HOW TO WRITE THE ‘KILLER’ SYNOPSIS AND SURVIVE – TUESDAY WRITING TIP

Okay, I’m going to admit upfront that I am not an expert on the synopsis.

In fact, like many writers I screw up my forehead, get a pain in my stomach and feel the beginnings of a migraine coming on at the very thought.

I mean let’s face it, is there anything harder than writing a synopsis? (Except filling out a grant application of course.)

What does a synopsis ask of you? It requires you to condense what is sometimes a very long book into a few succinct sentences that display your skills and experience as a writer, introduce your characters, tell what happens to them, show the resolution – and sell your story – all in about as many words as I have just used on this post.

Recently, I was asked by a couple of writer friends to help with their synopses.

They weren’t my submissions, so fortunately, I didn’t feel that same mind numbing panic – and could actually think straight. In fact I was able to breathe deeply and realise this:

Yes, the synopsis is hard – and yes, it can make or break your submission, but if you put the panic aside, strip the task back to the basics, it is manageable.

To write a killer synopsis, I think you need to put yourself in someone else’s shoes… or slush pile.

Imagine you are the publisher/editor picking up your twentieth synopsis for the day. What would you hope to find?

As I ruminated over what makes up a good synopsis, I thought to myself, what would I want to know about this book?
This is what I came up with – these are the things that I think would help sell your story.

Who is the main character?
What does he/she want?
What is the main obstacle/enemy that/who stops him/her getting what he/she wants?
Does your MC get what he/she wants in the end?
How does the experience change his/her life?
Who is the audience for your book?
What are your credentials as a writer?

(As I mentioned, I’m no expert, so I’d welcome any suggestions/additions to this list).

I hope you have found this post useful and that it’s helped take the fear out of writing your synopsis. When you think about it, a synopsis is just words on a page. (I’ll try to remember that myself next time I’m stricken with terror at the thought of writing one.)

Happy writing.

Dee:-)

12 thoughts on “HOW TO WRITE THE ‘KILLER’ SYNOPSIS AND SURVIVE – TUESDAY WRITING TIP”

Sounds like good advice – considering the manuscript from the perspective of someone who hasn’t spent the last however many months (years) working on it. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Cassandra,

I don’t know any writer who finds writing a synopsis easy, but if they do, I’d love to know their tips.

Dee:-)

And being one of the above-mentioned authors needing help with a synopsis, I can guarantee Dee’s list does make it a whole lot easier.
The key thing for me was making sure I didn’t put in TOO much extraneous detail about the plot. It’s all about condensing and finding the essence of your story.
🙂

Hi Sheryl,

So glad yo found all this helpful – and thanks for your extra tip about finding the essence of the story.

Dee:-)

Congratulations Chris,

Good to know that it works:-) I agree that blurbs can also be terrifying – there is a lot at stake. Look forward to reading your new book.

Dee:-)

Thanks Dee. Great advice as usual. I will now attack my synopsis and see if I can cut it down to one page using those points.

Good luck with the synopsis, Elaine.

Hope it gets you where you want to go.

Dee:-)

I’ve always liked Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake approach to writing a novel. He starts with a synopsis and writes from there! It sure makes it easier to write back cover blurbs, elevator speeches and those dreaded query letters.

You can read his directions at: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

Thanks BookChook, that sounds like good advice.

Thanks for the great link, too.

Dee:-)

I wish someone would decide once and for all how long a synopsis is supposed to be. It seems as soon as I master a short one, my agent wants a 10 pager. Arg!