Synopsis length

[Brady Boyd]

Some agents (and most editors) ask for a chapter synopsis first. Now I've read/heard conflicting reports on how long a synopsis should be. If read several places that a synopsis should be just a few pages long. I've also read that a synopsis should be as many pages long as the book has chapters. What have you heard?

My book has 18 chapters and my synopsis is 17 pages long, which I'm afraid is lengthy and unweildy. I'd prefer to send as much as I can to an agent, but not if a bulky synopsis turns them off.

Thank you.

Brady Boyd

[James Lewis]

Just about every submission guideline I've read from agents want a synopsis that's 2-3 pages long. I once read you should write a synopsis page for every twenty five pages of your manuscript (ex: 300 pages in novel; 12 pages for synopsis). Apparently that every-twenty-five-page is old school because agents don't have time for all that.
I would make my synopsis max three or four pages.

[Karen Dionne]

When my agent and I were crafting a synopsis for a sequel to my present book to include in the package that went out to publishers he wanted me to keep it to one single-spaced, or two double-spaced pages max.

The outline we included in the package for a second thriller ran 14 double-spaced pages, which, while he said it was fine, he also added it was a little long.

Hope that helps.

Karen

[Brady Boyd]

James: Yes, the 1 page of synopsis per 25 pages of manuscript does sound familiar. My book is 452 pages long and my synopsis is 17 pages long (which is pretty close to the 1 per 25 rule).

Unless I hear otherwise from any other members here, I'm going to rewrite my synopsis to fit the 2-3 page guideline.


Thanks.

Brady Boyd

[Brady Boyd]

Karen: I'm confused. What is the difference between a synopsis and an outline?? I always thought a synopsis was basically a chapter outline. Can you clarify, please? When an agent asks for a synopsis, what are they wanting?

Thanks.

Brady Boyd

[Gary Kessler]

Seems it would be most advantageous for you to have synopses at both lengths (the 1 synopsis page/25 manuscript page length and the flat 2-3 pages), to be used for different situations.

Creating a synopsis at either/both length(s) is not a loss of time/effort. Going through this exercise helps you to see possible flaws and unnecessary side trips in your manuscript and can lead to a great improvement in the manuscript itself.

[Brady Boyd]

This article is helpful, and appears to echo some comments in this thread:
http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.html

Brady Boyd

[Brady Boyd]

Gary: Good point! I'll not rewrite the existing synopsis, but write a new, shorter one.

Brady Boyd

[Karen Dionne]

Brady -

From Donald Maass's "Writing the Breakout Novel":

"If your query letter scores, you will be asked for part of all of your manuscript. You may also be asked for an outline. Here is another area of angst and confusion. What is an outline? How long it it? One page? Twenty-five? Is it the same as a synopsis, or what?

"Here are the basics: Regarding length, an outline can be any number of pages, and different agents and editors prefer different sizes. Ask. Why not have ready a one-page summary as well as a more detailed outline? Can't hurt. With longer formats, five to twenty-five single or double-spaced pages is plenty. Really long outlines of fifty pages or more are cumbersome. [I'll say! (Had to toss that in.)] When we say 'outline,' we really mean 'synopsis.' Skip chapter headings, unless requested, and forget about Roman numerals and all that. What you want is to give your prospect the feeling of reading the actual novel.

"The best outlines relate the whole story in miniature, and include scraps of setting detail, characterization and dialogue, which nicely highlight the story's turning points. Outlines are most effective when they are in the present tense and third person, regardless of the tense and person of the novel.

"In outlines, standard manuscript formatting (double-spaced text, generous margins, single-sides pages) is clean and easy to read. Use it."

Maass's "five to twenty-five" pages seemed a little broad to me, so when I was writing my more detailed outline, I asked my agent his opinion. All he said was, "Don's a good guy, and he has good things to say." Whatever! :-)

Karen

[Brady Boyd]

Karen: Thank you very much for this information. Mr. Maass is one of the agents I am approaching. This is the first time I've seen the "skip chapter headings" guideline.

Brady Boyd