief.

Julie Worth · Jul 28, 2005

Jamesaritchie said:
I don't think "outlandish" is a good word to describe thriller plot elements. I read a lot of thrillers, and the last thing I want is an outlandish plot. I have to believe it every step of the way, else the books loses me completely.

I wouldn't want to read a synopsis and think, "I just don't believe this."

That's just it. If you read the MS, it's believable, but if you condense it down, it might not be. If you condense anything enough, it can seem unreal. So it's just unfair to hold a synopsis to the same standard as you would a novel.

brinkett · Jul 28, 2005

If the novel is believable but the synopsis isn't, you're probably leaving something vital out of the synopsis.

icerose · Jul 28, 2005

I say post your synopsis so we have something to work with. Someone might be able to identify the problem because there are many different tastes on this board.

Honey Nut Loop · Jul 28, 2005

here here, icerose

Jamesaritchie · Jul 28, 2005

Synopsis

Julie Worth said:
That's just it. If you read the MS, it's believable, but if you condense it down, it might not be. If you condense anything enough, it can seem unreal. So it's just unfair to hold a synopsis to the same standard as you would a novel.

I don't know. I think it's the writer's job to write the synopsis in a way that makes it sound believable. The synopsis, especially for new writers, is often even more important than the novel because unless it's done right, no one is is ever going to read the novel.

Now, the way you wrote it may be just fine. Each agent and each editor will have a different opinion of what is and isn't believable in a synopsis, what does and doesn't sound interesting in a synopsis, etc. Sometimes you just have to find the right agent or editor.

But the job of a synopsis is to describe the novel in such a way that an agent or editor will say, "Yes, this sounds like a good novel." And part of a good novel is believability, even if the events within are impossible. It may be you're playing up, overemphasizing, the wrong parts of the novel.

It may also be you're doing everything perfectly, and you just happened to hit an editor who doesn't like the way you do things.

James D. Macdonald · Jul 28, 2005

When you're writing thriller outlines do try to avoid plots that sound like Pinky and the Brain discarded them for being unworkable.

SLake · Jul 28, 2005

The ideal synopsis...

Julie Worth said:
So it's just unfair to hold a synopsis to the same standard as you would a novel.

It's 'unfair' as you say, but the publisher has briefly but kindly explained to you that they have a problem with your synopsis.

No, you can't 'hold a synopsis to the same standard as you would a novel,' I agree with you, but the publisher did not.

Personally, the synopsis' I write for male publishers are pantiless can-cans. For women, irresistably romantic hunks in ideal settings. When I don't know whether the publisher is m/f or even gay! my problem then is combining all those themes.

The MS content itself is only a secondary consideration, which I fit somewhere into the above.
:wag:

Garpy · Jul 30, 2005

I know what you're saying Julie....quite often, a plot device can be massaged to the point of plausibility, with enough fluffy words.....whereas stated simply, in a synopsis, its implausability stands out like a sore thumb.

I think you're just going to have to work on how you slide that plot point into the synopsis....couching it within a cleverly worded phrase might fix the problem, but then....if it really is too outlandish a plot point, then you may have to rethink your story.

Julie Worth · Jul 30, 2005

Garpy said:
...On 30th April, 1945 the allies secretly surrendered to Germany - six hours later the surrender was withdrawn...

See now, that's unbelievable, yet I want to read more!

maestrowork · Jul 30, 2005

Julie Worth said:
See now, that's unbelievable, yet I want to read more!

Not really. It's plausible. And if it's an alternate universe story, then it's VERY plausible.

But if you say a man crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 15 days in a cracked bath tub... then it's just outrageous...

Jamesaritchie · Jul 30, 2005

Believable.

Julie Worth said:
See now, that's unbelievable, yet I want to read more!

I don't really find this unbelievable because I can conjure several reasons why such a thing might have happened, and could really have happened.

Just because something didn't happen doens't mean it couldn't have happened, and that's the difference. It's, "Okay, can I think of a circumstance where this is plausible, even if I know it didn't really happen."

To this, I can think of circumstances where it might have happened, even though I know it didn't. Or did it? Maybe it did, and we were never told for reasons of national security?

Garpy · Jul 31, 2005

Yeah, my tagline is perhaps a valid example of what you're talking about, Julie. At first read it does appear an impossibility....but, by not saying WHY this event occurred, upfront, I'm inviting the reader to take a closer look.

Obviously, in the book itself, the events that lead to this temporary surrender have got to be believable, and I guess I got that right, because Orion bought it.

