Synopsis question (yes, another one!)

MarkEsq · Jun 14, 2005

Hi folks,

I received a note today from my first choice agent (scribbled on my letter, of all things!) asking for the first 40 pages and a synopsis.

First of all, wooohooo!

Second of all, I have a synopsis but it is six pages (double-spaced) and about 2000 words long. There seems to be some dissent as to exact length - can I risk it?

Next, can I send 42 pages if my chapter ends there? Seems silly not to....

Any ideas?

clara bow · Jun 14, 2005

Wow, congratulations! I'm no expert, but if I were faced with that situation, I would go ahead and send the 42 pages--unless cutting it off at page 40 would leave the agent panting for more. As for the synopsis, well, personally, I would edit it down to 3-4 pages. I have two synopses, and both are three pages. A well written 1 pager would probably come across very nicely too. That's just me, though, and there are certainly folks here who can give more expert advice. Good luck with it!

MarkEsq · Jun 14, 2005

How about this?

I was actually wondering if I could send both synopses - the six-pager and the one-pager that I just knocked out...?!

maestrowork · Jun 14, 2005

Synopsis: 2 pages.

Send first 42 pages if you must... by the time they reach page 30, they should know if a) you can write and b) if your story has any substance.

Liam Jackson · Jun 14, 2005

Best of luck, Mark. I hope things go well for you.

LJ

clara bow · Jun 14, 2005

MarkEsq said:
I was actually wondering if I could send both synopses - the six-pager and the one-pager that I just knocked out...?!

Of course you could...but ask yourself which seems more professional, sending one or sending two? After all, the agent did ask for material to read as well....

wow, tough decision, huh?

James D. Macdonald · Jun 14, 2005

40 pages, or 42 pages ... by that point the fellow should know if he wants to represent you or not. If he decides not to represent you it won't be because of those two pages.

Which version of the synopsis gives the best sense of the whole story without bogging down? Be as short as you can without getting telegraphic.

aruna · Jun 14, 2005

MarkEsq said:
Hi folks,

Second of all, I have a synopsis but it is six pages (double-spaced) and about 2000 words long. There seems to be some dissent as to exact length - can I risk it?

Any ideas?

I think a synopsis is normally single spaced? that would make it look shorter. 2000 words sounds OK to me. I'd only worry if were six pages single spaced.

scribbler1382 · Jun 15, 2005

aruna said:
I think a synopsis is normally single spaced? that would make it look shorter. 2000 words sounds OK to me. I'd only worry if were six pages single spaced.

I think I remember in one of the other synopsis threads that it should be single-spaced if it's a single page, but double-spaced if it's more than that.

Julie Worth · Jun 15, 2005

If I thought an agent might be anal about these details, I’d reformat the pages to fit 42 into 40.

Just print it in 11 pt instead of 12 pt, or reduce the double space to 1.9 space. Whatever it takes.

katiemac · Jun 15, 2005

If I thought an agent might be anal about these details, I’d reformat the pages to fit 42 into 40.

If the agent is anal enough to care about two extra pages, I'd assume s/he would also be anal about adhering to the proper page formations.

azbikergirl · Jun 15, 2005

One can set the top margin to .8" or .7" and it'll measure 1" from the top of the printed page to the top of the first line of text.

Woot! Good luck with the submission!

Julie Worth · Jun 15, 2005

katiemac said:
If the agent is anal enough to care about two extra pages, I'd assume s/he would also be anal about adhering to the proper page formations.

I doubt it, since they didn't mention it. Anyway, I can't imagine anyone getting a scale out on a manuscript to measure the font size, but it's easy enough to look at the page numbers.

katiemac · Jun 15, 2005

Anyway, I can't imagine anyone getting a scale out on a manuscript to measure the font size

No, of course not. I was merely saying that an agent who is so strict on the guidelines not only wouldn't appreciate the two extra pages, they wouldn't appreciate reformatting the pages to "cheat" (for lack of better word) - if they could even tell. Either way, it would be silly to dismiss an author if they really enjoyed the manuscript, which as UJ and others said, will show your writing talents regardless of page 40 or 42.

