When you put together a synopsis for a novel, how long do you go? Should it be chapter by chapter, or fit it on a single page, or what? Posted by ArachneWeave (Member # 5469) on :
There are short synopses and long synopses, and confounded synopses... okay, so I exaggerate.
I'm not sure which each is, but in general, I think the standard is up to two pages, the main drift of the story. There's lots of resources out there; any book on querying (library binge!) might have some references to help you out on that.
I think that's a long synopses. Or a standard one. A short synopses would be a few paragraphs, maybe.
*Warning* This is a post to help others give their superior knowledge countering mine. I am not personally vested in any of the statements above, nor am I publishing professional. Disagreements may be posted. I will not sue.
Good luck!
Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
I had a few agents request a synopsis, and they always asked for a one-pager. I don’t think they would freak or anything if it was a tad longer, but it really needs to be succinct—and you should include the ending.
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
Should the synopsis be a quick setting/story overview, or should it explicitly state the scenes involved in telling the story, and do so chronologically?
Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
It's a quick story overview. You might not even include some of the subplots. And it doesn't need to be a scene by scene walk-through, that's more of an outline and I've seen detailed outlines 20-30 pages. That's a different animal.
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
gracias, JamieFord, and congratulations again on getting an agent and publisher. You're really inspiring! Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
hey, you guys!
There was a reply to one of the agent queries i sent out yesterday, Jacky Sachs at Bookends is asking for a partial! Oh, i need to sit down!
Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
Congrats! That's fantastic. Even after you send the partial, don't hesitate to keep querying. (Because your query letter is working!)
Posted by lehollis (Member # 2883) on :
My understanding is a page in length, with maybe 1 or 2 sentences per chapter at most. Maybe a short paragraph for long ones, maybe skip ones that aren't critical to the main plot.
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
I've got a one page synopsis ready, but I'm not sure if I'm on the right track or not. Anybody willing to take a look and give me some feedback? Should I give away the ending? Should I make like an expanded query letter/commercial? Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
I'd be happy to take a look.
Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
Oops, had to turn on my email prefs.
Posted by Rick Norwood (Member # 5604) on :
Happy to take a look, if you don't mind me stealing your best ideas. You got an agent to write back! That's great.
