Synopsis Methods

MightyScribbler · Feb 2, 2007

Again, I'm sure there was a thread on this but I couldn't find it, and this may belong in SYW. Sorry if this is the case.

Anyway, does your synopsis have to be a play by play of beginning-middle-end, as in "it starts with this happening, then this, then this, and ends with this?" Seems like this would be the logical way to do it, but I also know that a chapter by chapter run through is a bad idea.

So, can your synopsis be an expanded version of your query, highlighting the most grabbing aspects and giving a gist of the novel? Or does it have to pretty much tell the ENTIRE story (your novel in miniature), in order from beginning to end, including ALL plot points and ALL characters?

Seems to me the query and synopsis both have to "sell" your story, but by different means. The query is quick, enticing, teasing. But it seems the synopsis is more of breakdown or basic run-through which must include plot points essential to the novel, but may weigh down a synopsis.

Also, should the synopsis use the same copy from the query? Should all sentences from the query be included, basically word for word, at the begging of the synopsis, or at least broken up and included throughout the synopsis?
(oh and I'm talking about fiction/thriller)

Thanks

maddythemad · Feb 2, 2007

I might be wrong about this, but I believe it needs to tell your novel in miniature. Sometimes this means in 4-5 pages, and sometimes this means in 1 page (listen to the agent's guidlines.) Anyway, whenever I've had to write synopses, I describe the basic plot and the basic characters and everything, but if there are several subplots that aren't like CRUCIAL to the story, then I tend to leave them out.

Why don't you give a synopsis a try and post it in the SYW forum?

maddythemad · Feb 2, 2007

Oh, and I never include the query in my synopsis. But I'm not sure what you're supposed to do, come to think of it.

truelyana · Feb 2, 2007

Yep, that's pretty much it as maddythemad has said. It is just the overall story, welcoming the theme and its characters.

ChaosTitan · Feb 2, 2007

One exercise that I found helpful in writing my synopsis was to write down one sentence that summarizes the events of each chapter. I used that as a framework, because it highlights the important points, and fleshed it out from there.

If the agent/editor wants a one-page synopsis, stick to the main plot. Don't spare a lot of words on the subplots, but you can mention them. If they want a longer, more detailed synopsis, add those subplots.

Write it in present tense, single spaced, and don't forget to include the ending.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 2, 2007

Synopsis

I think a good synopsis always has the beginning, the middle, and the end, but highlights only. I don't think a synopsis should ever be play by play. Even in a long synopsis, you get only five pages or so.

There are many ways of writing a synopsis. My favorite is to write ones as close as possible to the ones you find on the cover or inside the jacket of published novels. The only difference is that I do reveal the ending because agents and editors need to know how a novel ends.

A long time ago, I had two editors tell me they preferred synopses written thins way, and I took it to heart. It's worked very well for me.

The jacket copy on a published novel is a synopsis written by the publisher in hopes of selling the novel to the reading public. As long as you reveal the ending, I find such a synopsis works just as well in selling a novel to a publisher.

maestrowork · Feb 2, 2007

Synopsis summarizes the entire story by major plot points and characters. Skip the subplots and minor characters. Do tell the beginning, middle, and end.

I usually suggest someone to write a 20-page summary detailing almost everything. Then cut it down to 10 pages. Cut that down to 5 pages. Cut that down to 2 pages. Then cut it down to 1 page. Then cut that down to 3 paragraphs. Then one.

There, you have a synopsis for every occasion.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 2, 2007

maestrowork said:
Synopsis summarizes the entire story by major plot points and characters. Skip the subplots and minor characters. Do tell the beginning, middle, and end.

I usually suggest someone to write a 20-page summary detailing almost everything. Then cut it down to 10 pages. Cut that down to 5 pages. Cut that down to 2 pages. Then cut it down to 1 page. Then cut that down to 3 paragraphs. Then one.

There, you have a synopsis for every occasion.

That's a good way of going about it. Sometimes you need a one paragraph synopsis, sometimes a one page, sometimes a three page, and sometimes a five page. It always pays to have one of each length available.

Penguin Queen · Feb 2, 2007

I had to write my first synopsis recently, & it took me about a month. I found it a lot harder than writing the whole bloody novel.
It went on for way too long and it was very tortuous and terribly boring. I didnt want to read it, & I actually like my novel!
In the end, I looked at it form the point of view of teh agent, not from my perspective of wanting to expolain y story as fully as possible. I wondered what would hook the agent most, & thought of cover blurbs. (As Jamesaritchie said, basically).
I imagined I was writing a blurb to the book, and suddenly my tone became lighter & I didnt feel the need anymore to put everything in.
Ive had two demands for a full MS since, so it seems to be working reasonably well.

