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Tracey Devlyn - CTW: How to Write a Synopsis Without Losing Your Mind

 

 

 

 

 

 MayPosted On May 28, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn 28, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn Print This Post

 Posted On May 28, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn

 CTW: How to Write a Synopsis Without Losing Your Mind

Filed Under  C.J. Redwine, Chaos Theory of Writing, Tracey Devlyn, Synopsis Writing

Good morning and welcome to Chaos Theory of Writing! RU Readers are in for a real treat today. Urban Fantasy writer C.J. Redwine switches gears to discuss the art of synopsis writing. If you’re a regular at RU, then you already know how gifted C.J. is at writing query letters. New to RU? Do a search on C.J. Redwine or query letters and browse through her query letter critiques. You won’t be disappointed. I’m convinced C.J.’s critique of my query letter helped me nab not only my dream agent, but my fantastic editor. High-five, C.J.!
Read on for C.J.’s fab thoughts on synopsis writing!
If you’re anything like me, the thought of condensing my 90k novel of fabulosity into a 2-5 page synopsis was about as thrilling a prospect as getting hit by a bus. I stared my manuscript down and felt intimidated enough to worry that while every other writer could summarize their books, I alone could not. Failure, however, was not an option. I needed a synopsis for many of the agents I queried. After I signed with my agent, I needed a synopsis for some of the editors on our list. And when I start a new project, my agent needs to see a general idea of what I think that project will entail. I quickly realized writing a killer synopsis was a skill I had to master.
There are several rules to writing a good synopsis. You’ll be grateful to know avoiding pans of brownies isn’t one of them. No one has proven conclusively that brownie consumption aids in summarizing one’s plot, but then again, no one has proven otherwise either. So, grab a brownie (trust me, it helps) and hang on for a quick crash course in what makes an excellent synopsis and how to go about writing one.
What a synopsis is:

• It’s a narrative summary of your book written in the Voice of your manuscript.
• It’s written in present tense. (“Jack goes to the library.” Not “Jack went to the library.”)
• It’s written in third person.
• It introduces only your main characters, main conflict, and basic emotional arc.
• It delivers major plot twists and your ending. No cliffhangers allowed. Your synopsis must show that your plot has layers and hangs together until the end.
• It mimics the pacing of your novel. It’s like your novel’s Mini Me.

What a synopsis is NOT:

• It’s not a blow by blow summary of every single plot point in your book.
• It’s not a backstory dump. That way lies Synopsis Death.
• It doesn’t introduce every secondary character.
• It’s not a dry list of events; it’s a skillful weaving of your characters, the stakes, and the major plot events that hurtle them from beginning to end.

How to format a synopsis:

• Use the same font as your novel. (Times New Roman or Courier New. I prefer Times New Roman because more words fit on a page.)
• Double space any synopsis over 1 page in length.
• Make sure your novel’s title and your name are in the upper left hand corner.
• You may indent every paragraph, or choose to only indent after you’ve written your main character’s intro paragraphs.
• Introduce your main characters in the beginning paragraph(s) and set up the story there as well.

How long is a synopsis supposed to be?

• There’s no hard and fast answer to this. Some agents want 1-2 pages, some want 5, some don’t care. I write a 5 page and then condense (rather viciously … cue brownie consumption) to 2 pages so that I have one of each.
• If you need to condense, try these tricks: Give your main characters a one sentence intro (including story set up) rather than a paragraph, combine major plot elements into three paragraphs, one for each third of the book, change your font from 12 pt to 11 pt. And have a brownie.

Now that you’re familiar with the basics, how do you summarize your plot? What goes in? What stays out? At its heart, each book has three major sections. I suggest jotting notes beneath each heading and then turning that into a paragraph (or three, depending on the length of the synopsis you’re writing).

• The Precipitating Event: What starts your hero or heroine on their journey? What happens to push them into taking action? What takes them irrevocably from where they were at the beginning of the novel to where they’ll end up when they’re finished?
• The Road of Trials and Tribulations: The middle of your novel is full of bumps and jolts as your hero or heroine works his/her way through the escalating conflict and toward the conclusion. Not all of these trials and tribulations need to make it into your synopsis, but the major ones–the ones that push the emotional arc and the conflict escalation– should.
• The Ultimate Triumph: This starts when the hero/heroine finally confronts the major conflict (the book’s climax) and carries through to their victory, redemption, and resolution. In a shorter synopsis, we don’t need a blow by blow, but we need to know what happens and that it makes sense.

