A synopsis is a storyline description in narrative form. Its goal is to offer the reader a sense of the storyline of your work and how it will unfold. That really is all there is to it! So, let’s get to WHO the summary is for. It is mostly for agents and editors to determine whether your manuscript fits within their market. Furthermore, creating a summary is a great way for authors to break down their manuscript and the sum of its pieces. So, if you’re having writer’s block or struggling to explain your objectives to others, producing a summary might be beneficial.
Your novel description should accomplish two goals: it should describe the substance of your book and it should be engaging. While you don’t need to pull out all the marketing stops at this point, you should have a small hook at the start and a feeling of urgency underpinning the content to keep the reader interested. It should entice potential agents to read the entire novel, even if they already know what occurs.
Following are some of the steps to write a synopsis:
- First, master the fundamentals.
When it comes to creating a summary, the substance is everything. No matter how eloquently you present it, an agent will dismiss any piece that lacks a completely fleshed-out plot and a solid narrative arc. As a result, it comes to reason that when you first start writing, you should concentrate on the essentials. Also, keep in mind that the material in this section is written in the third person, present tense, as it should be regardless of the tense or POV of your real work. Writing a summary in the first or second person is ineffective since it is not designed to be narrated — only summarized. Essentially, the present tense engages the reader while the third person tells the tale seamlessly.
- Highlight what makes you distinctive.
Now is the moment to spice up your summary by emphasizing the qualities that set it apart. Agents want to know what makes your book unique — and, more importantly, is it unique enough to entice readers to pick it up? The following are some aspects you might use to get an agent’s notice and convince them of your book’s attractiveness.
- Clarity and excess should be edited out.
Don’t shroud your synopsis in mystery; doing so will irritate agents who want to know what occurs in your novel! With that in mind, it’s time to edit for clarity once you’ve written most of your summary. You may also need to eliminate some content to bring it to that two-page sweet spot.
- Make certain that it flows.
When you’re done, your synopsis should read like a summary from a good book review. This includes not just hitting every crucial point clearly and simply, but also reading smoothly, with exactly the perfect amount of focus on the critical times and distinctive elements we’ve addressed.
BOTTOM LINE:
Your synopsis is one of the most important criteria in determining if an agent wants to see more from you. Whatever your query letter says, the bottom line is that this synopsis tells agents about your book. That is why it is critical that you write an impenetrable summary.
