Finished Draft, Synopsis and starting the next one

[SCARPA]

I Finished editing my last draft of my novel and am writing the synopsis. Also writing the outline and first chapter of its sequel. I have 15 min. of pitch time scheduled with an agent 1st week of May.

[Kali]

Nice!  How nerve-wracking, trying to sum up a novel in a pitch catchy enough in 15 minutes... 

I've taken a stab or two at writing my synopsis.  Most people say it should be 3-4 pages.  My biggest problem has been that by the time I whittle it down that far, it is indeed just a boring "This happened, then this happened, then this happened" recitation.  How are you managing with it, and have you stumbled across any tricks for doing a good synopsis?

[svb1972]

She's a sexy dermatologist
He's a hot dog vendor.

Together.. they fight supernatural crime
 

[Darwinist]

He's a wily, paraplegic porn star with a heart of gold.
she's a frigid soccer mom who becomes his part time nurse.

They fight crime, and together... they're Wheels and Balls.

Coming soon, to a theater near you.

yea, I see what you mean, Synopsis are actually kind of insulting in a way. I don't look forward to doing mine, because it requires you to really dumb down your work to the lowest common denominator and then pitch it to someone. The problem you run into is, if you can truly describe the tone, pace, setting and plot of the book in 3-4 pages, you have to wonder how intricate the premise really is.

Not to put doubts in your head, Scarpa. Congrats. Hoping to be where you are within the next month or so.

[Starbeam]

Something I'll likely end up doing is practicing on movies or books that I've seen/read. 

yea, I see what you mean, Synopsis are actually kind of insulting in a way. I don't look forward to doing mine, because it requires you to really dumb down your work to the lowest common denominator and then pitch it to someone. The problem you run into is, if you can truly describe the tone, pace, setting and plot of the book in 3-4 pages, you have to wonder how intricate the premise really is.

It's in the details.  For example, a synopsis of one of the Dresden books wouldn't fully catch Harry's sense of humor. 

Plus, when you look at the page count, also look at the formatting.  The formatting asked for is usually double-spaced, which would actually be more like 1-2 pages single-spaced.  And google submission synopsis.  It came up with a lot of different stuff. 

[meg_evonne]

She's a sexy dermatologist
He's a hot dog vendor.

Together.. they fight supernatural crime
 

Now that is COOL!  Good work on the blasted synopsis.  I've written several--for the same book.  *sigh*  The last one was maybe close, but not quite.  I've put it on the back burner since I hate them so much.  Neurovore posted that if it was possible to write a long manuscript in two pages --that's how it would have been done!  My problem is the particular agent waiting for it only wants one page...  one page...  one page... 

Something I'll likely end up doing is practicing on movies or books that I've seen/read.  It's in the details.  For example, a synopsis of one of the Dresden books wouldn't fully catch Harry's sense of humor. 

Plus, when you look at the page count, also look at the formatting.  The formatting asked for is usually double-spaced, which would actually be more like 1-2 pages single-spaced.  And google submission synopsis.  It came up with a lot of different stuff. 

What a great idea to practice on movies or other books!  Thank you!

Pretty sure that a synopsis is written in present tense, single space with a double space between paragraphs.  You can hedge the normal outer edges a tad bit if need be also.  I thought they were...character did this, than that, than this etc, but a recent blog stressed the agents desire for the emotional conflict and change in the character.  once I used that approach it got a lot easier, but like I said it still isn't quite right...

JB in a tweet commented that they were easy once you had your one or two sentence premise for the book complete.  Didn't work that way for me, but none of us are Jim, right?

[svb1972]

I think the idea behind the synopsis is not.. to do an abridge version of the book, or even the cliff notes version.  But more..   To give the reader the essence of the book.  I mean, my dermatologist thing was a joke..

But think of how you would synopsis Harry/DF/StormFront in 1 page.
Dead Witch Walking (and the Hollows as a whole)
Lord of the Rings.

* Morally grey PI/Wizard, with a weakness for the damsel in distress.
* Family problems (Ie he doesn't have any)
* Money problems (again doesn't have any)
* Love/Trust issues
* Overzealous magical cop antagonist
* Beautiful Vampire.
* Plucky blonde cop with major pint sized attitude.
* Spiderman style snark
* Magic with big special effects
* Sexy love interest

You can get the essence of StormFront in about a page, without even touching the actual plot of the book. 

[Starbeam]

Pretty sure that a synopsis is written in present tense, single space with a double space between paragraphs.  You can hedge the normal outer edges a tad bit if need be also.  I thought they were...character did this, than that, than this etc, but a recent blog stressed the agents desire for the emotional conflict and change in the character.  once I used that approach it got a lot easier, but like I said it still isn't quite right...

A couple of the links I came across said that the formatting should be the same for the synopsis as the formatting for the manuscript.  And all the ones I looked at did say that the synopsis has to be in present tense.  Looking at several other sites, the length varies from place to place.  And it does come across that no one wants an outline(character does this, then that, then this thing, etc) and more like what you'd see as the blurb on the back of the book.  Or at least that's how most of it comes across to me.

I haven't put too much thought into writing any kinda synopsis cause I've not yet gotten to that point.

[meg_evonne]

I mean, my dermatologist thing was a joke..

  Does that mean it's available???  Only kidding.  Take care and congrats.  I'll have to do some checking on my computer at home for synopsis writing sites and will post them. 

In fact, it would be a great exercise if we picked a movie and we all took a shot at the synopsis and see how they vary, what works, what didn't etc. 

[Kali]

That's a FANTASTIC idea, Meg.  Start a thread, pick a well-known movie, I'll take a shot.  Mostly I want to learn from what others do/say. 

As for formatting, most of the places I've looked at say "present tense, third person, double-spaced."  Naturally, you always want to look at the agent/editor's page to see if they specifically require something else.

I will say that attempting to write a synopsis picked up a couple of weaknesses in my plot, but it also disguised a bunch of them.  That said, because of the synopsis fiasco, I have decided to try an outline.  So it was useful for that, but it's still a bad one.

[Kali]

Also, I wonder if Jim has a synopsis sitting around of one of his books, one of the early ones back when he still had to write them.  Maybe he could be prevailed upon to post one.

[SCARPA]

My first stab is following a manuscript / synopsis format of about 25:1 as described in the Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall which has been a fantastic help so far. I'm a bit over 1/2 complete and getting better at it as I go. Once that's done I will make another pass at a single page format. The best part of it has been its revelation of all of my little plot holes and tangled threads. I almost wish I would have written this first! I think in writing its so easy to get caught up in my prose, I need to remember that the reader has to follow along with it.

[meg_evonne]

Ahh, as to double spacing or single spacing.  The particular one I worked on with Jill Santopolo in an online class (author and Young Penquin editor) was one page long.  According to this site if your synopsis is only to be one page long use single, with two or three page synopsis it's double.  Here's the site and it does match everything else we discussed in class:

http://www.fictionwriters.com/tips-synopsis.html

[Nickeris86]

congratulations on your big opportunity hope to be seeing your work in stores soon.

i really need to get on the ball with my books, i have two in the works and neither are anywhere near ready to present to any one.

[SCARPA]

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement. I will post the status as it developes.