Writing the perfect Synopsis

The do's and don'ts

Jumpscare: Synopsis!

Are you like me, and a cold sliver of dread runs down your spine when you hear that word? Unfortunately, a synopsis is one of the things you need to submit to an agent when querying your novel (with a query letter and a sample of your manuscript), so there is no way around it.

Now, I am by no means an expert, and I am sure that writing a synopsis will forever be the bane of my existence, but certain tips and tricks made it easier for me and might help you as well!

What is a Synopsis

The basics first: What even is a Synopsis?

Simply put, it is a one to two-page summary of your entire novel. It should contain your main characters, the main plot points, as well as plot twists, and most importantly, the ending. Everything should appear in the same order as it is written in your novel. A synopsis is not the place for a cliffhanger, as the agent reading it needs to know where your story is going to decide if they might want to take it on.

SPOIL EVERYTHING!

Synopsis format

The length and format of a synopsis can vary depending on the agent you are submitting to, so always make sure to double-check their submission guidelines!

For my query package, I prepared a short synopsis of one page, single-spaced; two pages, single-spaced; and two pages, double-spaced, since most agents request one of these options. Use a clear font like Times New Roman and a reasonable size of 12pt.

The synopsis should be written in third-person present tense, no matter the narrative position and tense of your novel. It should be punchy and emotionally active; you can integrate the tone of your novel if you want, but be careful not to make it sound like a sales pitch. You’ll want to focus on the character’s decisions, motivations, and the consequences of their actions.

Consider this sentence:

“Anna falls into a coma. Mark is sad and wants to help her.”

It may entail the gist of what happens in the story, but it reads very robotic and emotionless.

Now, let’s add some life:

“When Anna falls into a coma, Mark is devastated and determined to do everything in his power to help her.”

While it has more words, it reads as emotionally active and more interesting than the previous example. Not every sentence has to be this way, but a good mix of short and longer sentences to express your novel with the thought and care you wrote it with can be beneficial.

What to include

While it might be tempting to include every side plot you worked so hard on, every intricate worldbuilding detail that you feel is essential, there are a few things you should focus on the most in your synopsis:

1. The main character

Who are they? Where are they? What are they doing? Why are they doing it? Mention your character’s name as early as possible.

2. Other important characters

You don’t have to name them all, but the most important ones that impact the plot should be included in the synopsis.

3. Main plot points

All the main events that lead to the end of your story and are essential to understand the main narrative, including the main character’s journey. If your story would still work without a certain plot point, there is no need to include it in the synopsis.

Things to avoid

Dialogue indicators generally indicate poor word choice and can be switched out for emotionally active verbs. Instead of words like “Tell”, “Ask”, “Say”, “Explain”, try to use punchier words that tell us something about the character, their interiority, and motivations at the same time, like “Confess”, “Demand”, “Beg”, “Reveal”, “Betray”.

Other words to avoid are “Try”, “Attempt”, “Begin”, and “Start”. These words hinder the pace of your synopsis and are unnecessary words that, most of the time, can simply be edited out. Have your characters actually do something, instead of just attempting it!

Instead of “The pain begins to course…”, write “The pain courses…”.

Instead of “He starts to sweat”, write “He sweats”.

Cutting adverbs is another way to lower your word count. “He walks slowly” turns to “He strolls”, “She says quietly” turns to “She whispers”. And, last but not least, words like “That”, “Only”, “Just”, or “Somehow” can usually be cut completely.

Dropping these words is especially useful because of the limited wordcount of a synopsis. The more filler words you leave out, the more important stuff you can include. You also do not include dialogue in your synopsis unless it is absolutely necessary.

I am not afraid to admit that I HATE writing synopses. I think it is very difficult to boil down an entire novel to one or two pages and still make it sound enticing. However, the tips I shared with you today made the whole ordeal appear a lot less daunting.

Have you written a synopsis before? Do you have any other tips you would like to share?

Let me know in the comments!