"Brief" synopsis

Roadwriter · Feb 20, 2008

Some agents ask for a synopsis and some ask for a "brief synopsis." I've written a 7 1/2 page synopsis(12 point type, single spaced) for a 90,000 word novel. Is that in the ball park for length? Does "brief" mean shorter than that? Help!

rugcat · Feb 20, 2008

In my experience, a brief synopsis would be 2 single spaced pages, max.

ORION · Feb 21, 2008

Hey I can do that synopsis in one paragraph!
Sorry - thinking of name that tune!
Most agents are looking for that one paragraph hook (think back of the book)
I have yet to hear of an agent seriously wanting a seven page synopsis with a query letter...but yanno, anything's possible.
My agent didn't even want one a page long for my second novel LOL...

astonwest · Feb 21, 2008

I've usually sent a one-pager with a query, then waited for them to ask for more.

Shady Lane · Feb 21, 2008

I've had a few agents request a brief synopsis. They get the 2-pager.

Irysangel · Feb 21, 2008

Yeah, I send a one-pager. I've never had anyone say "This isn't long enough, please tell me more."

Actually, I recently sent a 3-pager to my agent for a proposal and got a very 'stern' "We know you're better than this" conversation. And I am. I just, you know, flubbed it. *g*

Seriously - keep it short. It's not a book report. It's to entice them to read the full 90k, not to give a line-by-line summary of the full 90k.

ExposingCorruption · Feb 21, 2008

A synopsis should state what the book is about and it should be short. Don't try hitting all the high points throughout the book. The synopsis is in no way supposed to be a "page turner."

Judg · Feb 21, 2008

EC, that depends. If they request a detailed synopsis, it's because they want to know in detail where the plot is going. But 7 1/2 pages is not brief by any definition.

ExposingCorruption · Feb 21, 2008

I was under the impression that everything except the query letter was supposed to be double-spaced. Do agents want the synopsis double-spaced?

Judg · Feb 22, 2008

Not usually. Always good to check, though.

Irysangel · Feb 25, 2008

I think the spacing depends on the length as well. If you are sending anything less than 2 pages, I think single-space is acceptable. More than two pages and you might want to double-space to make it an easier read.

Stacia Kane · Feb 26, 2008

Mine tend to be under two pages and single-spaced, though with two spaces between paragraphs.

That's just me though, I can't speak for whether that's the absolutely correct way of doing it.

"Brief" synopsis

Roadwriter

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

ORION

Sailed away years ago

astonwest

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Irysangel

She of Many Names

ExposingCorruption

AW Addict

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon