| If Not Hell… Purgatory? |
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| Written by Gordon Carroll | |
 Okay, There are lots and lots of ways to write a synopsis. To date I’ve written five novels, (three in the last three years), and I’ve written queries and synopses (yes, this is the plural form of synopsis) for each of them (actually numerous queries and synopses for each one). There are lots and lots of ways to write a synopsis, but I will share what worked best for me.Important note: All synopses are told in omniscient present tense. There are no exceptions to  this rule.Overview: Your synopsis is a brief summary of your story. It should consist of a bird's eye view of the plot, as if from a mile above. A synopsis is a breakdown of the central plot and storyline, and it should introduce the central characters. The real difficulty in writing the synopses is what to put in and what to leave out. Personally the easiest way I have found to do this is The Easy Sentence method. Let’s try it.  Start, and keep it easy. Like eating the elephant, one bite at a time. So, easy. Let’s go with Bambi.We’ll start with a short statement. What is the story about? -Bambi is a story about wildlife. Hmm. True but boring and uninformative. Still, it’s a start to get your juices flowing. What is it about Bambi that makes it more interesting than just a story about wildlife? -Bambi is about a newborn deer, who will one day be king of the forest. Ahh. So, we now know that Bambi is the main character, that he is a deer and a newborn prince. Let’s flesh it out a little more. -Bambi tells of the challenges facing a deer born to royalty but hunted by man.  Now we have conflict and the beginnings of a story. Time for the Pitch Line or How to Describe Your Story in 25 Words or Less. Think about your readers. A synopsis usually is for an agent, editor, or publisher. You need to capture her attention, while still getting the main thrust of the story. -Bambi, the story of a deer, born to be king, facing the dangers of man, fire and the loss of his mother.  Okay, and only 22 words. Is it the best? Probably not, but it’s a pretty good hook.I think it’s good to start your synopsis with a Pitch Line type of statement that describes your story in 25 words or less. You can go over 25 if you have to, but try and keep it right around there. It will help you stick to the main aspects of your story. As for those main aspects, we need to look at them to write our synopsis. We will start that in the next blog. In the mean time, don’t let the Monkey shoot you. |
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