The Synopsis
My synopsis for the next book is due to my agent, well, our agent as each of us on this blog is represented by the incredible Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency. I’ve been struggling with it—the synopsis, not Christine. It morphs into too much detail then changes to too little detail. Then, it is too dry, too folksy, too cute, too tongue-in-cheek, too much information and finally, too boring.
Yesterday I started yet again. I really need to get this done. I know the story—probably too well. I know where to begin it, I know the climax scenes, I know the turning points. I even know who the bad guy is (hopefully you won’t until the very end). I know the backstory of my protagonist. I know why the bad guy is bad. I have the major plot, the subplots and the romantic elements. You are seeing my point. I know this baby pretty darn well.
Yet, the synopsis is killing me. There is so much to say. I have read tons of examples of synopses. I have read the books that tell you what to do, you know—always present tense, single spaced, action oriented, be sure to include the capstone scene. But whoever is writing those rules isn’t sitting at my desk coaching my fingers across the keyboard.
Today’s goal is to finish this puppy. Out the door. Well, maybe one more draft, or two. I fly home from Italy on Sunday, so the days are dwindling. I've run out of time and excuses.
When you write a synopsis, what do you include? How do you approach it? Spill, folks. I need all the help I can get. Plus, you never know what might be shared that pushes YOU to the next level. So, let us have it. We want to know.
14 comments:
I used to struggle with my synopsis, especially when I wrote them after I finished a book. Now I always write them first so that I don't run the risk of info dump.
I approach a synopsis as though I were telling a friend about my story. Just looking her in the eye and saying OMG I'm writing this story and it's about....
Think about it. If you are verbally telling your friend about your book, you can't see the words on the page so you won't run the risk of editing or fixing things, you just talk it through, usually only hitting the highlights and main points we have to know for a story to make sense.
Start with your lead character, what she wants but what situation she just went through that landed her in this predicament, preventing her from getting what she wants, and her motivation for getting her out of the mess she's in. Then take us on the main points of her journey, the crazy things that happen to her, and how she resolves the mess and finally gets her life back to normal, etc.
Never overtell. Just do GMC, a couple highlights, the black moment, and the resolution. Save some of the best juicy stuff to hook the editor (or agent) to actually want to read your book. But definitely do include in the highlights any selling points that will add to and make your hook sound unique.
Cuz a story premise and great hook are what sells books.
PS Cas, if you have a tape recorder, record yourself. And I don't mean read your synopsis out loud. Pretend you are telling a friend about the new book you are writing, and just talk about it. don't stop, even if you stumble, just keep talking it through. Then listen to your recording and type it up exactly the way it is. Then you can fill in any gaps you might have. You'd be surprised. You usually end up with the bare bones of exactly what you need :-)
Okay, so Kari's PS was exactly what I was going to suggest. Sarah is there with you, you could just start telling her and have her type it up as you go. Don't stop and don't let her stop! She can go back and fix spelling and typos later. Just get it out.
Still trying to get my head around the writing-a-synopsis-in-Italy idea. I come from the synopsis before writing school, with the understanding that the synopsis will have to be rewritten once you know what the book is really about. LOL
But I'm still learning so I'll just watch you and the other published authors and cheer you on. Cheering is good, right? Sigh. Italy. You have cappuccino to help you along.
Lyn, no coffee, just wine. Also just kidding. Elizabeth (I know who you are!) you are right, along with Kari. I should do it out loud. Folks, Elizabeth and Sarah are my kids and, thankfully, my biggest fans along with my husband. But, I don't think he would tolerate a read-out-loud, my children would--thank you, babes.
Okay, for the next round on this synopsis. Given the great advice, I should be in good shape--hope, hope.
Like Lyn, I write a synopsis BEFORE I start the actual book. You pantsers scare the heck out of me! Anyway, I usually start with a sheet of paper and put down the plot points.
You know -
pharmacist issues wrong med
old lady dies from wrong med
cat dies too
That's ridiculous I know, but you get the point - the bullet point!!
The synopsis usually never stays exactly the same as I layer in subplots as they come to me but it is a point of reference for me.
I like Kari's idea about talking into a recorder.
Selling on proposal means your synopsis has to be what hooks the editor, so it better be good. Even with subsequent contracted books, there has to be some kind of outline for the editor to approve.
