You’ve just completed the Great American Novel. You’ve done everything you’ve been told to do. You’ve created compelling characters and plopped them right smack in the middle of emotional/physical conflict. You’ve engaged the reader with your perfectly executed plot and subplots. You’ve edited and proofed and allowed your baby to be critiqued by your writer’s group.
Now it’s time to share the pictures and see if anyone wants to hold her. So you register for a writer’s conference where editors, agents, critiquers, and contest judges may ask for a synopsis.
A what?
Although you’ll find varying guidelines depending on the organization, here’s a quick overview of what most people look for in a synopsis:
1. The synopsis is a summary of the plot of your book that gives the reader a chance to see if it warrants a closer look.
2. It’s often limited to 1-3 pages, but in some cases, the page limit is much higher. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the organization you’re submitting to.
3. It’s usually single-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides.
4. If printed, be sure it’s in black ink, on white paper, using a standard font (Times New Roman is most often used).
5. It is written in present tense, third person.
6. The synopsis must tell the ending of the story, even if the book is a mystery, thriller, or suspense novel. This is not the time to leave the editor/agent/judge/critiquer hanging and hope he or she will beg you to tell the ending. I’ve actually read a synopsis where the writer said something like, “I can’t give away the ending because it’s so unusual, but I’ll just tell you, it’s a real twist!” Hmmm. Not a good idea.
7. Of course, you can’t cover all the points of the book, but you’ll want to include the major plots points that move the story along to a satisfactory ending.
8. Give enough detail that the reader is engaged, but–with a limit of 1-3 pages–you’ll have to carefully decide what earns a place in the synopsis.
So, there you have it–a quick overview of the synopsis. If you’d like more in-depth information, bestselling novelist, Randy Ingermanson, has a great thread about it at his Advanced Fiction Writing Blog. You can start the thread here.
The section about sequencing scenes changed the way I looked at tackling a synopsis. Of course, I still won’t like doing it, but at least Randy gives a formula for fitting all the pertinent details into a couple of pages. Thanks a bunch, Randy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who Won Elaine Miller’s book?
According to the winner of We All Married Idiots is Sharon! Congratulations, Sharon. it’s easy to get your book. Simply Contact Me with your address and your book will be on its way!
And thank you again, Elaine, for sharing your great book and insight with us. You’ve blessed us by being here!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Elaine’s books and order your own copies below. You know you want to!
We All Married Idiots: Three Things You’ll Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can
Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms
Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives
Happy writing!
Vonda
