How To Write A Book Synopsis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ส.ค. 2018
- What is a book synopsis, why do you need one, and how do you write one? For one: a synopsis is NOT THE SAME as back cover copy/story blurbs!
I'm breaking it down, sharing dos/don'ts and my best tips & tricks for writing a synopsis! This includes some nitty-gritty formatting tips and best practices.
Susan Dennard's Guide to Writing a 1 Page Synopsis: www.publishingcrawl.com/2012/0...
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bahahaha i literally said aloud "THAT'S AN OUTLINE" a second before you predicted me saying it XD
I feel so judged.
She has the power of an enemy stand!
Definitely saw the cat. Thought it was some sort of glitch in the Matrix.
I was able to cut his jump up, but there was no way to cut out a micro-second of the jump without losing the meaning of what I was saying haha.
Me too!!
I'd say an OUTLINE is telling your friends how you make that cake. A SYNOPSIS is giving them the recipe. A BLURB is hinting that it's a cake with a twist. A BOOK is the cake ;)
Plantser here, I actually would rather send queries to agents who require synopses because I'm not sure a query can convey enough to them.
1:24
I was dead sure you were going to say "Alexa, play Despacito".
Walder Frey of the Twins. SAME
Fucken Same
I’m a plotter, but synopses still kind of terrify me 😂 It’s so hard to sum up a novel, especially your own! Thanks for these tips 😊
Man, a synopsis sounds so terrifying! Like I understand how it can be as an outline, but an outline an be all messy- as long as you (the writer) understand it; a synopsis needs to be pilished and clear for other people to understand!
I just want to curl up at your feet and have you guide me through the pain that is the traditional publishing world, lmao
A method I used to help with the necessary elements of the synopsis is to write the ending first, figure out the key elements and work backwards from there. Made the process a lot less confusing for me and got rid of all the clutter!
I love writing query letters and synopses! Definitely recognize that I'm in the minority, though. I'm a freelance editor, and helping clients with their synopses after reading their books is so much fun. These are great synopsis-writing tips -- I'm glad you brought up the third-person present-tense thing!
could I interest you in looking over my synopsis before I send it out to some freelance developmental editors? I'm only aiming to write a three page synopsis since it's for a small novella. I'd Venmo you if I could see your past work and see if we're a good fit.
Would you like to help me create a synopsis? I have a hell of a novel I’m looking to publish
I'm so glad you made this. I literally looked up "synopsis" on your channel's search bar 2 days ago, so perfect timing!
ALSO AHH! So excited you've chosen my CP (Fay Aden) as a mentor this year for AMM!!! She is so amazing and her book is gonna be BIG.
Great! Thanks for the hint for Susan Dennard's synopsis guide!
I had to learn to write them recently! But after a few years of practising queries, I already had a little bit of experience trying to condense my novel. It was ok in the end. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thanks a lot for this! I'm applying for a creative writing course and it said on the application that I needed one soooo here I am! 🥰
I'm definitely going to check out Susan Dennard's post too!! 🤗
I never even considered that I might need to do this, so this video was very useful! I like to look at things like this as a challenge, and I do enjoy my challenges (at least when it comes to writing. Screw life challenges).
I write a synopsis before drafting, too, haha! I never "outline" because me and beat sheets just don't mix lol, but a general synopsis has always been my way to go. I tend to write one after my general brainstorming is over because once I know the characters better, I can plan for the plot better as well. And then I can draft with flexibility. Love this video, thank you for all the tips and tricks! Super helpful and motivating, as always! :D
I have so far not gotten to the synopsis stage but after listening to you, it sounds like the rules for writing down a recipe. You include all of the ingredients and how and when they come into the preparation.
To me, writing a synopsis for my manuscript sounds immeasurably easier than writing the query. Had a hell of a time coming up with the pitch. I may change my mind by the time I finish.
Thank you so much, Alexa! All your videos are extremely helpful!
Fellow panster writer~! Your video is super timely, I was setting up my 1st round of query submissions and one of the agents requires a synopsis & a bio instead of a query letter. Thanks for the tips and the blog post was really informative. :)
I love it! I loved the metaphors. I was actually watching the video because I am going to write the summery before the book... Funny you say that. Keep writing and keep making vids!!
you always give the ebst advice. much appreciated
I have nothing much more to say other than: Holy dang, thank you for the easy to understand tips and resources. My anxiety has been fucking me up over how to approach writing this, and knowing that plenty of other folks feel the same way makes it less daunting.
This is literally perfect timing! I’ve been pulling out my hair attempting to write one for Pitch Wars! 😂
I got upset with never finishing stories. So now I only write synopsis. Having fun with it. Realising mechanisms. Dealing with time. I have no intention of writing the stories. I just want to finish stuff. But thanks now I understand that it's about giving away some of the driving forces behind the actions and not only the actions. And the oneliner! Definately I will add one! Thanks!
Ha ha ha! I have my own form. It's called: "Fill in the blanks". So I open the link. The same name. I constructed mine after "Bazbattles". A history channel on utube. Here' s my Fill in the blanks. (Once upon a time) add 3 sentences (The battle was about to begin ) no sentences (Months earlier) add 3 sentences (X was well aware of this) add 3 (This was a HUGE mistake) add 3 (and the consequences were...) add 3 (But That is a story for another time) add nothing. That's the end. And u may only use 10 mins. Enjoy the torture. Bwahaha!!
Thanks for posting this one. Couldn't have come at a better time.
I like synopsis. They're one of the two things I first create when I plan a story, along with the main character/s
I used to be a pantser, but I recently discovered that if I don't keep notes of my ideas, then I forget them. And, somehow, those notes turn into synopses for my stories. And they're fun to write! Who knew!
Loved the blurb on the back of the cover metaphor - rich and cool hahaha so true! 😂
Great video, really helpful, thank you!!!
Thank you. I'm on page 3 of my 1 page Synopsis.
Thank you so much for doing this video. It has truly helped me with my first National Novel writing month. OMG such a FLUFFY kitty ,
2:36 ahahahaha, cat just went "weeee"
Hi I’m new to writing ✍️ and I have so many questions due to lack of knowledge. I find your world to be exciting and fascinating, the opportunity seem endless. I also noticed everyone is so kind and giving. I thank you for your well thought out helpful information. All you writers are cut from the same stone; the shiny and beautiful spirit stone. God bless you lovely 😊 human being.
SUPER helpful!
Thanks for making this video!
Thank you for your helpful video xx
Thank you this was so helpful!!! 💜💜🖤
I needed this video hard!
If you ever re-visit this topic, I'd love to see a concrete example, perhaps a partial synopsis of a well-known book (Pride and Prejudice?) with a few do's and don't's.
Thanks for the tips!
I like to write a timeline (outline) as I go along. I don't write chronologically, so I need some organization. I need to quickly know what's already happened or hasn't. If I think of it, I'll add events I haven't written yet. I also write down any plot/character questions that pop up in my head, and slowly check them off. I try to write stuff that checks a few of those questions off at one time. Or try to add them to things I already wrote. If I get writer's block, I look over my list of questions and try to answer at least one. That usually clears away blockage.
Alexa, have you done a video on making back cover blurbs??
thanks for the input
Super helpful ❤❤❤❤
I'm in the process of writing one.
I'm literally so embarrassed because I didn't think about this synopsis thing... and I did the WRONG thing. Totally submitted a query with my little story blurb thing as the synopsis... THERE GOES THAT OPPORTUNITY.... *Ducks head and rolls onto the floor in embarrassment* XD It was only one query... Only one. But it's out there in the world... and I'm shook. Thank you for this video and for saving me before I was an IDIOT anywhere else.
I have to admit i'm particularly terrified of this (even as an outliner) because my novel has dual timelines haha. Up the difficulty two-fold!
Thanks so much. As a writer I have had most diffifulty with writing the synopsis. So often I have received rejections because I am almost certain all the literary agent read was the query letter and the synopsis and judged my work without reading the sample of my actual book.
thanks the video is very handy and alot of good info and tips :) but i had to pause a couple minutes into the video to tell u I LOVE THAT CAT THAT JUST POPS UP BEHIND YOU NEAR THE BEGINNING XD XD XD x
Saw the cat! Thanks for adding this video. And BTW, when you said your name, (Amazon) Alexa in my house answered. Hilarious! I couldn't figure out why she started asking me something, then realized...it's your name! :) Donna
Rewatching this video and just now noticing curious kitty at 1:41 😩😂😍
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Fighting with myself over my synopsis. Dual timeline? Oh noes!
