How full is a 'full' synopsis when requested alongside the complete ms?

After querying, I've had 4 requests from different agents for a 'full' synopsis alongside the full ms. On the 'fuller' side, I have 3, 5, and 7 page versions of my synopsis I can send. All of the agents want the synopsis pasted into the same Word document, before starting the book. Should I send the longest synopsis? It has all the details, though all of them contain the major spoilers.

One of the agents also wants a one sentence summary of the book in my return e-mail. Is this the same things as a log-line?

Thanks!

The length isn't what makes a synopsis full.

What they're talking about is that you tell the beginning, middle and end and leave no surprises. Put all the important "spoilers" in there, unlike the query where you raise the questions and show the stakes, but don't tell the ending.

If no length is mentioned, go with 2-3 pages. No more. Get it down to 1 page, single-spaced, if you can.


Ok, I have a 2 pager I can use, thanks!

AcaciaNeem said:

Shorter synopsis, the better, no more than 250 words unless specified. All the big plot points need to be included. The synopsis should give an idea of the central conflict and exactly how it is resolved.

Click to expand...

Ack! 250 words...

Aggy B. said:

250 is a bit short. Synopses are generally single spaced so 250 would be only about 1/3 of a page. 2 pages should be fine.

Also, a one sentence summary probably is a logline. (Not the "X meets Y in peculiar setting" type, but the kind that sets out main character, inciting incident, goals, conflict and consequences.)

Best of luck.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Nerves...

whiporee said:

You can easily go 1,000 on a synopsis. The key thing with them is to make sure you tell your story and make it plausible. You don't want to get so worried about word count that you're passing up details that allow your plot to make sense.

Also, if you're getting requests, they're sort of interested in the story. They aren't going to shun your requested pages because your synopsis is too long. Just make sure it tells your story in a compelling, effective way, and don't get caught up on formatting or anything of the sort.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I do have a tendency to get bogged down in word count, and to stress about it. I've never had so many requests for a book before (23 agent reqs off Pitmad, with 9 requests for fulls so far after sending them the query and pages. Plus, I began querying this book in July and have had an additional 3 full reqs off that first round). I don't want to blow my chances! I do wonder if this is like getting a ton of Emmy nominations and walking away without the award. My book is far from perfect, but it's the best I could make it after self-edits, beta readers and more edits.

Today I'm starting a new book, settling in for the long-haul wait. Thanks for the advice.

RaggedEdge said:

The word 'synopsis' is sometimes used for the 250-word hook in a query letter, which (drives me crazy) is confusing since it's also the word for the 1-2 page (or longer in some cases) which spells out all the important details of the main plot.

In the former, you wouldn't give away the ending, and in the latter you wouldn't leave out the ending. In both, you keep the characters listed to a minimum and keep quiet about the subplots as much as possible, especially in the 250-word hook.

If contests are judged based on a 'synopsis,' I expect they're referring to the shorter hook, not the kind that spells out the entire plot. All I've ever seen in contests was that shorter hook.

I agree that once you get to the full manuscript request stage, it's the longer synopsis they want to see (1-2 pages generally).

For the one-sentence summary, look at your GMC (goal, motivation and conflict) and try to boil that down into a compelling line, including the stakes.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I've gone for the 2 page synopsis for those who didn't specify. A new 'full' request asked for a one-page, specifically, so I sent him that one. Gah...

I think I botched the one-liner, but time will tell.

Laurasaurus said:

23 requests! Wow. That's so impressive!
Kind of curious/nosy about your Twitter pitch. Could you share it with us? (No worries if you'd rather not!)

Click to expand...

No probs in sharing privately. I used my real name Twitter account to pitch, and I like to keep that private. I'll PM you.

RaggedEdge said:

Congrats on the stunning number of requests, Pisco! Sounds very promising!!

Oh, and whiporee and Jeneral make good points above. What matters most is that your story makes sense and you have all the important twists, turns, and reveals. When I said 1-2 pages, that meant single-spaced, in agreement with Myrealana's advice. So, closer to 3 pages if double-spaced. My synopsis was almost 1.5 pages single-spaced and it worked for my agent.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Ragged. I've opted to send my two-pager (single spaced) unless told otherwise. I've had two more requests for fulls today, without asking for a syn and now I feel like giving them one anyway. LOL. Thing is, I don't know whether to continue querying the agents on my list, or wait for the rejections to come in. If I do end up getting an offer down the line, and I haven't queried the agents I would also love to be represented by, I don't think I can send them a query and say, 'oh, by the way, please read this super quickly because I have another offer'. Know what I mean? But I've got so many requested queries and fulls 'out there' right now it feels weird to query more agents. With my other novels I've never queried more than 7 or 8 at a time. Not quite sure what to do. Part of me wants to wait and see if I get reject feedback before I query, the other part thinks I should query because I might get an offer and then I haven't asked these 3 other agents if they'd consider repping me. Hmmm.

ETA: I didn't query these agents in first round because I've been suffering from a crisis of confidence after all the rejections for last novel (still unsold and trunked, probably forever and ever and ever). I was sure my top dream agents would reject me straight away, but then Brooks Sherman (he was one of my 'tops') 'liked' one of my pitches and now I'm feeling a wee bit more positive.

Thanks, oh gurus of AW! If I knew how to do the multiple quote thingy, I would. I'm going to take your advice and continue querying. At least the experience has shown I have effective Twitter pitches and enticing query letters (couldn't settle on one, so I'm using two entirely different styles). Of course I'm hoping for an offer--please, God, an offer!--but I've been in this business long enough to know how easy it is to lose somebody between one paragraph and the next.