Death to synopses

[FK7]

Since the querying stage is approaching really quickly for me, and the query itself is also ready (and the best I think I can make it), I thought I should attack the synopsis. Certain agents I plan to query actually want the synopsis included with the query letter and sample pages, and if an agent was ever going to ask for one, I want to be ready, and have something rock solid.

I had already read about them, but did some new research to refresh my memory. I've been at it for 48 hours, and I feel like imitating Miss Snark: reach for the lighter fluid and set my head on fire. Compared to writing a synopsis, writing a query is a walk in the park. Mainly because there is a lot of different advice around the net, especially on length.

Nathan suggests 2-3 pages and says it should be enticing but not a full report of every plot arcs
Jessica Faust suggests 4-5 pages, but if you have 15 pages and it's really good, it's ok. It has to be enticing.
Janet Reid says a synopsis should read like a FBI report and have little to no verse or style.
Marg Gilks suggests 2-10 pages, but an average of 5 is better. You can have 10 pages, but it better be good.
Miss Snark reviewed 106 synopses and most had less than 1000 words, which is about 4 pages (250 words/page). Some didn't cover the end, she loved them anyway.
Kristin Nelson says synopses suck and that she doesn't use them, because it seems most of her clients can write a heck of a novel but suck at the synopsis (shocker!!!)

It goes on and on... some say "think of it as the jacket blurb", which to me makes no sense because that's how I approached the query with the two opening paragraphs. A jacket blurb isn't five pages, it's not even one page. It's usually one paragraph, maybe two.

So after A GAZILLION rewrites, I began hearing wookie sounds. The visual hallucinations are sure to follow soon, and I'll be having martinis with Chewbacca...

What I have now is a 11 pages synopsis (TNR 12 points, double-spaced) written in present tense that covers all the major plot arcs that make the story go forward, has a hint of the voice used in the novel, and it is styled but not overly so. I'm thinking about keeping it, and writing another one that's shorter (like 3 pages), and let the agent choose should he or she request one.

How did your experience of writing a synopsis go? I'm dying to know! (No, really. I'm DYING to know.)

[knight_tour]

My experience was identical to yours. I created three different ones of varying lengths.

[Quill]

I have not written one.

Length will likely reflect the ms length. Mine for my 60k YA novel will probably be shorter than Matthew Rush's with his 375K tome. I may do two, a compressed one pager and another as long as needed, probably three pages (800 words?).

I will make it somewhat dry, as it is expository, but voicey as well. I believe that like the query, the synopsis should spring from the polished manuscript. Also, since I've been diagramming and outlining the plot as I write -- to make sure everything flows logically and smoothly -- I don't foresee difficulty with the synopsis.

[ryanznock]

My first synopsis for my 113,000 word novel is itself 2300 words. (I've got it up in the 'feedback' section if folks want to compare their synopses.)

I need to work on a shorter one. Less plot, more themes.

[bcomet]

Thanks FK7 for all the links. Great info.

I worked with a coach who had me keep a notebook outlining the action while I was doing my first editing of my first novel.

That turned into the most valuable editing tool as I was able to see where things needed tweaking in the story line.
It also became what turned into my long synopsis. My coach expected it to be around twenty pages. He was spot on. It could also be called the final novel outline.

From there, I developed a five to six page medium synopsis.

And from there, a one to two page short synopsis.

I am a lot more challenged writing the two paragraph killer query.

I have heard of going backward, the opposite of the above method.
From the premise to the blurb (or query) to the short, medium, then long version.
I have also heard of chapter outlines. What happens in each chapter.

I have–so far–noticed that most agents that ask for a synopsis like the short or medium one. I have been told that editors like the long one.

I have found it a really useful tool to have a full or developing outline and now I usually work on the outline–and character development and plot– before I begin writing a novel. It changes. But it is a great guide tool.

But, for the formal synopsis, I really love the way my former coach told me to work that up at the first editing stage.

Hope this may be helpful info too.

[dios4vida]

Synopses are evil. And not just evil, but EEEEE-vile.

I tried writing one for my first novel and it took me days upon days upon days (it was several years ago so I don't remember the exact number). I ended up with two synopses, and I hated them both. How can you cover everything you think you should in so few words?

I'm almost done with my second novel and will be entering the query/synopsis stage by summer. I am dreading it more than any of the surgeries I've ever had.

[wilderness]

I went the Miss Snark route with a SHORT 2-3 page synopsis. After reading A LOT of them from Miss Snark's experiment, I got the hang of what they should be. I was actually quite happy with what I ended up with. Better yet, it helped me dissect my own novel for pacing, plot arc, and length.

My suggestion: Read all 99 in her Crapometer, complete with her notes. The good ones, the bad ones, everything. Your mind will go numb but I think you will truly digest the essence of a synopsis...

She also has a query crapometer. Her notes are invaluable.

Did I mention that Miss Snark taught me everything I know? OK, and Nathan :) OK, and a few others...

[FK7]

Yup, I mentioned Miss Snark in my original post, already went all over the 106 synopses!

[BransfordGroupie]

FK7. Can't help you with your synopsis (I am nowhere near that stage), but since you have walking carpetsWookiees on the brain, I thought you might appreciate a little stress relief. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4.

[Krista G.]

Yep, I'd recommend having two synopses, one in the one- to two-page range and the other somewhere around five. The five-pager is basically a blow-by-blow account of all the major plot points, whereas the one- to two-pager is an extension of the query blurb, with a stronger emphasis on theme.

Here's a great link for writing that short synopsis, from the Knight Agency's Nephele Tempest:

http://nephele.livejournal.com/2009/06/05/

[dios4vida]

Thanks BransfordGroupie, that link was the coolest thing I've seen in a long time!! :)

[FK7]

FK7. Can't help you with your synopsis (I am nowhere near that stage), but since you have walking carpetsWookiees on the brain, I thought you might appreciate a little stress relief. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4.

Haha thanks for that, this was awesome :)

[bcomet]

Yep, I'd recommend having two synopses, one in the one- to two-page range and the other somewhere around five. The five-pager is basically a blow-by-blow account of all the major plot points, whereas the one- to two-pager is an extension of the query blurb, with a stronger emphasis on theme.

Here's a great link for writing that short synopsis, from the Knight Agency's Nephele Tempest:

http://nephele.livejournal.com/2009/06/05/

Thanks for this link, Krista! It added a lot to my understanding of the short synopsis.

(Would that be synopsis synapsis?)