I like the idea of writing a synopsis, as I feel it'll really help me solidify and contextualize the meat and bones of my story. the actual act of writing the synopsis though, perhaps not as much. but I've been on break from college since February 2022 so this may be a good chance for me to reactivate some critical thinking neurons in my brain 😂
Yay! I'm a Unicorn! I absolutely love Synopsis & Titles! They are absolutely my shit!
I love your videos btw! I've been binge watching them all day.
Could you do a video on how to properly write a character description? Describing their appearance is what I mean.
What do you write first? Outline the. Query then synopsis? What’s needed to send a manuscript out what should I do first ?
when writing a synopsis for a manuscript, do we include the prologue or just what comes after that?
Alexa, I have a collection of writings and that's my book. Could you maybe give me some tips on how to do a synopsis on a collection?
Susan's guide seems like a beat sheet.
I've seen differing opinions about proper length of synopses... ranging from 600-1500 words. Keeping in mind that the middle of that range (around 1000 words) is approximately 3 pages of 1.5 spaced text. That seems to be longer than what you were suggesting. Does this differ from agent to agent (or editor to editor, for that matter)? And if so, is it better for an author to write a couple different synopses, differing in length for each?
Where is the link for Sudan’s Synopsis outline, please? Thanks Alexa! ❤️
Any tips for pitching a script or synopsis? Xx
Question: Does living in the midwest (far away from New York, Boston, etc) make it hard to get a good agent and a book deal with a major publishing house?
Absolutely not.
Forgive my noobness but I'm a bit confused on one thing. I've heard from some that a synopsis covers what takes place in your manuscript from front to back while I've also heard that a synopsis is essentially what's going to be on the back of the book. What confuses me is that the back of the book isn't supposed to cover everything that takes place in the manuscript...so which is it... I don't want to make a mistake if a literary agent requests a synopsis.
Peep the kitty jumping up in the background😂
I don’t like writing synopsis’s but I love reading them for some reason
Thanks for explaining what a synopsis is.. This is really helpful.. I have a novel idea. It is about a guy that fights against the fanatics of a monotheistic cult. Along the way he and his girlfriend learn about how to run a cult in a humane way. Yeah those two sentences are the nutshell. The story can be complicated in a hurry. Religion is a very complex topic. There are so many ideas for adventures and side characters. I recently wrote the outline. Now I need to write a synopsis. I am working with my mom. She is an unofficial editor. Now I see what a synopsis is. It is basically a summery of the story, and it does reveal the ending. I am a die hard plotter. I think I may have an advantage. I can just start with the outline and boil it down from there. Maybe it would be better if it was done the other way around. Still reverse engineering that stuff can't be too bad. I think there is a difference between a synopsis and outline. A synopsis seems super short. The video describes it as being 1-2 pages. Outlines don't have such strict rules. There are different ways to outline. No one way is the best for everyone. I advise for one to use whatever format works best for them personally. An outline is usually for the author themselves. It isn't something to show to an agent or publisher. So there is a lot more leeway. My story outline is a lot longer than two pages. I deem it necessary. First I have a list of the characters. Each character has thier story role described in a few sentences. Then there is all the chapters. Each chapter has a paragraph describing the events. It is done by telling as opposed to showing. Having all these paragraphs make the outline take up multiple pages. Personally I prefer outlines that are more thorough and detailed. If I go that route the outline starts to resemble a rough draft. That is intriguing how that works. If I am working out major plot points, it is best to be super straightforward. I can find and correct any major mistakes.. It is efficient that way. I can save the flowery descriptions for the rough draft. Be warned, only use flowery descriptions in moderation. For the love of gosh. A good outline makes the rough draft significantly higher in quality. So one saves a ton of time in the revision process.
