Hello everyone,
I've got a question that's been plaguing me as I'm trying to work up my synopsis for my book. Just how long and how detailed do I make this sucker? I did research on the internet and found varying information... some say in depth, others say be vague, and others tell me in between. Oye.
Then comes length... just how long is too long and how short is too short? The info I've found shows some people write them 1-3 pages, others 5-10 pages, and some 10+ pages.
So, my question to you is, how detailed do you write your synposis? And what's the average length? Any information is greatly appreciated.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Question For Authors-- Aspiring And Published
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Anne--I'd be happy to send you my selling synopsis for Layover if you'd like to take a look and see how detailed I got for a 50k novel. It was four double-spaced pages. Email me at ann wesley hardin @ gmail . com if you're interested! I can't find your email or I'd just send it ;)
I just had to do a 10-pager for Harlequin and a 1-pager for agent on the same book, so beats the hell out of me. I'd say just go with your gut after speaking with authors who have sold to that particular house/editor.
And as one of Ann's CPs, I'd take her up on that - lol. She writes fabulous synopses.
Cool, I took Ann up on that offer and she's got a great synopsis... not sure mine will ever be that great. LOL
Lyn- Thanks for the input. What length do you use when you submit to EC? Longer? Shorter than for Harlequin? Or same length? I'm so nosy, just smack me or something.
BTW- I added my email address to the left on my blog. DUH. LOL
You can ask me anything you want, and I'm willing to share my ignorance or intelligence - lol. Email is Confession Pays @ yahoo dot com without the spaces. I'll look and see how long my stuff was and send it if you like. - If not, I'll look and post in here in a day or two...however long it takes me to look. I'll start now. hehehe
I went through my EC submissions, and here’s what I found. I got through the door because I did well in a contest sponsored by JERR and EC, and there was no synopsis there, just the chapters they’d requested. The other books sold on what I’d call a 2-page outline as opposed to a synopsis. I’ll send you two or three of those as attachments, if that would help you, once I get your email addy - couldn't find it to the left. *grimace* I'm visually challenged. What CAN I say?
Thank you Lyn... my email addy is annejg24 @ gmail.com I appreciate the help... Ann REDLINED ME!!! LOL It's great though... just what I needed. : ) I was too detailed. Now I know better how to do a synopsis. : )
THANK YOU ANN WESLEY HARDIN!
heeheeheehee It's what I do best!
You're an extremely talented woman and between the three of us we're gonna make that synopsis prove it. You'll be hanging out your author shingle before you know it, chickie. Mark my words.
Lyn--the force is strong in this one ;)
My synopsis's are never over one page. If you are writing a detailed outline in order to write (or sell a book on proposal) it can run anywhere from 5 - 10 pages.
But honestly, a synopsis should never be longer than one or two pages.
PS -
Also, go check out this site. Evil Editor is a blast and very informative!
http://www.evileditor.blogspot.com/
For the antho I sold to K, I had three one-two page synopsis (double spaced). I try to do 2-4 pages single spaced for a single title, then I can adjust appropriately. The trick is getting a big picture overview, major plot points and character growth. Lisa Gardner has one of my favorite synopsis lectures on her site broken into like ten PDF files. That helped a lot, as did some contest judges. If I can help, hollar but it looks like you're in good hands!
It's important to remember that in the cases where the editor requests a synopsis and chapter samples, she'll almost always read the chapters first to see if you know how to write. Then if she's interested she'll read the syn to see how the story unfolds.
The syn is only critical when it's the only thing you're asked to send.
I think these days most publishers tell you to go ahead and send some sample chapters too. I could be wrong, but that's my general impression. And thank God for that!
Thank you all so very much for all of your input... it helped me tremendously!!! I'm sure it will need edits, but my synopsis is DONE, DONE, DONE!!!!! Wheeeeeeeeee! LOL
Woohoo - WTG Anne!!
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