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SELLING YOUR SYNOPSIS
By Julie RoweI love to write a synopsis!
Actually, that’s a lie. I don’t. I don’t know anyone who does because synopses are hard. Everyone agrees on that point, there is little agreement, however, on how best to write one. There are several techniques one can use to write a synopsis. Goal, motivation and conflict, and scene and sequel are two examples. Whatever method you use, don’t forget the bottom line, why you’re writing the tooth-pulling thing in the first place. The synopsis is a selling tool.
It’s not a summary or an outline, abstract, abridgment, compendium, epitome, syllabus or conspectus. The synopsis is a selling tool and therefore needs to accomplish something different than just list what happens in your book. It has to engage the interest of the agent or editor who reads it, provide enough information on what’s going on and describe the characters just enough to make that editor or agent want to read your whole book.
So, if you look at the synopsis from the perspective of a sales device, forget your plot outline and start with your hook. Thrust us directly into your story. Tell us why we should care about your hero and heroine. Use strong verbs, descriptive nouns and keep it short.
Craft the framework of your synopsis around the romance. A synopsis of a romance novel must sell the romance. Describe the high points. The initial contact, sexual tension, first kiss, when the H/h realize they’re in love, first love scene, the black moment (when their happy ending seems impossible) and the happy ending.
Flesh it out by adding the conflict. What keeps your H/h apart on an internal level? Why, despite their undeniable attraction to each other, can’t they get together? How does this internal conflict get worse? Tie it in to the black moment. How do the hero and heroine grow to resolve the internal conflict and attain their happy ending? Now add a few tid-bits about the external conflict as briefly as possible.
Sold.
©Julie Rowe 2004
