Synopsis and Bio?

[Amanda Elizabeth]

I've been writing and rewriting my query letter (and getting feedback in the forum) and now as I research agents I see the word "synopsis" being used. Is that really just what the heart of the query letter is being called? Also, many mention a bio...I have no background in writing or really any "qualifications"-- when they specifically ask for a bio what do they want?

[klbritt]

In regards to your qualifications, I think it's just fine to include in your query that "this is your first novel." No need to go into how many jobs you've ever held, what degree you have or don't, that will all come out later when you've established a relationship with an agent.

As far as a synopsis, I think if the agent specifically says: send brief synopsis, then that is what you send. But, I could be wrong.

[MattLarkin]

I've been writing and rewriting my query letter (and getting feedback in the forum) and now as I research agents I see the word "synopsis" being used. Is that really just what the heart of the query letter is being called? Also, many mention a bio...I have no background in writing or really any "qualifications"-- when they specifically ask for a bio what do they want?

No, a synopsis is a detailed summary of the whole story from start to finish, including the ending.

Your query letter is more like a teaser, drawing interest without giving away the twists.

[Nathan Bransford]

I've been writing and rewriting my query letter (and getting feedback in the forum) and now as I research agents I see the word "synopsis" being used. Is that really just what the heart of the query letter is being called? Also, many mention a bio...I have no background in writing or really any "qualifications"-- when they specifically ask for a bio what do they want?

Here's a post on how to write a synopsis: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2007/08 ... opsis.html

As for the bio, just give a very brief bit of background about who you are. You don't need to have previous writing qualifications.

[Hillsy]

I think the issue Amanda is alluding to is that the main, "meaty" paragraph of a query letter is sometimes referred to as the "synopsis paragraph".

I know that the term "one-page synopsis" threw me a curve for a few weeks before I managed to reason it out, because a query is often said to be "no longer than 1 page". If a query is a page long, and a synopsis is a page long, and a query has a synopsis paragraph that's 80% of the query, is 20% more actually saying anything more? Course in the end someone pointed out that 1-page synopsis is basically whatever you can get on a single page, so you can alter the font to get 400-500 words, rather than the usual 250 Max guidline.....but yeah there's a lot of duality of language that muddles the essential difference between Query and Synopsis.....

[Amanda Elizabeth]

Yeah, what Hillsy said. I know when they mention the "query letter" plus a synopsis they mean what was explained...but sometimes they only mention a synopsis. I need to look back a find the agents (should have written it down!) for examples.

[Nathan Bransford]

Yeah, what Hillsy said. I know when they mention the "query letter" plus a synopsis they mean what was explained...but sometimes they only mention a synopsis. I need to look back a find the agents (should have written it down!) for examples.

Oh, okay, sorry. Did you look at the post on the query letter mad lib? That should give you a start for the synopsis. I think if they are using synopsis as a synonym for "description of the work," you can just send a query. When they ask for query plus synopsis, yeah, they mean the one-two page summary.

[Gatsby]

I'm going through all of this myself. Finally polished down a query letter that I'm proud of, only to discover the need for a "synopsis". Believe me, I tried to reason my way out of doing one!