I'm trying to write a synopsis of my novel, it's hard, any tips?

Question

I've already had the thing rejected 30 times!! Which is a lot less than Stephen King when he first started writing. I think a particular weak spot is the synopsis, it's rubbish and it can't give a good impression of the novel. Has anyone got any experience in writing a good one? There's always the possibility that the novel's just crap, but I'm going to give it a fair shot first before dumping it and starting another one, it's taken me 10 years!

Answer 1

When an agent reads a synopsis, he or she is really checking to see if there is a plot, with a beginning, a middle and an end that supports a premise.

Imagine that you are sitting at your kitchen table, telling your best friend what your book is about. What you would say to your friend is basically what the agent or editor wants to know. They just want to know that there is a story.

Having been a literary agent for several years, I can tell you that time is precious and reading a few hundred pages of manuscript only to find the story falls apart is terribly disappointing. I made it a point to read the first three chapters of a story to get a feel for the writer's style, then read the synopsis to determine if it would be worth my time to read the rest.

If you keep that in mind, it will help you construct your synopsis so you hit on the high points and indicate the direction the story will take. Remember that "less is more" and try to be brief.

If you would like to send me a copy of your synopsis, I would be glad to look at it and provide any advice I can.

Answer 2

Just write a brief outline of 4 - 6 lines for each chapter (8 lines maximum I would say). Naturally those 4-6 lines describing each chapter need to be an interesting read in themselves.

Are you using the Writers and Artists year book as a guide to what different publishers want or are looking for? Worth getting a copy if you don't already have one.

I would never dump your novel even if you give up trying to promote that one, just put it aside for a while as you may find you can use it or part therefore another time.

I would say keep trying or self publish may be. Publishers often won't take novel from an unknown and if they do they would only consider something they thought would be a block buster and they do consider themselves to have a fair idea what will sell and make a lot of money for them too.

Answer 3

I'm a wanna-be-author as well. (Meaning I haven't had anything published... yet. I'm still working on my first draft.) However, I have read many good books about publishing novels.

A synopsis should be an overveiw of what the main plot of your novel is. It should be as short as possible - but direct. Do not reveal anything about subplots or insignificant details. Just describe the core of what your novel is about.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

Keep revising and adding new versions of your synopsis. Trust me on this, writing one of these is hard. But it can be done.

I was rejected over 100 times in the last six years on a host of books I've written, but you shouldn't give up on your book just yet.

Would you be interested in sharing your synopsis (and a sample of your book) with me through an e-mail exchange? I'm a pretty quick study and you could probably use an independent opinion from a fellow writer and author right now.

Answer 5

It is hard. Try and work it a bit like a book blurb, hints on the themes and events to tempt and to give an editor a general flavour of the whole novel.
And good luck too. In many ways, this is what this is more about, whether it lands on the desk of someone who will "click" to it.

Answer 6

Hey, send me a copy of the novel, I'll read it and evaluate the synopsis.