I'm getting so frustrated with this. Since I'm not published, I used a bit of a summation in my query. The agent I am querying requires both and now I feel like I need to change up my query letter as I don't want to be repetitive. This is my first time querying and I'm starting to panic. Any advice on what I should do?
A friend and I are sending my work out to literary agents and came across an agency requesting a 5-6 page synopsis...
I am writing a synopsis for a play. I only like them because hopefully my play will get produced
Should I have my manuscript professionally edited before I query agents? Or is self-editing/ proof-readers and the like enough considering there's a chance the publisher may want changes made to the manuscript?
No! You do not need to hire an editor. I actually have an entire video strongly stating my opinion on this. I think it is a waste of money to hire anyone to work on your book at that stage.
Thank you. That was a great video, hit the nail on the head for me. :D
I am one of those unicorns. I love summarizing my story in a few sentences. I start out with a six word story (look them up!) And then build off it.
You're awesome... and beautiful. Thank you
OH MY GOODNESS, it WORKED!!! [uncontrollable crying]
I abase myself at thy feet, O wise sage.
This synopsis-fearing noob owes you a great debt.
1:40
KITTTEH!!!!
I don't mind this, This would help me with my story but so much it does. How would you make a new world? I want to write a newly couple that they met their match being both adventurous in sighting different details. I don't know who to stay with for the view point. A ancestral objects comes down to their honey moon to see how strong they are to be together. But I don't want to go cheap on world building I thinking about the biologists and dreamers. Not goal following dreamers but who like to sleep longer to know how their dream goes into interesting stuff to analyze. I think I dream to entertain myself because I am interested in what happens. I'm thinking one of them is a biologists, and general scientist that's how they are out to a mysterious energy filled area that possibly in Arizona Canyon. I never been there but I'm thinking rocky and hot possibly deserty. The object I'm thinking of is saturated encestral egg and when the couple has thoroughly learn about the world that dropped down to them to go into and leaving them a form of a gift, giving them an adventure that's enriching for them. That's giving problems of making a good conflict and land laying. I know one main is to get back home. I have a mild bad guy and it's not his fault for in it's nature by having a disease that takes his mental control be cut in half, the villain for that is who made him be diseased, how, why. I've thought who the people in my would will be but it might be a split community of humans and evolved pollenaters. Like bees, ants, moths, butterflies and maybe nightlight flies. I'm figuring out their council. I already started physically built the map and is so big so great potentional of a series and other smaller, only one book sized novels bouncing off the world. But I'm not a biologists myself I don't know what to bring out but I'm so if my newly wed story just managed to be a series, being thorough. I don't know how to end to split up the adventure I want the first visit to be only in one novel, so is it okay to do JK Rowling and Lord of the rings way? I never read Lord of the rings but if it's has anything on the movies they seem to be lengthy long. Just give what ever size the book will be than making things be standard?
Omg the cat at 2:37
I like it lol
I saw that cat go flying, ha, ha!
Thanks for the "Third person present tense" line. That could have been embarrassing for me.
paused the video to sub, bruh that cat gave me a heart attack. xo
2:37 CAT!!!
I find writing a synopsis interesting, I don't love them, but I like them, I do find them a little difficult though.
I prefer synopsis over query letters any day so that makes me a unicorn.
Cat at 2:37 LOL
I must be a unicorn. I look at writing a synopsis or blurb as a challenge to my skills as a writer.
Really people are afraid to write synopsis I’m not afraid I just don’t know how and I like stories I like making things up so for me I just wanna know how to be better at putting my thoughts together yeah HELP
This seems like it might be a great plotting tool for a non-plotter like me! I might try this when I start working with my second novel idea! I am currently editing my first novel and if you want to see editing vlogs and writing tags, please check out my channel!!
that cat....
I like writing synopsis is full of words so whats no to like?
lol
nice one... you did say lastly like three times though lol
1:41 the cat tho
Synopsis?! NOOOOOOOOOOO!
I barely understand you… gotta do this for school…
We saw that cat before the cut Alexa lol
“Hey Alexa “ write a book synopsis ! 🤪
Did anyone else see the cat jump on the shelf?!?
do you write synopses for authors? Cause, if you do, you're hired
How to create a shared universe in books