The Synopsissss…
If I had to pick one thing above all else I dislike about being an author, it would be writing the synopsis. For those of you who do not know, a synopsis is a condensed overview or outline of a written work. In this case the work, being a novel.
The word synopsis alone has the power to illicit a feeling of dread in me. In fact, it often has a recurring role in my nightmares taking the form of a giant snake hissing in my ear as I approach the end of a novel. Somewhere in there is a great story, but since I would have to write a synopsis for it, I will pass on pursuing the thought further.
I dislike this necessary evil of the publishing industry so much, there actually came a time in the midst of writing a synopsis for my debut novel, A Knight of Silence, that I reconsidered submitting the story to a publisher altogether. I realize that may sound like a defeatist attitude, but as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I assure you it is not. In fact, if that declaration alone does not convince you I am an optimist, I do not think anything will.
For reasons even I cannot explain, I find it extremely difficult to summarize three hundred plus pages into a less than five page long synopsis and make it sound exciting. Do not even get me started on the short synopsis. If summarizing a story came easy to me, I would probably try my hand at novellas instead of full-length novels. As it is, I tend to drag my feet near the end of a novel just so I do not have to start working on the submission requirements soon to follow.
Please do not get me wrong, I realize the need and totally understand why publishers require what they do. However, knowing what is required and wanting to do it are two completely different things in my book.
Discovering the “work” behind writing has definitely taken some of the excitement away from the creation process for me and it is certainly not as glamorous as I at one time imagined it to be. I also do not think it helps the situation when I believe I finally nailed a synopsis, only to have my critique team of one (my mother) inform me it could be better.
I realize my opinion on the matter is not exactly a boost to aspiring writers out there. The bright side would be that as much as I dread it, I have written and received requests for full manuscripts based on the synopsis I submitted so there may be hope for even me.
Still, deep down I know when I near the end of my current novel, Wicked Embers, I shall once again find the insidious snake of my nightmares waiting to hiss in my ear, Synopsissss…
Candace Bowen Early
May 31, 2011
11 comments
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I used to be newspaper reporter and I even hate writing a synopsis.
When I queried my last novel, I used the a request for a synopsis to weed who I would query first vs. last.
He, he, he.
That’s a great tip, Anthony. Thanks!
I like to let others help me write the synopsis.
For instance I give my book to my sister and tell her to tell me what she thinks. The areas she dwells on in our discussion I know stood out in her mind and that is where I need to begin focusing my synopsis.
My the time I have my sister, mother and dear beta readers all do the same thing I have a pretty good synopsis that I just need to touch up.
I like to ask 3 to 5 people.
Emma, I’d love to get in line behind Anthony to borrow your sister. My sister-in-law loves reading my proofs, but she always seems to focus mainly on the romantic scenes~lol.
Emma, I need to borrow your sister. kk thx.
Anthony, she loves to read, I’m sure she’s up to the task!
Candace, I think everyone who’s ever written hates the synopsis stage! I’m so glad I knew nothing about them when I began writing or I might not ever have started. I really do sympathise with how you feel about them.
Everyone has their own way of dealing with this irritating task and the way I find easiest is to first break down every chapter into as few words as possible. I do this while I’m writing anyway, as an aide-memoire, so I don’t have to search back through reams of pages if I need to find a bit of story information.
Then I decide what the story’s main theme is and discount every chapter that doesn’t deal directly with it. Once that’s done, I collate all the remaining chapter notes and try to condense once more. Then I read it back to see if any of it makes sense, or resembles my novel at all.
Having other people read your book is very valuable, because what *you* think is the main theme might not be the way they see things!
I wish you lots of luck with Wicked Embers and if I can be of any help at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.
As always, thank you, Cas. Your comments hold a wealth of insight and I am extremely appreciative. I’ve received some helpful tips that I intend to try in the event Emma’s sister is unavailable~lol. If I can just get myself to stress a little less about it, I’m sure I will find a technique that works. Don’t be surprised if you hear from me though.
Oh, dear! I know how you feel! I actually LOVE Emma’s suggestion. I think that’s fabulous because it shows you where the real meat is in the story. MONARCH was especially hard for me because it’s told from THREE POV’s, and well, how do you even start a synopsis like that? You don’t. I just did one for Nick’s story, and that had to do. It worked, apparently!
If it works, you’re definitely doing it right, Michelle.