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How to Write a Synopsis

When querying literary agents or submitting to traditional publishers, you usually need a one-to-five page summary of everything that happens in your book.

I'm gonna be honest and say that this is my least favorite part of the process and I don't at all profess to being good at it. I hate it, but I thought I'd share my process and a few tips to hopefully make the process a little less painful for you.

1. STEP ONE: The List

Go through your book chapter by chapter and jot down the important things that happen in each.

Everything that drives the plot or character development needs to be included. Remember that your synopsis contains all the spoilers. All the plot twists and character deaths. And definitely how the book ends.

You should use your discretion re the amount of detail for each scene. You don't have to set out what happens or what the characters say step for step. You can just say something like: A and B talk about their fears for the future and discover they have more in common than they thought.

Think: what does the reader of the synopsis need to know to understand the rest of the synopsis?

2. STEP TWO: The Synopsis

Now that you have a list of notable events, you can start typing up your synopsis.

I suggest making each chapter a paragraph.

Usually, agents and publishers want single-spaced synopses, but be sure to check their individual guidelines.

When referring to a character for the first time, it's good to put their name in all caps. Then, from the second mention onward, only the first letter should be upper case.

No matter the tense or POV of your novel, your synopsis should be in third person and present tense.

It's important to understand that your synopsis is also a piece of writing on which you can be judged. It's not just a list of events. You need to write well and employ the techniques you used in writing your novel.

Vary your sentence length and structure, use strong words, use connectors and emotive language. Very importantly, allow your voice to come through.

Think of how you tell a children's story. It's basically relaying a simple sequence of events, but you don't just list them monotonously.

See your synopsis as a story in and of itself to some degree.

3. STEP THREE: Edit

Just like with your book, your first draft is not your final draft.

Go through the document at least twice once you're done to check for bad writing, typos, inconsistencies etc.

Polish that synopsis till it shines.

4. STEP FOUR: Feedback

Try to get feedback on your synopsis from someone who has read your book and someone who hasn't.

Ask the person who has read the book whether they think you covered all the important points and whether they think it captures the book well.

Ask the person who hasn't read the book whether they found the synopsis at least somewhat interesting and whether they could follow the plot. Let's be honest, your synopsis isn't going to be your most riveting piece of writing, but it at least needs to be moderately entertaining and coherent.

Edit the synopsis based on their feedback.

5. STEP FIVE: Final Proofread

Do a final check for typos and you're good to go!

Reblog if you found this post useful. Comment with your own tips. Follow me for similar content.

#advice #querying

[sunlightwriter]

writing is like this is the best idea i’ve ever had that’s the worst sentence i’ve ever written i’m a fraud i’m a genius i’m unable to focus i’m going to sleep

#yeah

[sunlightwriter]

“But how to explain my obsession with destruction? Not self-immolation, / but more of a disintegration, slow, like… sugar in water. // I dissolve.”

— Erika Meitner, from “Big Box Encounter,” Copia

#words

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#photos #insp

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WRITING IS FUN, ACTUALLY

#fuck yes!!!!

[sunlightwriter]

me writing two characters who are enemies

#always.........

[sunlightwriter]

Need to quickly outline a novel before sitting down to write? Well look no further than my 4-step guide; the easiest, hardest outline method you’ll ever try! 🤓📐

1. Summarize. Write a summary of what you think your novel is going to be about, be brief and snappy, kind of like the description on the back of a hardback book.

Now that you have an idea what the story is about…

2. Pick the start & end points! Where does the story begin? Where does it end? This is NOT about *knowing* the end, but rather having an idea of where the story will wrap up. Otherwise how will you know you’ve gotten there?

3. Populate the timeline! Are there any scenes / moments that you think might happen in the story? Write them down! Where do they fit in the timeline?

In doing this step you are 100% guaranteed to come up with even more scenes. Give them a place in the timeline!

4. And that’s it!

There’s this silly misconception that you need to know EVERYTHING about your novel before starting—but you don’t! I mean, it’s not like you’re going to write this whole book in a day? So why do you need all the answers RIGHT NOW? Seriously. Think about it. 🤔

Hope this helps~ ✌️🌻

#outlining #advice #oh i do this exact thing too

[sunlightwriter]

Abandoned shelter in Southeast Iceland.

Contributed by Max Gredinger.

#places #insp

[sunlightwriter]

You know what blows my mind? Being a writer comes with so many endless possibilities, and all it takes to be one is an electronic or a piece of paper and a pen. You can quite literally create an entirely new reality and a whole world of amazing characters, both good and bad, with just a few paragraphs.

I think that's fucking awesome.

[sunlightwriter]

Lucille Clifton, from The Book of Light; “Climbing”

#words

[sunlightwriter]

“[…] you drink light with your hands”

— Franny Choi, “Introduction to Quantum Theory” from Soft Science (via smokefalls)

#words

[sunlightwriter]

Sa‘id ‘Aql, tr. by Matthew Sorenson and Naomi Shihab Nye, from Modern Arabic Poetry: an anthology; “The Book of Roses”

#words

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A hot mess of cats

#cats

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james baldwin, just above my head

#words

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Match #444

Details at Ottolinger Spring 2021 | Blossoming white wisteria at the Ashikaga flower park in Tochigi, Japan

More matches here

#insp #fashion

[sunlightwriter]

Vi Khi Nao, Fish in Exile

#words

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beautiful foggy forests by Leif Løndal

#insp #places