One of the toughest parts of the query process?at least for me?has been coming up with a short synopsis for Finders Keepers. And the only reason I?ve been working on a short-synopsis is because certain agents ask for one.
On the surface, you think, okay, I?ll just give a fairly concise wrap-up of my book. But in writing a synopsis, it isn?t just a matter of boiling the book down to its core elements. It?s more complex and nuanced than that. You?ve got to write the synopsis so that?unto itsOne of the toughest parts of the query process?at least for me?has been coming up with a short synopsis for Finders Keepers. And the only reason I?ve been working on a short-synopsis is because certain agents ask for one.
On the surface, you think, okay, I?ll just give a fairly concise wrap-up of my book. But in writing a synopsis, it isn?t just a matter of boiling the book down to its core elements. It?s more complex and nuanced than that. You?ve got to write the synopsis so that?unto itself?it is an intriguing read. [i]And[/i] it has to capture the key points of your book [i]and[/i] it has to unfold in the same sequence as your book. [i]And [/i]it has to do so in such a fashion that whoever reads your synopsis can say, ?Okay. I totally get this book from beginning to end.?
In one page.
Needles to say, this has not been any easy process. Finders Keepers is a multi-character, multi-arc story with a big overarching tale. How do you boil that down to ONE FRIGGIN PAGE?
You find a way.
Now … some agents ask for a ?short? synopsis, some ask for a one-page synopsis, some ask for a 2-page synopsis while others ask for a 20-page synopsis. For the longest time the best I could do was boil it down to a three-page synopsis, which, to my way of thinking, seemed reasonable, since Finders Keepers is in three parts.
But an agent who recently requested that I send 40 pages of Finders Keepers also asked for a one-page synopsis, so my motivation has been in full swing to get the synopsis down pat. And I think I?ve done it. With some help from writing buddy Michael Wolfe, and Liz, I?m just about there. I?ve got the synopsis down to one page. When you?re only allowed a single page to describe and recount an entire book, every word counts.
If you ever want to try your hand at writing?or more disciplined writing?try writing a one-page synopsis of any long story. It?s a challenge, all right, but I can see its value. If you want someone to back your project, you want them to be able to soak it all in?quickly and easily. Thus the synopsis.
It hasn’t been easy, been it feels to good to get there.
