Palmetto Christian Writer's Network: Three Simple Steps to a Successful Synopsis

by Linnette R Mullin

"Necessity is the mother of invention!”

~ Plato

Amazing what happens when a person comes under the pressure of a deadline.

In preparing for a writing contest this time last year, I discovered they wanted a synopsis. A one-page synopsis! Did someone say panic attack? Yikes! It’s not that I haven’t written a synopsis before. I’ve written several. For the same book. But I’ve never been satisfied with any of them. So… time to hop back on the not-so-merry-synopsis-go-round.

~ at Bing

I started pounding the keyboard, looking for answers. Every site I explored, everything I read, every friend I bugged, gave me the same answers. Again. Frustrated, I refrained from tossing my computer out the window. I opened a fresh document instead.

The mental chant began.

Bullet points. Bullet points. Bullet points.

It would not go away!

What are you waiting for?

~ at Bing

It seemed too simple. Too easy. Yet, I’d tried everything else... What did I have to lose?

But, wait! First let’s make sure we understand what a synopsis is.

Dictionary.com: a brief summary of the plot of a novel, motion picture, play…

Really? Well, that’s helpful. Not!

Merriam Webster on-line: a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise): ABSTRACT …

That definition is supposed to help? Seems a little… um… abstract, don’t you think?

Let’s turn to fellow writers:

“A synopsis is like a summary, but it’s not a summary.”

“It’s like a longer version of the back cover blurb except you give the ending away.”

“It’s a chapter by chapter outline of your novel, but must fit on one or two pages.”

“It’s like telling your best friend about a movie or a book…”

These descriptions are great except for one thing. They don’t tell you how to write a synopsis. It’s all very abstract and this is one time writers need the concrete. What is a synopsis?

~ a photo on Bing

Linnette’s definition: a 1-2 page outline which briefly and technically tells (yes, I said tells) your entire novel in a way that appeals to an editor.

How do you do that?

I know! I know!

Here we go! Finally! It’s time to stop the synopsis-go-round!

Linnette’s Three Simple Steps to a Successful Synopsis:

*FYI: keep in mind your MS does not have to be complete. You should know the highlights and ending of your novel. You see the story play out in your head. Let that guide you, remembering that you’re not tied down to your synopsis. If your story veers, you can always tweak it once your MS is complete.

1) Bullet points!

~ at Bing

Start at the beginning of your story and type specific, concise, brief bullet points. No bullets, please. They’re too painful to remove:

Grace escapes town.

Grace runs out of gas.

Max rescues her.

Grace finds answers in the Rockies and a new friend in Max.

Grace’s dad is hospitalized.

Grace flies home.

Grace sees Joe and breaks off their engagement.

Joe refuses to accept the break-up.

Grace reunites with her parents.

Grace and her mom visit her best friend, Tammy.

Joe follows them home.

The police chase Joe off.

Max drives Grace’s car to Kansas City.

Max meets with Grace’s parent’s approval.

Joe gets into Grace’s parents house and threatens her.

Max chases Joe off.

Grace spends time with her parents, Tammy, and Max.

Joe stalks Grace and Max.

Grace files a restraining order.

~ at Bing

Warning: When you start listing your points, you’ll be tempted to summarize. Don’t. You might be tempted to list every little thing that happens – especially if your MS is complete. Don’t. You might be tempted to write long, run on sentences for your bullet points. Don’t. If you need to, limit yourself to up to 6, 8, 10, or 12 words per bullet point. The key words in step one are specific, brief, and concise. List the main points - things that make up the bare bones without leaving holes. Example: there are several things that happened in the Smokies, but I summarized them with, “Grace finds answers in the Smokies and a new friend in Max.” Listing every single thing that happened will frustrate you and the editor.

2) String the bullet points together into paragraphs. It’s easy. I simply backspace, space, and indent. No deleting, cutting, or pasting required (unless you used bullets).

~ at Bing

Grace escapes town. Grace runs out of gas. Max rescues her. Grace finds answers in the Rockies and a new friend in Max.

Grace’s dad is hospitalized. Grace flies home. Grace sees Joe and breaks off their engagement. Joe refuses to accept the break-up.

Grace reunites with her parents. Grace and her mom visit her best friend, Tammy. Joe follows her home. The police chase Joe off.

Max drives Grace’s car to Kansas City. Max meets with Grace’s parent’s approval. Joe gets into Grace’s parents house and threatens her. Max chases Joe off. Grace spends time with her parents, Tammy, and Max.

Joe stalks Grace and Max. Grace files a restraining order.

3) Edit and fill in details to make it coherent, smooth, and appealing. Make sure your opening sentence hooks and your final sentence brings closure (my example is not complete – can’t give away the end :D) :

~ at Bing

Synopsis

Grace Smith flees town to escape her manipulative fiancé, Joe Riddle, and the guilt over (her brother) Josh’s death. Max Jones rescues her when she runs out of gas. She finds solace and answers to her confusion in the Rocky Mountains, as well as a new friend in Max.

A week and a half later, Grace’s dad is hospitalized and she boards a plane home. Defying hospital jitters from when her brother died, she heads straight for the intensive care unit. She finds Joe there and, though she breaks up with him, he threatens her, emphasizing it’s not the end.

She reunites with her parents in the IC unit. Afterward, she and her mom visit her best friend, Tammy. When Joe tails Grace and her mom as they leave, Grace calls the police and they chase him off.

Max returns Grace’s car to Kansas City. He meets her parents and gains their approval. Joe gets into Grace’s home and threatens her, but Max runs him off.

When Grace and Max find Joe stalking them a couple days later, Max calls the police. Grace files a restraining order and Joe lays low – even skipping Church. …

Ah! Success at last!

~ at Bing

Final note:

On the outset, this might seem daunting, tedious, and like it’s going to take forever. You may wonder if it’s going to fit on one page. Keep at it. Not only did mine fit on one page, but after final paragraphing, editing, and adding filler, my synopsis fit. It didn’t take as long as I thought, either and it was almost… (Dare I say it?) fun.

What do you think? Sound too good to be true? Try it. Or if you already have a successful synopsis writing method, would you mind sharing? I’d love to hear what does or doesn’t work for you :D