Synopsis within query letter?

AmyJay · Jul 28, 2011

For some agents' submission guidelines, I'll see instructions like "send a query letter, including genre, word count, author bio, and brief synopsis" (paraphrasing). Should I take this kind of wording to mean that they want a separate synopsis in addition to the query letter, or does it mean they just want a quick synopsis of the work within the body of the query letter itself?

Thanks!

jclarkdawe · Jul 28, 2011

In your query, you have a 200 word description of your story. This is technically a synopsis. This is what they mean.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

WriteStarfish · Jul 28, 2011

A synopsis in a query should provide some information about the story with some teasers as well. Think about the back of a book. When an agent asks for a synopsis as part of a partial though, then more detail should be included. Rather than teasing the agent with tempting questions to get them to read more, you should let them know what's going to happen. In other words, spoilers should be present in a separate synopsis but usually not in an initial query synopsis. Happy Querying and Good Luck!

AmyJay · Jul 28, 2011

Good to know

And that's how I've already structured my query, so it works out. Thanks!

Synopsis within query letter?

AmyJay

jclarkdawe

Feeling lucky, Query?

WriteStarfish

AmyJay