However...I never had to synopsize the events. They bought it on the strength of a loose teaser blurb I put together, and on the finished manuscript. I know that if I'd had to sell it to them on the synopsis, I would certainly have agonized over how I described one particular plot event....but there is always a way you can phrase it so that it doesn't jump out of the page as being unbelievable.

Garpy · Jul 31, 2005

In fact....if you take a number of successful books out there and try and write a synopsis for them, you'll find quite a few stories that simply sound implausible when stated with that kind of brevity.

There's some elasticity to what is believable....and some good books stretch it as far as it'll go before it snaps. You've just got to find a good way to describe it for your synopsis...or, is there a way you can tell your story without mentioning the unbelievable plot point?

Can you post your synopsis here? It might help us to help you?

Julie Worth · Jul 31, 2005

Garpy said:
Can you post your synopsis here? It might help us to help you?

I'm leery of doing that. What if the book were picked up? Heavens! Anyway, this was the only person who found the synopsis unbelievable. It struck me as weird, and since no one here has had the same experience, it probably is an aberration.

The synopsis can only hurt you, in my opinion, especially if the work is a thriller. The purpose is to get the agent to read the book, but if the agent already knows what happens, having read the synopsis, how can the book be thrilling?

Recently, a couple of agents passed on this book, but liked the logline for my WIP, and asked to see it when finished. So it sent them the MS and a one paragraph teaser, calling it a Short Synopsis. So far, so good.

aruna · Jul 31, 2005

Julie Worth said:
I just had a publisher reject a thriller after reading the synopsis, saying she was not able to “suspend belief”. Now, I wasn’t aware that you had to suspend belief while reading a synopsis. Especially with thrillers, where plot elements are supposed to be outlandish. Was she off base?

By the way, just to nitpick, I believe the correct term is "suspension of disbelief"

Julie Worth · Jul 31, 2005

aruna said:
By the way, just to nitpick, I believe the correct term is "suspension of disbelief"

Thanks. I've fixed it. And maybe that's was the editor's problem. (Very nice website, BTW...although, maybe it's just on my end, but most of the links have nothing in them.)

aruna · Jul 31, 2005

Julie Worth said:
(Very nice website, BTW...although, maybe it's just on my end, but most of the links have nothing in them.)

Funny - with me they work fine!

azbikergirl · Jul 31, 2005

They work for me too

. Very well done, Sharon.

icerose · Jul 31, 2005

Julie Worth said:
I'm leery of doing that. What if the book were picked up? Heavens! Anyway, this was the only person who found the synopsis unbelievable. It struck me as weird, and since no one here has had the same experience, it probably is an aberration.

The synopsis can only hurt you, in my opinion, especially if the work is a thriller. The purpose is to get the agent to read the book, but if the agent already knows what happens, having read the synopsis, how can the book be thrilling?

Recently, a couple of agents passed on this book, but liked the logline for my WIP, and asked to see it when finished. So it sent them the MS and a one paragraph teaser, calling it a Short Synopsis. So far, so good.

Go with how you feel, but I am not exactly sure why you are leery of posting a synopsis. I don't really see how that would effect anything.
:Shrug:

Sara

aruna · Jul 31, 2005

azbikergirl said:
They work for me too . Very well done, Sharon.

Compliment Mike Coombes, who's also a member of this board. He did it! So, if anyone wants a website done by a writing colleague at a very reasonable rate, and who communicates well and tries to do what you want, try Mike!

Hey! My new avatar works!!!!

Cathy C · Jul 31, 2005

Originally posted by Julie Worth
The synopsis can only hurt you, in my opinion, especially if the work is a thriller. The purpose is to get the agent to read the book, but if the agent already knows what happens, having read the synopsis, how can the book be thrilling?

I don't agree with this premise, Julie. Of course, it's absolutely up to you, but my view of an agent is very different than this. An agent is NOT a reader that you have to enthrall and keep guessing. They are your co-author, your muse, your partner in the sale process. If you don't give them the entire package right up front, there's no way for the agent to know whether you have created a viable plot, or realistic characters --- in other words, a book that can be sold. If they don't know the "spoilers" about the book, including the major plot points and ending, then why would they believe that they can make money from it? Why would they want to look at the whole ms.?

I prefer to give synopses that tell the entire story in an easily understandable manner. Yes, the agent will know the entire plot when they read the book, but the enjoyment of how you reach that goal won't be any less. I see lots of spoilers in reviews about books, but that doesn't mean I don't want to read them.

FWIW, you might reconsider giving more information in the synopsis. It might be that the information you're withholding to keep it a thriller is taking away from the suspension of disbelief. JMHO!

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