| Author | Message | ||
     Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 1947 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
I am writing a synopsis of my latest novel and its about to drive me up a wall--though I am getting it. It actually did help me as I saw more clearly what this book is about--but boiling three hundred pages down to 12 (the accepted formula is 1 page of synopsis per 25 of manuscript) was rough. Anybody got any useful tips? | ||
| Jackie "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Jackie Post Number: 152 Registered: 04-2005 Rating: N/A |
Hey Chris, here's my 2 cents: break down each chapter with a narrative description, including highlights, and end on a cliff hanger, or with a question without giving the end of story away. | ||
| Yvettep "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 966 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: |
the accepted formula is 1 page of synopsis per 25 of manuscript Hey, Chris, that formula is VERY cool. In the past I have written abstracts to summarize a big piece of academic writing--but that is of limited utility in the early stages of writing. I have also taken the "corporate" approach and tried to write an "executive [pre-]summary," but that has not been very helpful, either. But I think I will try that synopsis thing for my dissertation... | ||
| A_womon "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: A_womon Post Number: 1330 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Chris, I've found that most publishers and agents want you to have the following when it comes to synopses. A one page, 3 page, six page, and 12 page synopsis. They can request either whenever they like, so it would be wise to have all of these versions ready just in case. Also, I've found what works best for me is to think of my story in terms of beginning, middle, and ending, then start by summing up the book with one sentence. For example: "A young girl making plans to attend her aunt's wedding gets sidetracked by her best friend and ends up getting raped by her best friend's cousin." I would then take that sentence, and using the beginning middle and end formula, flesh out the sentence, giving highpoints of my story, the action, and the resolution. I keep working this formula for each version of the synopsis, adding more detail as I go. This always works for me---hope it helps! | ||
| A_womon "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: A_womon Post Number: 1331 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Also, I've found that a synopsis should not contain a cliffhanger. This is where the agent or publishers wants to read your entire story in a page or few pages so they can determine if they want your book or not, without having to read the entire manuscript. The ending is the most important part of the story, so they want to know if you can write a good one. Cliffhangers are more for your query letter, in the part where you give a brief description of your project and you are trying to get the agent/publisher to request your entire manuscript. Just my experience. | ||
| Snakegirl AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Snakegirl Post Number: 85 Registered: 05-2005 Rating: N/A |
Hi Chris. The suggestions by A_Womon are dead on correct. This is the best way to go. A-Womon said: Chris, I've found that most publishers and agents want you to have the following when it comes to synopses. A one page, 3 page, six page, and 12 page synopsis. They can request either whenever they like, so it would be wise to have all of these versions ready just in case. Also, I've found what works best for me is to think of my story in terms of beginning, middle, and ending, then start by summing up the book with one sentence. For example: "A young girl making plans to attend her aunt's wedding gets sidetracked by her best friend and ends up getting raped by her best friend's cousin." I would then take that sentence, and using the beginning middle and end formula, flesh out the sentence, giving highpoints of my story, the action, and the resolution. I keep working this formula for each version of the synopsis, adding more detail as I go. This always works for me---hope it helps! |