Good luck with yours.

priceless1 · Feb 2, 2007

Here are some bullet points that I personally look for when reading a synopsis. They're geared to the types of work we accept, but they can be altered to fit any genre. Maybe it'll help:

*Who is the protagonist and what does he want to do?
* What is his personal journey?
* What antagonist or dilemma does he face?
* What is the goal of the antagonist/dilemma?
* What happens when the antagonist/dilemma meet the protagonist?
* Does the problem get resolved?
* If not, what happens?
* If yes, what is the outcome?

MightyScribbler · Feb 2, 2007

I know it's agency-specific, but what's the average page length? I think I'm seeing 2 pages, 5 pages, rarely more. I have yet to see a 20 pager. Any observations? I believe I've also seen some agencies websites saying they don't want a sales pitch in the synopsis, they want a straight, clean, brief matter of fact description. Thoughts?

Hillgate · Feb 2, 2007

Synopses

If no-one (eg your agent) tells you what length to go for, go for the shortest length that gets across what you want to say. I'd never go over 2 pages and normally would stick to 1, but a well-written paragraph might do.

If you're writing to someone you don't know, the shorter the better on the basis they're more likely to read it. If they want more, they'll ask!

stormie · Feb 2, 2007

Synopses (pl.) can be anywhere from 2 to 5 pages, double spaced, and can be told in the first person, present tense. And, as maestro said, beginning, middle, and end. (Bold my emphasis.)

Hillgate · Feb 2, 2007

Interesting point - I like to leave maybe just one thing hanging so they have to flick to the end of the MS to see if it did go option A or B.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 2, 2007

Length

The most common lengths I see asked for are one page, three page, and five page. If you hunt around hard enough, many agents and editors do specify a length range.

In proper format, mine usually run from three to four pages. This is short enough that no one has ever objected, and long enough to let me write it the way I want.

But there are times when a one paragraph synopsis can come in very handy.

scarletpeaches · Feb 2, 2007

Does it matter whether synopses are double- or single-spaced?

Someone once told me they can be single-spaced, as the agent isn't going to edit it - manuscripts must be doubled though, with spaces in between each line for the dreaded red pencil.

MightyScribbler · Feb 2, 2007

What's the difference between a 1 paragraph synopsis and a query?

Hillgate · Feb 2, 2007

MightyScribbler said:
What's the difference between a 1 paragraph synopsis and a query?

Not much!

Hillgate · Feb 2, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Does it matter whether synopses are double- or single-spaced?

Someone once told me they can be single-spaced, as the agent isn't going to edit it - manuscripts must be doubled though, with spaces in between each line for the dreaded red pencil.

I'd make them double spaced - easier on the eye for people who spend inordinate amounts of time reading.

JanDarby · Feb 2, 2007

I agree with the gist of what JAR said, but I work from the opposite direction. I start with the bare bones for a one-paragraph or one-page synopsis -- the beginning, the turning points and the ending -- and then I fill in the relevant details in between the turning points if I need a longer synopsis.

For me, at least, stripping it down to bare bones helps me to get the distance I need from the story to do a synopsis. If I've got 20 pages (or even ten) to fill, it's harder for me to figure out what to keep and what to omit. If I know all I can do is a single line for each of the basic points, it limits the options so much that it's actually easier for me. Of course, I write extremely concisely even in my drafts, so adding is second-nature to me, whereas cutting is painful.

JD

scarletpeaches · Feb 2, 2007

Hillgate said:
I'd make them double spaced - easier on the eye for people who spend inordinate amounts of time reading.

Dear god. That means halving the length of my synopsis now! Most agents in the W&AY specify two pages...

Oh well. I can do it.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 2, 2007

synopsis

MightyScribbler said:
What's the difference between a 1 paragraph synopsis and a query?

A query usually has a one paragraph synopsis included, but there's more to a good query than the synopsis portion. But for me, at least, a query is where I use one paragraph synopses.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 2, 2007

spacing

I haven't met anyone who minds a single-spaced synopsis, but there probably some who do. One of those things where guidelines matter, I guess.

Pamster · Feb 2, 2007

I thought that synopsises were ok to be single spaced, especially if you're going for one or two page ones...Is this wrong?

ETA: Thanks James, I thought they were supposed to be single spaced.

maestrowork · Feb 2, 2007

Synopses are usually single-spaced.

Synopsis Methods

MightyScribbler

maddythemad

maddythemad

truelyana

Set yourself free

ChaosTitan

Around

Jamesaritchie

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Jamesaritchie

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

priceless1

MightyScribbler

Hillgate

On location

stormie

storm central

Hillgate

On location

Jamesaritchie

scarletpeaches

MightyScribbler

Hillgate

On location

Hillgate

On location

JanDarby

scarletpeaches

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie

Pamster

Counting Stars

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray