How to Write a Synopsis for Your Novel
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2020
- How do you write a synopsis for a novel? What even is a synopsis? How long should it be? We answer viewers' synopsis questions in this week's video, plus we give an example synopsis for a famous novel. Learn more at thebookdoctors.com/synopsis/. SUBSCRIBE: goo.gl/9VaE9C.
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WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO
What happens if a literary agent asks for a synopsis? Don't panic. Here's a beginner's guide to writing a synopsis.
0:23 Why is a synopsis important for querying and selling your book? Because it shows if your book has a plot and if you know how to pace a book.
1:00 What is a synopsis? It's about the skeleton of your book. Does this book pay off? It gives an overview of the plot for your ENTIRE novel, including the ending. It shows that you can pace a novel to keep readers turning the page.
1:41 A literary agent shares how a synopsis revealed pacing mistakes in a novel.
2:12 How do you write a synopsis for a novel? Here's an example synopsis for a famous book. A literary agent tells the synopsis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
2:50 Check out Arielle's synopsis for Pride and Prejudice at thebookdoctors.com/synopsis/
3:03 How do you start a synopsis? You start at the inciting incident.
3:49 How do you build a synopsis? You heighten stakes and show ebbs in pacing.
6:55 How long should a novel synopsis be? We recommend a synopsis be two to five pages long.
7:07 Include character development in a synopsis.
7:14 Do not be vague in your synopsis. Show action in concrete details. Show the events that drive the plot forward. Make us feel the stakes.
7:47 Show that you can write unexpected twists and turns that are satisfying for your reader because they make sense. Reveal the characters' motivations that drive these events.
8:15 To master the art of synopsis writing, try writing one for another author's book that's similar to yours.
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THE BOOK DOCTORS
We’re Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry. Between us, we have almost half a century’s worth of experience turning talented writers into published authors. Arielle is an author and agent-at-large at the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. David is an author and before writing professionally, he was a comic and actor. We’re dedicated to helping writers get their books published. Successfully!
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So much great info and advice packed into this video!
Thx so much, Jaelithe!
I don't know if you're still monitoring comments on this video but as yours is the best synopsis how-to I've seen and I still can't figure out my synopsis dilemma, I'm giving it a shot.
I see someone asked about multiple protagonists, (which I also have), but I can't find reference to my more pressing (as in, I'm pulling my hair out over this) issue of chronological order, or lack thereof. My story is told chronologically in its present, but it jumps back in time to show the lead up to the present. Over the course of the novel, the present story progresses and the back story comes ever closer to the present until they meet and we stay in the present story. I know I am not the first person to ever write a non-chronological novel (I mean, please), and yet I can't find a word about such a possibility in all the synopsis help videos and articles I've seen. Ok, I did actually see one quick mention that basically recommended putting the synopsis in chronological order even if your novel isn't. But that brings me to my question based on your excellent video: how on earth can a synopsis *show pacing* if it doesn't follow the actual pacing of the book??
When I try writing the synopsis in chronological order it seems totally untrue to the book. On the other hand when I try to write it following the back and forth it's clumsy, which is also untrue to the book. How can one smoothly move in time in a synopsis that's supposed to basically say this happens then this happens and then finally that happens? So...any suggestions? I'd like to still have some hair on my head by the time I get through this! Thanks for any guidance you can offer. Stay well!
Thank you for this lovely comment! And you do have a difficult job. We have a video called "For submission purposes only". In that video, we talk about how the job of your synopsis is just to make someone want to read the novel. Maybe you just have one sentence that starts the pitch that is out of chronological order and the rest is chronological. It's a matter of lots and lots of trial and error. Try reading it out loud as well. That can be really helpful.
In addition to this video, I checked out the sample on your website. Thanks so much! You guys are the best! It gives me a much better idea how to build a synopsis. That's how I look at it. I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as time rolls on. (You know I love queries.) Hope you're healthy and safe! - Al xo
YAY! So glad it is helpful.
This is really helpful. To relate forward to your recent video about structure, those action points are the stones that you're collecting for the book. Then once you have the stones plotters can plot them in the synopsis.
So glad it was helpful!
I love writing synopsis'! y'all always make my day! love your videos! Keep up the awesome work! Thanks for all the tips on writing the synopsis...I now know what mine have been missing! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for the very kind words!
@@TheBookDoctors y'all are so welcome! My channel is The novel Nana and I am learning and sharing as I go! That is why I love y'all's channel so much...because you take the time to share your knowledge!
@@TheNovelNana We'll check out your channel!
@@TheBookDoctors thank you so very much! that is so nice of you! I sure do appreciate y'all
Get out! I haven't even seen the video yet! I had to comment! ❤
You're the sweetest!
@@TheBookDoctors much love to you ❤
Hello Book Doctors! Today is my birthday (August 3rd), and I am 24 in my mid 20’s now! I emailed Kristi on her Book Doctors email address to share pictures of my special day for you guys!
Thanks so much!
Great video! I love the Pride and Prejudice example. Is there a rule of thumb for the number of characters to be included in the synopsis?
You definitely get to expand on characters in a synopsis vs. a pitch. But you don't want to dial down too much. In the Pride and Prejudice examples, we still concentrated on Elizabeth, Darcy and Whickham. But other characters made their way in like Darcy's sister, Elizabeth's sister, and Darcy's aunt, as they were relevant to the plot twists.
Do agents/publishers usually ask for a synopsis for a memoir? I heard they didn't. Good vid!
Typically, no. Usually a chapter-by-chapter outline instead of a synopsis.
Thanks
Can I change the order the story is told in the synopsis. My novel alternates between two protagonists; however, this doesn't work well in a synopsis. Thanks for your time.
That's a really interesting question. We have this phrase we use (which we actually have a video on) called "for submission purposes only". What it means is that there are certain things you can do to help sell the book even if they're not 100% true to the content. For example, you might highlight one character in your pitch even if there are four main characters. It's really impossible to pitch a book with four characters and give anyone a sense of plot as well. So our answer would be, Yes! Go ahead and switch it up for the synopsis.
I am publishing my book with agarwood publishing In NewYork ...please tell me I am not being scammed!😭
We don't know them, but please do your research!