Monday, January 11, 2016

Rachael Thomas & The Dreaded Synopsis

Please welcome Rachael Thomas back to the blog today!
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Synopsis. It’s a word which can strike fear into just about every writer’s heart. How do you put everything from your story into between two and five pages? You don’t.

Wikipedia’s definition is a brief summary of the major parts of a subject or written work or story. It goes on to say ‘condensation of a work’.

What to include in a synopsis

The purpose of a synopsis is to show how your story is to go from the beginning to the end and the emotional journey or arc of your characters. It needs to show the voice or style of your book and be in the third person.
The first thing you need to do is introduce your characters and their main conflict. Then you need to show all the plot points they will encounter, their emotional journey and how they will reach their happy ever after.

Think of it in parts. I usually use five.
1. Introduce your hero.
2. Introduce your heroine.
3. Set out the story opening.
4. Show the emotional journey the characters are to go on and the main plot points which occur during that journey.
5. Set out the black moment and how this leads to the happy ever after.

What not to put in a synopsis

The synopsis is not a place to info dump the entire back story. Any important elements about a character’s past should be included in their introduction. Neither do you need every plot twist and turn or to introduce of every minor character. The synopsis is not the place to raise questions like will they ever reach their happy ever after? Keep your cliff-hangers for the story itself.

How long should a synopsis be?


The answer to this is a long as it needs to be. Check your submission details for this information, but once you have your synopsis you can either enlarge it or cut it back to suit a particular submission.

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Read an Excerpt

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Thanks, Rachael!

What about you? Do you love or hate the synopsis? Any more tips to add?

46 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The synopsis can be tough, especially as it has to be perfect. (Although I think I have an easier time with the synopsis than I do with the first time. Must be the brevity.) Although I think two of them end with a question.

DMS said...

I wish I had some tips to add- but I find them tough. They have to be so exact and perfect. I am always amazed at how long they take me. Great advice!
~Jess

Beth said...

I really don't like the synopsis! I've got better, but I still struggle to write it in a way that has any life.

Jemi Fraser said...

They can be tough! I found one tip (for the short ones) to make it 6 paragraphs. That helped me out, then I fleshed it out from there :)

Jemi Fraser said...

The advice will definitely help me out as well!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's the issue! Giving it some voice or life is hard!

Heather R. Holden said...

Oh, so much excellent advice! Writing a synopsis has never failed to trip me up, so I can see this being helpful if I ever needed to do one again...

Romance Book Haven said...

Great advice about synopsis. I find that every writer I meet talks about how hard it is to write.

Rachael Thomas said...

Just the word synopsis can strike fear into a writer Alex and that's a good tip Jemi!

Rachael Thomas said...

It does seem silly that a page or two can take so long, but as you say they have to be exact and perfect and are worth spending the time on. Thanks Jess.

Rachael Thomas said...

It is definitely an art to be practiced Beth!

Rachael Thomas said...

I'm so pleased you found it helpful Heather! Thanks.

Rachael Thomas said...

They are kind of scary aren't they Karen! Thanks for stopping by.

Rachael Thomas said...

Thanks Romance Book Haven and it's something I struggled with too in the beginning - as does every writer I think!

Denise Covey said...

Synopses do indeed strike terror into my heart. A problem is every publisher has their own guidelines: from 100 words to 5 pages. Urk! Thank you for outlining what you do.

klahanie said...

Hey Jemi and Rachael,

Some most interesting tips about the formulation of a synopsis. Thank you for that, Rachael.

I only found out recently what a blurb was. Thankfully, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, pawesome dog and acclaimed pawblisher, explained to me that a blurb was not a form of indigestion...

As paw, sorry, as per usual, I shall share your post and this excellent info.

Gary, eh :)

Jemi Fraser said...

The dreaded synopsis strikes fear into almost everyone! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

You can do it, Karen! You can do anything! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

So true! It's a whole new skill.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yes! Writing one is tough enough - never mind having so many options!

Jemi Fraser said...

Penny is always on the right track! :) Thanks for the shoutout, eh! :)

Chrys Fey said...

Thanks for this! I have to rewrite my synopsis for a book that I've revised and changed, and I'm not looking forward to it.

I hate it when I have a 2-page synopsis and agents ask for a one-page synopsis. That's just cruel!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I struggle so much with the synopsis. Thanks for the handy way to outline it out.

Crystal Collier said...

Awesome suggestions. For short ones I always focus on character arcs and 5 main plot points.

Rachael Thomas said...

Indigestion! Love it! Thanks Gary.

Rachael Thomas said...

It does feel like it Chrys but it will make you focus on the more important points of the book. Good luck!

Rachael Thomas said...

Hope it helps Natalie! Thanks.

Rachael Thomas said...

Good tip Crystal. Thanks!

Jemi Fraser said...

So true Rachael - even if it does feel like torture! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Great post. A synopsis should be concise and interesting. I used to add backstory, but I stopped doing that a long time ago.

Jemi Fraser said...

I bet you're an expert at this point! :)

Rachael Thomas said...

That's the worst part Denise. Try writing a longer one, then make a second much more condensed version.

Rachael Thomas said...

It's hard sometimes to know just what to put in. Thanks Medeia.

cleemckenzie said...

Writing a synopsis is close to putting together a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. When you get it done right, it's wonderful to look at.

Kelly Steel said...

Synopsis writing is always hard. No wonder its known as Dreaded Synopsis. All the best to Rachael.

Jemi Fraser said...

That's so true! Love the optimism :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Agreed!

Misha Gerrick said...

I actually like writing a synopsis. The secret is to focus on the important things.

Crystal Collier said...

Simple is always better, eh?

Jemi Fraser said...

Good for you! They're tricky little buggers :)

Shelley Sly said...

Good points about a synopsis! Not my favorite writing-related thing ever, but it's often necessary to write. If only it were as fun as writing the actual draft. ;)

Rachael Thomas said...

I love that thought!

Rachael Thomas said...

Thanks Kelly!

Rachael Thomas said...

Exactly so Misha!

Rachael Thomas said...

Not many writers like them Shelley, but as you say, necessary.