How to Write a Synopsis

So you've spent time polishing your pitch, what's next? Time to write that synopsis - your story's summary that will excite an agent to help you sell your book.


First, go back and re-read your manuscript. While you're reading, jot down these things: the inciting incident, climatic moments and theme. Consider making a story board (maybe you already have one). Visualize the key elements of your story. Your synopsis should read like a movie trailer. Like your pitch, it needs to sell your story.

A synopsis is a summary, but it's not a retelling. It's the highlights of your narrative. It needs to wake up the reader and make them say, "Hey, I want to read this story. I want to know more about this character." It is written in third person, active voice.

First, a primer. 

• An inciting incident - sets your story in motion and your protagonist on her journey towards her goal.
• Opposing events - moments/scenes that interfere with this goal.
• Climax - decisive event where the reader learns whether the goal will be met.
• Resolution - demonstrates whether or not that goal was achieved.
• Write your synopsis in the same manner you wrote your story. Infuse it with the same tone, tension, narrative quality. Highlight the story's strengths. What are you most proud of? The theme? The protagonist? The tension between characters? Voice? Draw these out in your synopsis.

Next, as I've done before, I refer you to Pixar. Their writers operate from "22 Rules for Storytelling". I find Rule #4 an easy place to start.

Use these sentence starters, and see if you can complete them with the details from your own story.

Storytelling Rule #4

Once upon a time there was ______. Every day _____. One day _____. Because of that, _____. Because of that, _____. Until finally _____.

Finally, now that you're prepped, try it. Begin with the Pixar frame and go from there. Here are some thoughts on how to fill in the blanks:

• Once upon a time... (include your setting, time, protagonist)
  
• Every day ... (talk about your protag's goals, hopes, dreams, fears; mention other supporting or opposing characters)
  
• One day ... (the inciting incident)
  
• Because of that ... (opposing events)
  
• Because of that ... (opposing events)
  
• Until finally ... (climax and resolution)
  

If each of these elements is about a paragraph, you will have a nice two-page synopsis to share with an editor, agent or publisher. Remember, you want them to help you sell this story. They need to know how it ends. The trick is to infuse some mystery by leaving just enough of the middle out.

Good luck.
Write on!

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