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TODAY’S MARKET © Spring 2005 In past years, several
RWA® chapters have put out synopsis handbooks, which included
actual synopses for books that were later published. These handbooks still
offer great information, but while it’s good to see what has been successful
in the past, it’s also important to keep up to date with the current
requirements of the publishing industry. When I recently reviewed the
synopses for my books, I noticed how long they were: 25 - 35 pages! While
this type of synopsis is a great tool for plotting out the book, then writing
it, most editors no longer want such a long synopsis (and probably don’t have
time to read it). What they’re looking for is the highlights. I discussed this
with my agent, Roberta Brown, and here’s what she had to say: 1)
Most editors want a short synopsis, 3 - 5 pages, double spaced. 2)
The general rule of thumb is to write one paragraph for each chapter of the
book, which should keep you within the 3 – 5 page range. This obviously works
best if you’ve already written the book, and you know exactly what each
chapter contains. But if you haven’t completed the book, then you’ll need to
at least do a plot line with your best guess of what will happen in the rest
of the book. So the goal in most
cases is to complete a short synopsis that fits the two parameters stated
above. Here are some suggestions on how this might be achieved: 1)
Write several chapters of the book before you try to create a synopsis. If
you’re one of those writers who likes or needs to plot out the entire book
before you begin writing, that’s fine. Plot the book, write the synopsis,
then write the book. But if you’re an organic, seat-of-the-pants writer who
has difficulty envisioning what happens next (until you get there), then
write three or four chapters first. You’re going to have to submit chapters
to an editor anyway, and often writing those first chapters opens doors to
the characters and the story. It helps you to become more familiar with your
characters and get a feel for where the story is going. 2)
If need be, write a long synopsis first.
It will be an invaluable tool for writing the book. Once you have the
entire story line written out, you can go back and pull what you need for the
shorter synopsis. 3)
This short synopsis should contain the following: a)
The basic premise or theme of the story, which can be the introductory
paragraph. b) An introduction to the main characters and
their goals and motivations (this can be woven in as you reveal the story
arc). c)
The story in brief, from beginning to end. As I stated earlier, this might be
best accomplished by allotting one paragraph per chapter. d) As
you’re providing a look at the characters and the story, be sure to include
the conflicts that drive the characters and the story, the emotional impact,
and character growth. This may sound overwhelming, but try to weave it in.
Again, write long if necessary, then distill it down to brief snippets. 4)
Also realize that a completed synopsis doesn’t set a story in concrete. There
have been numerous instances where parts of my completed books didn’t match
my synopsis. When you’re writing the book, give yourself the flexibility to
veer from the synopsis, especially as you gain a better understanding of your
characters and how the story should realistically progress. Writing is a
creative process, and our subconscious minds often provide us with new and
surprising insights as we write. If necessary, you can always adjust the
synopsis to match the completed book. And of course, the most
important thing is to complete that book! |
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Copyright
2005 Catherine Spangler -- all rights reserved,
please obtain written permission before use.
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