Author Notes: Writing a Synopsis...without having a tantrum!

So you have finished your novel....now what? Oh, it's time for the SYNOPSIS. The dreaded point at which you narrow down your story plot from the 60K plus words you have written. Frightening? Well at some point every author has hit the synopsis wall so here are a few points to consider.

Think of your book's synopsis as a two-minute elevator pitch that would sell the story. A synopsis and a back cover blurb are similar but often times the back cover blurb doesn't give the ending of the story away, whereas in a synopsis it may tell more details surrounding the outcome of the story and how your reader may be changed.

Let's talk briefly about back book blurbs. To write your back cover blurb your can narrow your synopsis to 200 words or less, hit the best points, and don't tell how it ends. A back cover blurb is a simplified synopsis: Start with a tagline, mention your hero/heroine and the setting/what do they want and why and what's the conflict but don't give away what happens or how the story ends...hint at what's taking place and end with a strong sentence that becomes your hook. Once you complete your long synopsis you can narrow it down for the back of the book or vice versa...build on it to create your synopsis.

Back to writing your synopsis. Write your synopsis in third person. Start with thinking about that one-liner, tag line, that would summarize your story and build from there. This is also called a hook line in some cases. What's the catch (hook) and what makes this story unique? Most will say start your story at the point of no return...and it's the same for your synopsis. Who is your hero/heroine (h/h) and what has happened to cause a turn of events?

List the key points of your story. Think about your hero/heroine and their GMC.
     GOAL- who is the hero/heroine
     MOTIVATION-what does the h/h want and why
     CONFLICT-what is standing in the way

{GMC by Debra Dixon---Best Book Ever on the topic of writing story--Well worth the cost!}

Write those things out above. Set them aside and keep adding to them. What is the real hook of your story? Where is the h/h challenged? Where do they change?
Why do they change?

If you have a full story then you may be writing the synopsis after the novel but have you ever thought of writing your synopsis before you complete your novel? That's a good way to plan out or plot a bit of your story prior to writing it. It's also a way to beat writer's block when you get stuck. Think of it this way...what story am I writing and why? Who is my h/h and what is it they want? Why are they on this journey and what blocks their path? What turns their world upside down and why? And how is it resolved and how does the h/h change. Your h/h should be a changed or different person by the end of the story due to what has taken place. Just like your story has a plot, each character has a story arc- how they change due to the impact of what happens in the story.

Tell don't show your synopsis. Your novel should not tell but show a story while in the synopsis most often you will need to tell what happens. Sometimes the hook is the point where the unexpected occurs....that point of no return that changes your h/h forever.

Begin with who is your Hero/heroine with a strong sentence. Add a note about the setting and what is the conflict. Next, add in a sentence about what changes with that conflict and why. List the major plot turns. Those things that are in your h/h way. And then think about concluding items to add. What resolves things for your H/h? Where do they end up and how have they or will they be forever changed. And you might even add a line of how your reader may be impacted.

It's wise to not include many character names in your synopsis. At best stick to your H/H and possibly the antagonist in your story but not every town citizen along the way...so to speak. You don't want the names to get confusing. It's also a good idea to put any names in all caps.

A synopsis may be anywhere from 200 to 400 words. Some editors/agents prefer wording of 400 words or even less while some may prefer up to three page synopsis or even one-page synopsis. Synopsis are usually single-spaced, unlike your double-spaced novel. They are 12 point font and 1 inch margins most often.

Allow yourself to write freely and then set it aside for a few days. The idea when you return to it is to clean it up a bit. What words can be deleted to narrow word count but still saying the same thing? What is missing...did you leave out a key hook or turn of events? Now check your word choices...what active verbs or descriptions can you add to make your synopsis have readers/editors intrigued and sitting on the edge of their seat looking for more?

If you need a longer synopsis then add more detail to what your have written. A sentence or even two sentences to each paragraph and your ending as needed for length. But again use strong clean sentences with words that pack a punch without being cliche.

Finally, does what you have written tell the full story and hit all the plot points that change things for the H/H? Remember this is a draft to begin with and just like your novel you may change your synopsis several times along the journey and that's fine. As you continue your writing path hopefully these hints will be helpful.