Groan!! Writing is hard.
Cassy,
I sympathize with you. I"m trying to do the same for my completed book. I've sat down at the computer and listed the high points and ended you with about three pages of them. And that's bulletpointing them.
Kari, Think I'll that your suggestion and record me telling the story to someone. The last thing I want to do is bore the person so I know isn't going to have to be down and dirty. Then the other advantage of recording myself, I sound funny on a tape recorder, the person will have and ask key questions that will make the synopsis flow better.
So Cassy, sit back, stop whining, have another glass of wine, feel for us who have to suffering back home and tell someone your book.
Synopsis hell. I know the rules, I read the examples... hero's GMC, heroine's GMC, major plot points...and still all I want to do is re-tell the thing, in chronological order, chapter by chapter. With far less verve than ms itself and in a manner than in no way reflects voice or the style of writing.
Sympathies...
I hate to write them. Until I met Christine I never wrote one until after the story was complete and ready to submit. I'm a complete pantser I hate to plot. The one time I tried it my characters went on strike and I still have not written that story.
Then Christine wanted one before I wrote a proposal. Still not done with the story. But the proposal I'm working on the rewrites and edits now. But that dang synopsis has been revised twice to accommodate the changes in the story.
I had a Jackie and when I wrote her part of the story, she told me, I ain't no Jackie. My name is Jessica Perez and I go by Jessie. Well sorry! So I had to revise.
When I have the story done I do a mini blurb for each chapter. Then I slice and dice until it's the right length with the GMC etc. all in order. So much easier than not knowing where my story will lead and trying to put it down in paper before it's done.
I do not envy you Cassie. It's the worst part of writing for me. Wine is always better than coffee. Some of my best writing has been done with a glass of wine.
Good luck today!
I think some stories are a little easier to put into a synopsis -- maybe because they have a more direct route from beginning to end.
Others -- well, you need to show some of the detours!
I have read suggestions of starting with a one-sentence description of your story, then a one-paragraph one, and then one-page, etc.
I seem to do better if I do a big sprawling thing and CUT DOWN. It helps me see what's important that way. Maybe it's because I'm a pantser. :)
Folks: You all have been generous with your ideas. Thank you. So later tonight (it's 9 pm here) and in the early morning I'll be at it again. Good luck to each of you with whatever stage you are in. Each one brings its challenges. But, hey, what better world is this than what we have??
Years ago I worked in a job that required me to write synopses of books that I was given to read. At first, I did keep a lot of notes, and like Lindsay's, my synopses were long. Tell the story, beginning with the main character's starting condition, then move on to show what he wants and how he came to want that. As you tell the story about his struggle to obstacles, make good use of words like "meanwhile" and "at the same time" and "across town."
Really, you don't need to tell each detail or bullet point. Get the big hazy idea over. High praise for me was, "Your synopsis made me feel that I had read the book." After people put down a book, they don't remember each plot point, and they certainly don't remember sub-plots *except for ways that the subplots affect the main plot. I'm talking *major* ways.*
You can use phrases such as
+through a series of events (rather than describing each event)
+after a long fight (rather than telling details about the fight or argument)
+Using his special skills, character escapes (rather than detailing tools and procedures)
Character begins to court (rather than going through each gift or act of kindness).
Make it a pleasant read, if you want to sell the book. Your agent or editor may use this very document to sell your book around her company. Or, if this is going to a movie company, this synopsis may be used to interest a director, or other personnel.
Relax and tell the story so that you leave the reader feeling good.
Should read:
his struggle to OVERCOME obstacle.
Yeesh. Sorry.
I actually just wrote a synopsis today! Yayy. Haha anyway, first I wrote the main "hook" line. "When the main character has this change in her life, she discovers tons of crazy stuff they didn't know!" Or something along those lines.
Then I mentioned other important characters. In the paragraphs after, the only things I included were events that directly moved the plot along. "This happened and it led to this, which then led to this." My novel was action/adventure oriented, so the important things to mention were how the characters got from one thing/place to another, and how it ended up.
I emailed it in today, so I'm not sure if the synopsis was any good or not, but we'll see!
I hope yours turned out well :)
xoxo,
M
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