Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Writing a Synopsis

Paula agonises over her synopsis!  

I read somewhere that the synopsis is probably ‘the most despised document you might be asked to prepare’ – and, having spent hours trying to write the synopsis of my recently completed novel, I agree with that!

My previous publisher only required a basic ‘blurb’ when I submitted a novel to her, so I was well out of practice in writing a synopsis.

Of course, I knew the basic advice about synopses – characters, core conflict, how the characters deal with it, how the conflict is resolved and how the characters have changed as a result.

All well and good, but what happens if you have several sub-plots which add to and/or further complicate the core conflict? Or which hinder or contribute to the resolution of the conflict?

I think this novel had more sub-plots than I’ve ever used before. Sometimes they form separate strands (for a while, at least!),but then they become interwoven and often somewhat tangled!

I started by writing a basic plot summary. Maybe that is similar to what I might have written beforehand if I was a ‘plotter’ – but, being a ‘pantser’, this was the first time I had done it. It was, inevitably, far too detailed, with too many names and too much irrelevant information. 

But, having done that, I could then see (a) what had to be deleted, (b) what could be condensed and (c) what needed to be taken out of the ‘linear’ outline of the story and combined, so that the synopsis didn’t jump from one thing to another.

So, after tearing my hair out a few times, I finally managed to compose a synopsis, which I hope reflects the most important parts of my story, as well as the emotional journey of the two main characters.

I’d be interested to know how you approach synopsis writing!


6 comments:

  1. Sounds like you rose to the challenge! I hate them as well. My technique is usually to boil each scene down to one sentence--not always possible, but it gives me a start. Then I can adjust as necessary, making sure I discuss all the points you mentioned, or weed out the excess that isn't required.

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    1. Weeding out the excess caused me a problem. In some cases, the excess in my first draft was obvious, but after that I had to decide what was excess and what was essential!

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  2. Well done. I know how difficult this was for you. As I've not had much practise at this I'm watching and learning!

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    1. I don't think any writer likes writing synopses -but it does force you to look at your work objectively!

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  3. I have a great 'outline' that I use (Which I think I've shared here before.) from a presentation in my local RWA chapter. It's a very basic one, but it does the job. I tend to write my synopsis after I've written a book, so if I ever need to sell on proposal, I might be in trouble. Although I've gotten better over the years in heading into a story with a more detailed idea of what's going to happen. I think I'm a hybrid of a panster and a plotter. My prewriting blurbs/outlines/synopsises are VERY basic. More like a back cover blurb with a few more details.

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    1. Deb, could you put your outline in a post on the HWH Helpful Hints page? It would be useful to have it there for future reference!
      I sometimes have a pre-writing outline (very vague!), but other times I have started a story with no idea where it is going!

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