It is unnecessary to mention that you must have an edited, proofread, and polished manuscript before you start seeking the attention of agents. However, there are two more things that should be on your agenda to prepare you to start interacting with agents: your synopsis and query letter.

Many writers often consider writing synopses, otherwise known as outlines, to be a daunting task. You shouldn’t tie yourself into mental and emotional knots at the thought of writing a synopsis. It is a simple task but can be challenging, especially if your mind is not in the right place. As a writer, you should have two versions of the synopsis for any novel so that you can be ready to provide what various agents want to see, along with your query letters. You should also be ready to write other synopses on demand, particularly if an agent requests a synopsis after reading your query letter.

The first ever synopsis that should be written for any book is one that summarizes the events in every chapter of the book. Each paragraph should be summarized in one or two paragraphs. A 100,000 word book can be summarized in about 10 single-spaced pages with a line between paragraphs. The main reason for that is to differentiate between the manuscripts (which are usually double-spaced) from the synopses. However, if an agent asks you to double-space the synopsis, you should comply with the request.

For the second synopsis, you should make it as brief as possible. This synopsis should be for agents who require a single-page synopsis instead of the long-winded one. Such a synopsis is so brief that it is impossible to summarize the book on a chapter-by-chapter basis. A short synopsis is a lot harder to write than a long one because you have to think about what to include or exclude, how much detail to include, how to encompass everything, and many other things. Essentially, what you are supposed to do to write such a synopsis is to cut, summarize, and then cut some more. The process of writing a synopsis gets easier as you write more book-length works.

A synopsis should be written in present tense and should summarize the entire book. Don’t be tempted to say things like, “…to know how the story ends…read the manuscript!” Such stunts will annoy agents and editors more than you know and the agents will probably set your submission aside or throw it in the bin.

In a synopsis, you should include the juiciest and most vivid details. Draft a synopsis in the same way as you would describe a good movie to a friend. Don’t talk about every detail but rather focus on making the plot flow in an understandable way. Language in a synopsis should be precise and vivid.

When you are writing a synopsis, consider your readers to be like scouts around a campfire. They have short attention spans and are distracted most of the time. The synopsis therefore has to be dynamic, riveting, and it should grab anyone’s attention and keep him/her hooked.