How long is a synopsis?

SpeckyBrunette · Jan 20, 2008

Heya folks.

This is a very stupid question but I feel I have to ask it, so I apologise! The trouble is, I'm getting various answers from people I ask outside of this forum and I'm getting a tad confused.

Basic question: How long is a synopsis?

Right now I'm working on the rough draft of my first chick-lit novel. I know it'll be a while before I actually NEED a perfect synopsis, but the other day I simply decided to draft one when I had a spare five minutes. And confusion ensued.

Agents and publishers usually ask for three chapters and a synopsis here in the UK (from what I've read anyway), but I'm not really sure exactly how long a synopsis has to be.

Some people have told me it should be no more than a page. Some have told me it needs to be long, detailing absolutely EVERYTHING that happens in the book. Some say it should be basic, like the back-cover blurb.

I have no idea what the 'norm' for a chick-lit synopsis is.

Could someone help me out here? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sage · Jan 20, 2008

Make the synopsis as short as you can. If they give you a number of pages in the submission guidelines, follow those instructions.

The "back-cover blurb" is more of the hook you use in your query letter.

The synopsis should give a longer description of the novel and show the agent/publisher that you can write a complete story, so it will give away the ending.

One page is good to shoot for for a synopsis, but some agents/publishers allow longer ones.

juneafternoon · Jan 20, 2008

Usually 2-5 pages, no? I'm all for short, sweet and snippy, the kind of synopsis that doesn't bore agents to tears. You're writing chick lit, which is a genre notorious for its wit. Keep the synopsis flamboyant, feed it to the agent in a silver spoon, and make sure you include the main plot points in an enticing manner.

reenkam · Jan 20, 2008

If the agent just says "I want a synopsis" then do 1 page. Maybe 2 pages, but try for 1. Sometimes agents will ask for 2,3,5,10 pages. But if they don't ask, do 1.

(that's single spaced, though)

juneafternoon · Jan 20, 2008

I hate it when agents don't specify what they want. There's a standard for queries, but not for synopses, and if an agent doesn't clarify what they entail in a synopsis, it makes a huge ol' mess of things. *grumbles*

Cathy C · Jan 20, 2008

It can be anywhere from 2-10 pages (singlespaced) or 5-20 pages (doublepsaced.) Something that might help you is to wander over to the Romance room, to "Selling Synopsis" thread where several of our published writers have kindly donated their synopses as examples of what SOLD a book. It might help you think of the things to include in yours.

Oh, and BTW --- Please DON'T call your book a "chick-lit" when you're ready to submit. That's the kiss of death for a book right now. It's not that they don't want the genre, but they dislike the name. Call it a "humorous women's fiction" or "romantic comedy" or something else. But you'll stand a MUCH better chance of selling it without that tag.

Birol · Jan 20, 2008

Synopsis are of varying lengths. The correct length is the length that the agency or publisher you're submitting to requests. They should be detailed, though, regardless of the length.

So far, the agencies that I've submitted to have wanted a one-page synopsis.

How long is a synopsis?

SpeckyBrunette

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

juneafternoon

Return of the Jedi

reenkam

aka cupcake

juneafternoon

Return of the Jedi

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Birol

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