Synopsis as promised.Presentation:
For an MS of around 80-100,000 words, an author would be expected to restrict their proposal, or outline, to around two to 2.5 pages of single spaced typing.
1. Introduce the setting and the title. One sentence should cover where and when the story takes place (it doesn't necessarily have to be your first sentence, which needs to be as exciting and intriguing as you can make it, in order to draw the reader in).
2. Introduce your main characters by name, age, career, character etc. You should also, briefly, introduce and essential minor characters. A couple of paragraphs on each of these elements is sufficient.
3. Add a further paragraph detailing family, background etc., if these have bearing on the plot as a whole.
4. Try to establish the basics of the plot as economically, buy as clearly, as possible.
5. What is special about your novel? You should try to demonstrate to the editor what makes your story more appealing than all the hundreds of others she may have received that week.
6. Conflict: What and why is the problem which is keeping your hero and heroine apart?
7. Include short outlines of some important scenes. By important, I mean those scenes which change the direction of the plot and mark a step forward in the hero's and heroine's relationship.
8. The ebb and flow of the action: The coming together of the hero and heroine, then moving apart throughout the plot. The whys and wherefores.
9. The catalyst: As you near the end of the manuscript what is that makes your hero and heroine decide that they belong together?
10. The climax: Allow your reader a good. Romantic 'wallow' in the happiness of these two people they have come to care about.
11. The tie up: Make sure that all the loose ends are tidied away and that the reader is satisfied and can't wait to read your next novel.
Okay guys, I hope this information is helpful.
5 comments:
Love the glam photo!
Thanks for this. It's really useful. I think I might be able to beef up my synopsis a bit more. It might be a bit short.
Excellent, thanks Mercedes. I'm going to use this when I get around to writing synopses, after adapting your guidelines for the different genre(s) I'm writing for.
One thing that may need to be said, though perhaps it's obvious, is that the synopsis should be written after the story has been completed. Otherwise things may get out of synchronisation. Another danger with writing a synopsis too early is that you may use it to drive the story. In my humble opinion, your guidelines would be too prescriptive for this kind of use.
Nice photo - you've gone all colourful since the last one :o)
Thanks Captain. But some authors like Katie FFord likes to write her synopsis after the first chapter. I know this can sound restrictive, but, it can also be used to keep you in check if you tend to woffle off in different directions. I guess at the end of the day it's personal, what works for one may not for another. I tried it, didn't work for me. simply because I had no idea where my story was headed. :)
Great pointers Mercedes. I'm putting off the synopsis until the end because my story has taken some unexpected turns recently. Looking forward to referring to this when I eventually get there:-)
That photo looks ready for a book jacket:-) Very glam:-)
Hi Mercedes, this is great. Thank you for sharing.
My synopsis is about five pages long and, as Captain Black says, I shouldn't have written it before finishing the book but I think it's good to do a detailed plan of your story first don't you?
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