Writing the back jacket copy/book blurb is hard. Writing an elevator pitch is difficult too. Though, it’s not as though writing a novel was easy. We can’t expect the one-page synopsis, and of this journey to be easy.
I say “one page”, but that means different things to different people. — Always read the submission guidelines for each agent or publisher before you send your submission. They might want a one-page, two-page, or give you a specific word count for a synopsis. As with any part of the submission package, be prepared to adjust and edit.
Come along with me as I write the one-page synopsis of my Gothic novel.
For the first draft of the synopsis, I’m answering questions. I’m a fan of questions and answers to describe a story or connect to the voice of a character or think deeper about the story. I read the draft and I know it’s terrible. There is a lot of “this happened, then this, then this, etc.” There are a few nice sentences, but it needs a lot of work. It’s too long at about 650 words. Reducing the word count will be difficult. I have to boil 100,000 words to just 500. A lot of things happen to my main character. I think I hit all the major plot points, though. Now, I need to make it flow.
How do I make it flow? First — Research!
I read Jane Friedman’s How to Write a Novel or Memoir Synopsis again, so maybe I won’t worry about making it too pretty. It’s better to be it accurate. I won’t worry about showing instead of telling. I will check again to make sure I have hit the major plot points. I need to weave in the character arc and include emotions.
The links I’ve included below have variations on instructions/how to write your one to two-page synopsis. Jane Friedman’s How to Write a Novel or Memoir Synopsis didn’t give “instructions” the way the other articles did, but the feeling of what the synopsis is supposed to be is captured. How to Write a Synopsis of Your Novel by Glen C. Strathy offers a layered approach that I think I with try out. The plot points have been hit, but I have to make sure I lay on the character arc. After that, make sure there is emotion.
What happens when I’m done? I ask someone to read it. Who will I ask? I’m not sure yet. My husband probably, but a writerly person as well. It needs time to sit too. Fiction or not, I leave my drafts to simmer before reading again and making any final decisions.
I’d like to hear if anyone has any synopsis tips. It’s these parts of the publishing path, beyond the “writing” that can frustrate many creators. I hope this helps!
Links
What I’ve Been Reading:
BRZRKR #3, by Keanu Reeves, et al.
A Botanical Daughter, by Noah Medlock
What I been listening to:
Reputation, by Taylor Swift
Doechii
Chance Peña
What have I been watching:
Murderbot on Apple+
Doctor Who on Prime
The Land Where We Live
One piece of advice from agents who I've met over the years have said ~ "While it isn't necessary to 'show,' it is important to weave in a bit of character personality for flavour, so it's not dry either." This was explained further by highlighting that if your MC is snarky or eternally optimistic (etc,) then your phrasing choices would do well to echo this in the synopsis. Not "over the top" so, but to season it.
And I was told to share the twists and reveal the ending :P Not in a query blurb, but in a 1-pager -- yes!