When writing a novel synopsis, is there a convention or recommended guidelines as to length and how detailed you should get?
Please don't say, whatever it takes to get the idea and feeling of your novel across.
I want to know what works.
Posted by Pontifax (Member # 2414) on :
Usually, the synopsis should be NO LONGER THAN one page, single-spaced.
Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :
It depends on what they ask for. Try to find out online what different people/agents want.
PS: I sent you email about a week ago. Did you get it?
[This message has been edited by rickfisher (edited March 07, 2005).]
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Sadly, Mr. Fisher is correct. Different agents and publishers have different requirements. I have a couple of different ones ranging from a single paragraph (ick) to twelve pages. The one I've used most is three pages.
The synopses was much, much harder to write than the novel.
Posted by Pontifax (Member # 2414) on :
Oops...looks like I have no idea what I'm talking about. *laughs*
The places I've checked out have always said "one page synopsis". Maxima mea culpa.
Posted by JBSkaggs (Member # 2265) on :
Depends entirely on the publisher's requirements.
genre seems to inluence this a lot. In kids books there seems to be lot of emphasis on 1 sentence synopsis where as adult fantasy I have seen 5 page synopsis. So check with the publisher.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
The one I just sent to Wizards of the Coast was one-page single-spaced, per their guidelines. I understand that two-three pages is also common, but double and single spacing goes back and forth. Heck, a two-page double-spaced is really the same thing I already wrote.
I liked the one-page length, at least for my novel. It's not a very long novel and the one page pretty much took care of the overview. I've heard ranges going up to ten pages and I wonder if they were looking for a synopsis or an abridged version of the novel.
Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
Hey thanks people. I guess this means research.
RickFischer, I have returned your email, sorry about that.
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
Kathleen was talking about this very subject at a 13 line workshop at LTUE. Maybe she'll chime in on this.
Kathleen?
(She was also telling me she often gets over 400 emails a day, including the posts here at Hatrack. With that much backlog, it would be no surprise if she didn't see this one. But maybe...)