MarkEsq · Jun 16, 2005

Ok, so I have posted the clipped version (still 5 pages) to a new thread in the Share Your Work category. If any of you fine people have time to read it and let me know what you think, I'll buy you a beer.

aadams73 · Jun 16, 2005

Anyone worrying about those couple of extra pages should read this:

www.writing-world.com/publish/collins2.shtml

Basically, out of the agents mouths, they aren't worried about a couple of extra pages if the break is natural.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 16, 2005

Pages

aadams73 said:
Anyone worrying about those couple of extra pages should read this:

www.writing-world.com/publish/collins2.shtml

Basically, out of the agents mouths, they aren't worried about a couple of extra pages if the break is natural.

Two extra pages at this length concerns no one. In fact, with only two pages remaining in a chapter, it's better to send them than not.

Any agent concerned about forty-two pages when she asks for forty is an agent you shouldn't go near.

cwfgal · Jun 16, 2005

Jamesaritchie said:
Two extra pages at this length concerns no one. In fact, with only two pages remaining in a chapter, it's better to send them than not.

Any agent concerned about forty-two pages when she asks for forty is an agent you shouldn't go near.

I agree. And if your synopsis is 2,000 words, it should be fine. It should also be single spaced, which will get your page count down to about 4.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Beth

Kiva Wolfe · Jun 22, 2005

Agent Submissions

After reading some of the great advice you received, I'm for bending the rules I used to be a stickler for following. I can actually stand myself. Thank you, everyone. I don't know who came up with that 40-page rule. I have encountered a few agencies with 10 to 100-page submission or opening chapter requirements. I figure to each their own--we all need guidelines, or we'd fall into a chasm of chaos from which there is no return. It makes one wonder if it isn't like the academic-urban legend about the college professor who stood at the top of the stairs, chucked the term papers he held, and only gave A's to those heavy enough to make it to the bottom step. It's all too scary and complex for me to sort out.

You might ask yourself what you would want if you were the agent. If not getting the last two pages of a chapter would bug the BGB's out of you, then go for it. Keep your synopsis to a standard format. If you can edit the 42 pages of your MS down to 40, great, or let that baby of yours fly out into the world intact and with a kiss. Hey, good luck and let us know how it goes.

KTC · Jun 22, 2005

I don't know about the 40 page rule, but I have heard, and use the Page 40 rule. They probably are unrelated though. The page 40 rule is that if you pick up a book in a bookstore/library and are curious if you will like it or not, you flip to page 40 and read the whole page. If page 40 captures you...it suggests that you will enjoy the book. If not, there's a good chance you won't. I find it works fairly well.

As for the 40 page rule...I submitted a few months ago for a grant. The rules stated to send the first 40 pages. Then, in brackets, it said that you may submit no more than 2 extra pages. My chapter ended at page 42 as well. I sent the 2 extra pages and have been worrying about it ever since, even though it stated 2 extra pages were allowed. There is something about guidelines that make me feel like I am in grade 1 again, trying to follow all the steps to a tee...and freaking out when I'm overstepping them, even slightly.

aadams73 · Jun 22, 2005

KTC said:
I There is something about guidelines that make me feel like I am in grade 1 again, trying to follow all the steps to a tee...and freaking out when I'm overstepping them, even slightly.

I'm relieved to hear someone else feels this way. I find myself obsessing over the list of "requirements". Fortunately the ms I'm shopping around right now contains exactly 50 pages in the first three chapters--the exact cutoff point many agents request.

Kiva Wolfe · Jun 22, 2005

What's really funny, at least what has me laughing at myself, is that an agent recently requested the first 10-pages of my second book. Of course, the prologue and first chapter are 12 pages in total, and I was actually just going to send her 1-10. (She thumps head with hand) The opinions shared here have made me a new woman!

Thanks MarcEsq, for starting this thread!

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