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This question is asked because I am a teenage author and the publishing company I am thinking about asked for a synopsis.

2007-06-08 01:27:03 · 2 answers · asked by alyxwrites 2 in Arts & Humanities Books & Authors

2 answers

This may help:

"What is a synopsis?
1) It's a narrative summary of your book--with feeling.
2) It's written in present tense.
3) It's written in third person.
4) It's written in the same style of writing your book is written in. If your book is "chatty," then your synopsis is, too. If your book is serious, literary, filled with dialect, or any other style, so must your synopsis be.
5) The synopsis introduces your main characters and their main conflicts, all woven together in the narrative. (It does not list your characters.)
6) Weaving, by the way, is important. One paragraph should flow logically to the next. If you are switching ideas, you need to make sure you build in a transition to connect your paragraphs.
7) You do not have to include every character or every scene, plot point, or subplot in your synopsis. But your synopsis should give a clear idea as to what your book is about, what characters we will care about (or dislike), what is at stake for your heroes, what they stand to lose, and how it all turns out.
8) Yes, you must put the conclusion to your novel in your synopsis. No cliffhangers or teasers. Agents and editors want to know that you know how to successfully conclude your story. (Often agents don't read the synopsis until after they've read the entire ms--but not always.)
Synopsis Format
In the upper left hand corner you should have the following info:Synopsis of "Title here"Genre:.................Word count:By__________ Single space your synopsis.
(Synopses longer than one page should be double-spaced.) Its paragraphs are usually indented, with no spaces between paragraphs. You do not use a cover page or any fancy headings or fonts.
Synopsis Checklist:
Does the opening paragraph have a hook to keep the reader reading?
Are your main characters' conflicts clearly defined?
Are your characters sympathetic?
Can the reader relate to them and worry about them?
Have you avoided all grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes?
Have you hit on the major scenes, the major plot points of your book?Did you resolve all important conflicts?Did you use present tense?

and the second link:

Writing a Synopsis from the Ground Up

2007-06-08 02:03:56 · answer #1 · answered by johnslat 7 · 0 1

Nicholas Sparks has a great writer's section on his website, which includes information on finding an agent as well as a sample query letter:
http://www.nicholassparks.com/WritersCorner/Index.html

A synopsis is simply a short summary of the plot of your novel. Personally, I would suggest keeping it at less than three pages. The previous answer has some great advice!

Also, you might want to broaden your search and stop just thinking about one publishing company. Most writers recieve a stack of rejections before they find a home for their novel, especially the first one. Even the famous novels were almost all rejected if the author was new. Limiting yourself to looking at one publishing house is a recipe for disappointment.

2007-06-08 10:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by Obi_San 6 · 1 1

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