How to Write a Great Synopsis for Your Literary Agent or Publisher

chillibreeze writer — Nisha Meledath

For most writers, the effort and love put into writing a book is almost comparable to the process of giving birth to a child. From the inception of a book idea to bringing forth the book into the world, it takes genuine sincerity and perseverance. Imagine being expected to suck the blood out of it and to remove all the flesh from its body to leave just bare bones for others’ critical eyes... Ouch! It can be the most agonizing thing. And so it is quite understandable why some writers find it so difficult to write a synopsis; some even find it absolutely offensive. Because that is exactly what a synopsis is – just the bleached bones of your book that you have so lovingly put together. However, that is just one way of seeing it.

A publisher or an agent may argue differently. According to them, if a writer can toil hard enough to produce so many pages of a book, writing a single page of synopsis should be a no-brainer. And their expectations are justified. Besides, they receive hundreds of manuscript and going through each manuscript is definitely a lot of effort. Hence, if you want your manuscript to be given serious consideration, you just have to take a deep breath and irrespective of whether you like it or not, you must sit down and write that winning synopsis.

For most writers, coming up with a synopsis can be an arduous task. But keeping the following tips in mind can make the process a little bit less daunting:

Writing synopses for fiction pieces:

1. It is advisable to note down the name of characters, their contribution to the plot, the plot unfolding and the chapter breakdown. Keep the paper handy while writing the synopsis so that nothing of importance is forgotten. However, make sure that the unnecessary details are not included in the synopsis.
2. Write the synopsis in third person and present tense. And importantly, edit and polish it till it shines.
3. It is important to understand the genre of the novel that one is writing. It helps to make it a better book and keep the writing in proper tracks. Any doubts about the genre oozing out on your manuscript can lead it straight to the slush-pile.
4. It is preferable to start with a blurb or brief summary of 30-75 words and then follow it up with a detailed overview which conveys the plot of the story in a concise manner and the way it unfolds. Two to three pages of synopsis is fine but a few pages extra or less doesn’t matter. Just make sure you are satisfied before you send it out. Make it a compelling read. That might clinch the book deal!

Pointers for a non-fiction synopsis:
A non-fiction synopsis is a lot different than a fiction. Since the non-fiction market is generally more straightforward and predictable, the publishers can be directly approached. There are chances that a book-deal can be finalized simply by looking at the synopsis and sample chapters alone which happens to be a rarity in fiction. Enough reason for non-fiction writers to concentrate better on their synopsis!

A few things to remember:

1. It is best to carefully research the market which would help you in understanding the marketing opportunities you may have. You should know your market before submitting. Example: If it is a cookery book, the home-makers would find it interesting.
2. Understanding your competitors and explaining why your book is different and why you are the best person to write it tends to create a confidence in publishers regarding your book. Example: If you are writing a cookbook of Asian cuisines, the factor that you are from that part of the world or have travelled Asia extensively can play to your strengths.
3. Approaching the correct agents and publishers for your book is important. You cannot send synopsis for a cookery book to a publisher who publishes only children’s books. Do your research.
4. A word count estimate is a great way to let the publisher know what they are in for and so is the chapter breakdown, the introduction and opening chapter included with it.
5. If you have any guaranteed markets, for example, the students you teach or university tie-ups, mentioning them will work to your advantage.
6. If you have any marketing ideas, spell it out as well.

It is necessary to remember that for a publisher, the quality of your writings and your ability to sustain interest in a reader is the most important thing. You have to put equal efforts in writing a gripping synopsis as well as the book. The publishers should be interested enough to ask for more. They have a business to run and you just have to prove to them that you are worth your salt. All said and done, it is probably the best to write a synopsis that sounds just like you. Happy writing!

 

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in May, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

 

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—About our writer: A Software Engineer by profession, Nisha Meledath has top technology solution companies. She has taken a career break to work towards her dreams of becoming an author. Reading is her first love and she considers herself an incorrigible book-worm. She has been writing from quiet a young age and she believes that her unquenchable passion for language has moulded her into a better and a serious writer. She is currently based at Bangalore. A perfectionist by nature, she is currently perfecting her first novel to completion and hoping to get it published soon.

 

 

 

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