Most novelists know they need to write a synopsis for their books, and there are lots of resources to teach you how to write your synopsis, but why do you need one?

Here’s the good news—a synopsis is not an example of your writing style or skill. That’s not why agents and publishers request them, so don’t worry about whether or not the synopsis demonstrates your mastery of fiction-writing techniques. It’s not supposed to. Instead, your synopsis demonstrates the following:

• Can you follow directions? Agents and publishers will request everything from a one-page to a ten-page synopsis—you can’t submit the same one to everyone. Agents and publishers usually post their submission guidelines on their websites, including synopsis length. Sending the right length shows the recipient that you can and will follow directions.
• Story structure. The best novels have structure (such as the three-act story). Your synopsis will show the reader if your story has structure and where the weaknesses are.
• Characterization. You should include brief descriptions of your main characters in your synopsis, and those will help the reader see whether or not you have stereotypical or complex characters. The synopsis will also highlight character growth and development.
• Other big-picture problems. Does the pacing work? Is there enough conflict? Your synopsis shows this.

It’s actually pretty easy to help an author polish a strong story with fiction-writing problems (too much telling, not enough sensory details, etc.). It’s much more time consuming to fix those issues if they’re layered on top of plot holes and weak characterization.

When you’re writing your synopsis, remember that it’s a story summary—it shows agents and publishers how well you can plot a story and create relatable characters. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Let the story shine (your sample chapters will do the rest).

Still not sure about your synopsis? Don’t hesitate to contact me and let’s see how we can strengthen yours.

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