How To Write A Synopsis For Your Novel

First things first, we are talking about the synopsis here and not the back cover sales copy. A synopsis is what your agent, editor or publisher will ask for if they want to see what happens in your entire story before reading your manuscript. Your synopsis must, therefore, convey the book's entire narrative from beginning to end. It is the synopsis that sells your story so if it is not good enough, your manuscript might not be given a chance. Make sure your synopsis is compelling enough for whoever reads it to want to read the manuscript.

Why Your Agent Or Editor Needs The Synopsis

Below are some of the key things your editor or agent will look for in the synopsis.

Do the characters' actions and emotions make sense?

Does your plot make sense? Are there any flaws in the plot?

Does the structure make sense?

Is there anything unique, surprising or fresh about your story?

Tips On Writing A Good Synopsis

Keep It Short: There is no strict rule about how long your synopsis should be, but general agreement is that the shorter the better. Much as your agent wants to know how the events in the story unfold and how they are all glued together, they are not looking to read a very long and exhausting document.

Do Not Include Dialogue: Unless absolutely necessary, do not include any dialogue in your synopsis. You can include some compelling quotes from the characters if you have to, but make sure they are brief. Detailed dialogue has no place in the synopsis.

Complete It: Although the synopsis is supposed to be just a summary of the story, it must feel complete. Your synopsis must have a beginning, a middle and an end, and it should be written in a way that keeps events in the same order as they appear in the story.

Not Too Many Details: It is okay to mention the names of the main characters and other such major details, but be careful not to fill the synopsis with unnecessary details. The agent will find all that inside the manuscript. All they want to see here is if your story actually makes sense and if your manuscript is worth their time.

No Character Backstory: If your story has flashbacks and other such backstory material, leave it out of your synopsis unless it directly affects how the current events play out. If, for example, the story has flashbacks that directly affect the character's current actions, then you can include them.

Don’t Label The Different Plot Points: Leave your synopsis as one, except in unique narrative structure where you need sub headings.

Please remember that you are not writing a sales pitch here to entice someone into buying your book. In a synopsis, you are giving your agent or publisher a compressed version of your whole book, so make sure it is as comprehensive as possible, but be careful not to include unnecessary details.