The dreaded synopsis.
I write book reviews which often include a synopsis. I have no problem writing them for other books. So why can't I seem to write a synopsis for my work? I have no idea.
I'm trying a new approach. As I edited my latest MS, I stapled the chapters and wrote a one line summary of that chapter on the first page. Theoretically, if I string those together, they should form the bones of synopsis. (My last chapter summary is "J&E finally get it on.") It's pure action though. No character detail. So it has to be fleshed out. But I'll report back to you if this helps me write a coherent synopsis.
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3 comments:
The chapter one-liners sounds like a great start! I may steal this from you.
I'd also heard an agent discuss this on a panel. Her advice: write a 1,000-word synopsis, a 500-word version, then 250, then down to a 100. Each version will distill the essence of the piece down further. It's good practice for your future elevator pitch.
Congrats on finishing!
From first glance, it doesn't work out that well. It's too long for a one page synopsis, and it had no - for want of a better term - soul. It describes what happens, but not why, and there's no sense of who the charaters are. So while it's a good reminder of the sequence of events, I think I should try the method you mentioned.
From first glance, it doesn't work out that well. It's too long for a one page synopsis, and it had no - for want of a better term - soul. It describes what happens, but not why, and there's no sense of who the charaters are. So while it's a good reminder of the sequence of events, I think I should try the method you mentioned.
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