Synopsis writing, like query writing, is a specialized skill that you can learn. It might feel like pulling teeth the first time or two, but it will get easier. Especially with a pan of brownies by your side. Summarize, condense, revise, and then do it all over again until you’re happy with the results. Happy synopsis writing! *hands you a double-fudge tiramisu brownie and a notebook* Now, get to work.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SHOW - WOI - TUESDAY OCT 27 9PMEST 8 PMCST 7PM MT - 6PM PST

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Have you had a mammogram? Join Marsha Casper Cook, Carol Solomon Proesel  and Tracee Ford on Tuesday October 27, at 9PM EST 8 PM CST 7PM MT 6 PM PST as they discuss Breast Cancer Awareness with cancer survivors - Dellani Oakes, Suzzanna C Ryan and Mary Hagberg Meyer.

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A Good Story Is A Good Story -Marketing Authors 9PM EST 8PM CST

 
Welcome to a special World of Ink Network show on Blog Talk Radio. Our goal is to bring informitive and entertaining shows to our listners.The mission of the World of Ink Network is to share resources that introduce tips, products and services to help strengthen, support and challenge those who love writing and the written word. The World of Ink Network hopes not only to bring authors, illustrators and publishers together, but also help them reach their readership.

Join Marsha and her guests Rick Pohlson and Kelly Abell on Tuesday August 19 at 8PM CST 9 PM EST when they discuss marketing books in this very crowded market and trying to have your book stand out in the crowd. Is it possible? YES !  Listen in and find out some of the newest way to market your books to the right audience.

They will be joined by author John Augustine.He is published by Master Koda and a frequequent guest.

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Join Hosts Ashley Fontainne, Joanna Lee Doster and Marsha Casper Cook for a very entertaining evening on June 17 AT 8 PM CST 9 PM EST 7 PM MT 6 PM PST. Their special guests for the evening will be Willow Cross who has just written GETTING OVER IT. The girls will be talking about the power of women and the decisions they make.

Ashley is a very successful author, radio show host and her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE meda and is currently in production for a feature filmis currently in production for a feature  film. Her latest work, a Christian fiction thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards.

Joanna Lee Doster is the author of a very exciting new book, Maximum Speed: Pushing The Limit. She is a freelance journalist for syndicated newspapers, magazines and blogs. In addition, she has held executive positions in cable television, communications and the entertainment industry.

Marsha is partner of the World of Ink Network, Agent, Award-winning Script Writer, Novelist, Writing Coach, Media Release Specialist. Marsha is also the author of several  published books and 11 feature-length screenplays, a literary agent with 15 years of experience.

A Good Story Is A Good Story- LAURISA WHITE REYES and Dorine White

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Please join Marsha at 9 PST 10 MT 11AM EST 12 PST on  Monday June 16 when she welcomes Dorine White and Laurisa White Reyes. Marsha is Partner of the World of Ink Network, Agent, Award-winning Script Writer, Novelist and Writing Coach.  Marsha is also the author of several published books and 11th screenplays.

Laurisa is an author and the Editor with Hamilton Springs/Xchyler Press and Middle Shelf Magazine. She will be releasing her new book  CONTACT with HALLOWED INK PRESS, this month.




Dorine White is a children's author and a book reviewer. Her first book in The Cleopatra's Legacy series, The Emerald Ring, was published by Cedar Fort Books on May 14, 2013. It is a middle grade fantasy novel that involves Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and a magic emerald ring.


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A Good Story Is a Good Story -RADIO SHOW - March 4 8pm CST 9pm EST

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Please join Marsha and her guests Uvi Poznansky and Brenda Perlin on March 4 at 9 PM EST 8 PM CST 7PM MT 6PM for a discussion on wriitng and marketing. These two women are terrific at marketing. They put out a lot of thought in their facebook notifications with great info and interesting photos.

Marsha is an Author, Screenwriter, Speaker Marketing Consultant and WGA Signatory Agent.
Brenda Perlin is an independent adult contemporary fiction author. Brenda evokes emotional responses in her readers by using a provocatively unique writing style. Her latest book in the Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles, captures the soul-wrenching conflicts of a personal struggle for emotional fulfillment.

Brenda’s first book, Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles, was published with Master Koda Select Publishing.
Uvi earned her B. A. in Architecture and Town Planning from the Technion in Haifa, Israel, and practiced with an innovative Architectural firm. She received a Fellowship grant and a Teaching Assistantship from the Architecture department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There, she earned her M.A. in Architecture.

Then, taking a sharp turn in her education, she earned her M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. During the years she spent in advancing her career—first as an architect, and later as a software engineer, software team leader, software manager and a software consultant (with an emphasis on user interface for medical instruments devices)—she wrote and painted constantly.
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