Synopsis horror!!!

*NeW*WrItEr* · Oct 22, 2009

Ahh!! I've been looking for an agent, but wasn't ready for it when one actually said they wanted to read my manuscript and a synopsis of my book. The bad thing is that I have no idea how to write a synopsis!!! I REALLY don't want to screw up this one chance I have. I mean, I've queried a lot of agents and got shot down each time so please, I beg you, help me out here!!!

gothicangel · Oct 22, 2009

Check out SYW. I believe it contains a sticky on writing a synopsis.

Congrats on the agent request, you're one step closer!

TheIT · Oct 22, 2009

Check out the Query Letter Hell SYW. The stickied threads in that subforum should help.

RJK · Oct 22, 2009

There's also a good article here frm suite101. I think Nathan Bransford has a couple of good articles on them too.

Libbie · Oct 22, 2009

Yeah, synopses are super lame to write, but we can help you out down in the QLH forum. Read those links provided, come up with a rough draft, and post it in QLH for critique.

maestrowork · Oct 22, 2009

Others have given good advice.

I've been looking for an agent, but wasn't ready for it

Obviously there's a lesson to be learned here... I mean, would anyone jump out of a plane if they're not ready to use a parachute? Why would you not have a synopsis when you're already querying agents?

MDei · Oct 22, 2009

*NeW*WrItEr* said:
Ahh!! I've been looking for an agent, but wasn't ready for it when one actually said they wanted to read my manuscript and a synopsis of my book. The bad thing is that I have no idea how to write a synopsis!!! I REALLY don't want to screw up this one chance I have. I mean, I've queried a lot of agents and got shot down each time so please, I beg you, help me out here!!!

Good for you. Type one up and put it in QLH. I'll be looking for it. In my opinion, synopses are much easier to do than queries but can still be a drag. I always have a synopsis ready though even if an agent doesn't ask for it, just in case.

Always a lesson to be learned.

*NeW*WrItEr* · Oct 24, 2009

maestrowork said:
Others have given good advice.

Obviously there's a lesson to be learned here... I mean, would anyone jump out of a plane if they're not ready to use a parachute? Why would you not have a synopsis when you're already querying agents?

Yeah, I know it was stupid to not be ready for it. But, hey, I'm young. And I've learned my lesson. I'm still trying to write a synopsis, but it never seems to turn out the right way. And I'm scared I'll screw up. Ahhh the torture.

Juliette Wade · Oct 25, 2009

Author Janice Hardy has some really terrific synopsis advice, here. I still find synopses difficult, but she's helped me go through point by point and put together a backbone for them that can then be fleshed out and not just end up sounding like "...and then this happens, and then this happens..."

Good luck.

Synopsis horror!!!

NeWWrItEr*

gothicangel

Toughen up.

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

MDei

Not a rich author yet, but I'm here

NeWWrItEr*

Juliette Wade

Interprets for aliens