PITCH INTO SYNOPSIS?

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

After having written a synopsis, multiple times, I've read that some folks start it off with the pitch. Perhaps a 3 or 4 sentence pitch or even a short paragraph to grab the readers interest.

Apparently the synopsis is one of the best sales tools the writer has... so how does the idea of starting the synopsis off with the pitch sit with you?

[Hillgate]

Hi - I think they're two different things so personally I wouldn't start one off with the other. I'd put a pitch (and this is my personal preference) in my query letter if there were no other attachments and it was my first contact with an agent or publisher.

Otherwise, if you're already past that stage, I always provide a one page synopsis that tells the story beginning to end but in a way that sounds good when read out, so no need to go into every sub-plot or character name, just the main story-thread.

If your pitch is really good then of course put it wherever you like, but pitches and synopses often have quite a different tone.

[Will Lavender]

I think it's a good idea. Anything to sort of...spruce up those damned synopses.

I personally hate synopses. Hate them, hate them, hate them, hate them with a mindless bloody passion.

Can't write them. Don't like to read them. Would like to wipe my bottom with all the world's synopses and flush them down some gigantic commode.

So here's what I did:

I queried a particular agent. She got my back to me and wanted to see 50 pages and a synopsis.

I wrote out a funny e-mail to her explaining how much I hated synopsis writing, but I would send one anyway. (Which I did. Even though I hate writing the bloody things, I realize it's necessary. Mine just sucked royally.)

The e-mail apparently won her over. She sent back a good-natured message asking for a full. (Later, she admitted to not having read my synopsis at all.)

She eventually became my agent and sold the book last week.

I know that tactic won't work for everybody, but I still thought I'd share it.

Did I mention how much I hate writing synopses?

[icerose]

I personally do the pitch at the beginning. A one sentence pitch, in screenwriting it's called a logline.

I lead with that logline, introduce myself and the piece by name, follow up with three paragraphs about the piece, close with credits and gritty little details like word count.

End with a thank you for your time.

Name.
Contact info.

It works rather well for me. The point is, find the method that works for you, suits your personality and story best and run with it.

As for you Will, I got over my hate for writing synopsis by just doing a point by point list, including every main event that was neccessary for the telling of the story, then flesh it out and it works wonders.

And congrats on the book sale!!

[Shadow_Ferret]

Pardon me for being confused, but that sounds like the query letter to me, icerose. I thought the synopsis was a one to five page Cliff Notes version of your story.

Many of the agents I've checked want both a query letter and a synopsis along with a few sample pages.

[icerose]

Sorry, you're right, Ferret. I guess I've never sent a synopsis seperate from a query letter.

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

Congrats, Will, on the book sale.

Thanks for the input to all.

[PeeDee]

I'd be less concerned with putting a hook at the beginning of the synopsis. I mean, if s/he's already been through your query letter and agreed to read your manuscript, then you don't have to re-hook them.

Probably, they'll read your partial, or your full, and if they like that, then they'll glance through your synopsis just to make sure that you didn't suddenly go insane around page 200.

[Gillhoughly]

Google this:

"Miss Snark" "crapometer"

You'll find out all you need to know and then some about this topic by reading some of the entries in her Crapometer contests. They will show you what works and--especially--what doesn't. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

Thanks, PeeDee and Gillhoughly. I'll look into the "crapometer".