I have a third reason for writing a blurb and a synopsis before you even start, to know the the story has legs for genre expectations. Far easier to write a one or two page synopsis to start with than to try and condense a story once completed
The only downside I see to this method is if you change directions while in the thrill of writing. I suppose you could write a new one after though, and I agree on it being harder to condense the story down to a synopsis. I’m battling that currently.
Absolutely loved this as it wasted no time, direct and God forbid no cackling or cutesy crap. Your vids are all direct, which projects professionalism. Imagine a literary agency where the head has most of the day to do RU-vid videos and has been in the business for years...? Every video has cackling, I'm a lovable easy going ... Nut job, unprofessional and advise is good, however, not appealing. YOU ... win hands down for doing great vids and your website is tagged and written down for future services. I'm a work kind of person, get it done, you present well, much appreciated.
So helpful to have you say it's supposed to be boring and bland! My synopsis sounds like "this happens then this then they do this and then this..." SO bland, but how else do you get the plot of a 350 page fantasy novel into 3?
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!!! I have been researching how to do this and you have BY FAR explained this to me in a way that is comprehensive and easy to understand! I’ve liked and subbed! Looking forward to your content! Thanks for being here!!!
Hi Alyssa! Question: I'm trying to start out my synopsis, but the first sentence either turns out just like the first sentence of my blurb, or something similar. I'm wondering if agents/editors will find it amateur-ish or weird if both my blurb and synopsis start out the same.
Well this is late but I'll ask: I've heard some sources claim a synopsis should start with a 'pitch line' which tries to overview what the heart of the story is and what its About in one sentence, before going into the plot. Is this true or not, and if so how would you do it? Also, for a story in an unusual setting, would you recommend starting with describing that, or go right into the protagonist and the inciting incident?
Would it not be wise to admit that there are some novels that include a synopsis of previous events to catch the reader up on the plot? I know it's rare, but I have seen it done for certain books that might have come out a little later, or that might have been sequels of highly successful works that went on hiatus for one reason or other. Thank you for your insights on how to craft a good synopsis. So few of us have a good handle on how to do it well.
Have you considered adding the links for your new videos to Reddit? I know you did once (that's how I discovered you in the 1st place), but I don't think I've seen any more of your links there for a while.
In a historical or SFF book [how] do you recommend you orient the synopsis reader at the start? I've reviewed (and written) a few and often you spend the first few paragraphs trying to work out where and when, and then have to go back and start again. "Frodo's uncle was planning a party" is a clear and accurate start, but doesn't really help the reader get to grips with the book, ditto "Sir Percy Blakeney was going to Paris again"
I'm thinking that the synopsis is for the agent to assess the _coherence_ of the whole story. The important events of the story must be described in a way that shows that the writer has actually written a complete story, and that it all ends up making sense. The agent wants to feel that the author hasn't gotten lost along the way and ended up with an incoherent mess, instead of a sensible story, before they commit themselves to many, many hours actually reading the full manuscript.
@@AlyssaMatesic - thanks for responding! 😊 I imagine that an agent would feel very frustrated with an author if the manuscript ended with some dumb thing like: _"It was all just a dream"!_ 🤮 It's no wonder agents request a synopsis. The agent's time is precious, and to get to the end of the manuscript only to discover it's fatally flawed with some kind of dishonest or nonsense ending would be very disheartening indeed! Plus, I feel that it really helps the author to avoid serious plot problems of they are forced to explain the plot in a condensed format. If the author really isn't able the explain the plot in a coherent manner to the agent, _in writing_ ... they're probably doing something wrong that needs to be fixed _before_ querying.
That's an excellent point. I found that when I reduced my synopsis to the emotional spine of the story, with only the info required to explain that emotional spine, then I could write it in one page and it came together very well. In fact, the version of my story that could be successfully reduced in such a way was the version that worked best. As a result, doing the annoying synopsis turned out to be a valuable test of the story's core.
In this case, a synopsis is an overall summary of a novel's plot, including the ending, so that an agent or editor can quickly understand what's happening in the story. While you can approach it in a chapter-by-chapter style, I caution against getting too detailed with each chapter's description! Best of luck!
This may be a disliked comment and contraversial opinion. I did not like the hate you gave. This book was very annoying to read. (Spoilers) Reasons why: The main character acted like she was the main character in a horror movie, meaning she made the wrong choices almost every time, such as being friends with racist people or going to a party even though she didn't want to. Others are weird details that are never used again, like the sneakers. She goes on and on about shoes the first few chapters and never uses that detailed skill ever again in the story. Lastly, she's soo pasive. The world around her is placing her in situations, she doesn't have any desitions or acts that she makes herself, she's just pulled through the conficts. Theirs no character to her what so ever. The only desition was in the last moment of the story where she agree's to do the speech and even that seemed force.
Hello, you mentioned different points of view in the synopsis. If my book comprises 7, how do I include it, please? Should I give each person a seperate paragraph? Some of the characters' views appear only once, but I know who my main protagonist is. Would you recommend focusing on that person as it mostly carries the story? Thank you
