Synopsis Format

What the heck is a synopsis?  And how is it different from an outline?  An outline and a synopsis are indeed two different things.  While an outline is specific to non-fiction, a synopsis refers to fiction.  We will deal with the fiction's synopsis here.  The synopsis is basically a condensed version of your entire book.  It must include all of the storyline and plot.  It must also include any important events that shape your story or characters.  Ideally you want to condense every 25 pages of your novel down to one page of synopsis.  That means that if you have a 400 page novel (double spaced of course) you will want to write your synopsis in under 16 pages.  This theory does not always apply though.  Some agents will be specific about the amount of pages of synopsis they want.  Writing a one page synopsis is a challenge, let me tell you, but if they ask for it, that is what you must give them.

The synopsis should have a 1inch margin on all sides, be printed on only one side of the page, and be left justified only.

At the upper left of the page place:
The title of your novel
The genre
Estimated word count
Your name

You should write your synopsis in present tense and third-person point of view.  This also helps when an agent pitches your book to an editor.

Hook your readers with the main character and conflict first.

Each time you introduce a new character into the synopsis highlight their name by capitalizing it.

Only include what is neccessary.  Do not run on and on about unimportant details.  That defeats the purpose of the synopsis.

This is a chance for you to show an agent that you can tell a story.  Don't use headings such as "Conflict" to break up the flow of the story.  Tell your story chapter by chapter.

Don't leave anything out.  Do not try to tease an agent by refusing to disclose the ending.  Tell it all.  They want to know how the story ends so they can determine it's worth.

Try to tell your story in the same tone as the book.  If your book is happy-go-lucky then your synopsis should be as well.  If it is dark and moody, the tone of the synopsis should be the same.

At the end of your synopsis type:  The End.  This IS a story after all.

I really wanted to put up my one page synopsis here so that you could get a feel for how it is done.  Unfortunately, posting it here would ruin the surprises in my book and I decided I didn't want to do that.  I will try to get permission to use someone else's synopsis instead.  I want you guys to enjoy my book if you ever read it, and spoiling the ending here is just something I can't do.

This page was written for The Writers Realm by Herekittykitty© and may not be copied to any other site without permission and a link back.