How to Write a Synopsis

Without Tossing Your Computer Out the Window

Let’s talk about synopses. Yes, yes, I know. I can hear the groans right through my computer screen. After more than twenty years as a literary agent, safe to say I’ve heard more complaints about the need to write a synopsis than about any other aspect of the publishing process. But they’re a necessary evil, so give me a chance to make them a little less daunting.

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What exactly is a synopsis?

The term gets thrown around quite a bit, but at its simplest, a synopsis is a brief way of telling someone about your much longer story. A synopsis allows you to convey the highlights of a novel to give your reader (or listener) an idea of what makes it engaging, to hook them on your premise so they want to hear more. Whether you’re pitching in person or sending off a query letter or talking up your story to a friend over drinks, your goal is to get your audience excited to dive in and read. A synopsis serves as your primary sales tool.

That last bit really is the key, the reason why you need to learn to write a synopsis. A synopsis is more than a page in the submissions package for someone seeking representation. Professional writers learn early that the job includes selling, whether you go the traditional route or delve into self-publishing. And if you want to sell your story, you have to sound polished when you talk about it.

So, when do you need a synopsis and how long should it be?

The answers to these two questions tend to be linked.

If you’re writing a query letter, a good portion of it will include a short synopsis of the novel you’re pitching, minus details about the ending. This very basic synopsis typically runs a couple of paragraphs and can resemble the jacket copy on a published book. For writers going the indie route, this same sort of synopsis might actually be your jacket copy and/or the copy that populates your sales page on your own website and vendor sites.

What most writers think of when discussing a synopsis is a slightly longer version, generally a page or two, which includes details about the story’s conclusion. Agents often request this type of synopsis from querying writers at some point during the submissions process to accompany pages or a full manuscript. They might have a specific length in mind, which they’ll state in the submissions instructions, or they might request one more generally. Self-publishing authors will use this type of synopsis if seeking to pitch other rights to their work, such as translation, audio, or film.

Editors might request longer, more detailed versions of your synopsis—something that verges on an outline and includes the significant beats from every chapter. This can be an excellent tool for tracking edits, or for reference when working on a series that builds on events from previous volumes. Published authors will commonly use this type of synopsis along with a few sample chapters to sell a work-in-progress.

Now you know what you need, but how do you start?

The common complaint is, after writing for months or years to tell a story over hundreds of pages, how are you supposed to condense that down into just a few paragraphs?

I recommend you look at this the other way around. Instead of imagining squishing your long story down into a very short version, think of what components you need in a synopsis—the key elements that will give someone the gist of your idea—and pull those out of your full-length novel.

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Do this by making a few lists:

• characters

• their goals/wants/needs

• settings

• conflicts/obstacles

• significant events/plot points

• resolution

Choose items from each list to include in your synopsis, using fewer details for a short, blurb-type synopsis that might suit for a query (and ignore the resolution), and adding additional details (including the resolution) when you’re aiming for a longer synopsis. If you’re finding it difficult to choose, go through each list and put stars next to your most significant items and give those priority.

Don’t worry about making things sound good at first. Make a list of the details you want to use and turn them into phrases. Move things around until you like the order, then flesh the phrases out into sentences. Think about the first sentence of any synopsis as an introduction to the genre, protagonist, and the basic conflict, then build from there. That way your reader will instantly be grounded in the world and the character they’re following.

Create a draft and then revise until it flows and sounds compelling. Use strong verbs and distinctive adjectives. Add or subtract details as needed to pull things together. And remember that the person who will read this synopsis won’t know what you’ve left out. There’s no right or wrong version of a synopsis, just the one you believe gives a good balance of character and setting and conflict to lure someone in to read the complete story. That might mean leaving out characters and minor plot threads—will definitely require it if you’re writing the shortest, blurb-length synopsis—and that is fine.

Be specific. Use names for your primary characters, give details about the events or conflicts you include. You want to provide information that makes your story unique and special. Leave generalities about theme or market to the end of your query letter and stick to precise details about the world of your novel in your synopsis.

If you’re tackling this process for the first time, I recommend starting with the short synopsis for a query letter or cover copy and perfecting that one first. You can then add a resolution and a few other details to lengthen it into a more standard page or two for the longer synopsis. Also, if you’re struggling to leave enough details out—I know, all the bits are important!—try writing a practice synopsis for a favorite book or movie. It’ll give you a chance to go through the steps without the same level of emotional attachment you might have with your own work.

Remember: a synopsis is just another piece of writing. If you’ve written an entire novel, you can write a synopsis. Just give it a little time and be willing to work on it over several sittings to get it where you want it.

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Those are the basics. I’m not promising this will make the process easy, but it should help you organize and get started. I’ll swing back with a follow up to discuss how to approach some of the more difficult story structures when it comes to writing a coherent synopsis in a short space. Meanwhile, I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with good books and productive writing sessions. Until next time! 🥰