If this article finds you, then there are three possibilities. Maybe you’ve come across the term synopsis and want to know what exactly it is and what it does. Or you are preparing a submission package and want to get started with a fiction synopsis and wondering how to write one. Or maybe you are just curious about the term and wondering how it applies to the world of book publishing.

Hopefully, you’ll get all your answers here.

First things first, you must know that a fiction synopsis and a non-fiction synopsis might sound similar in terms of their purpose (to gain interest from a literary agent or a publisher) but in terms of structure and format, they are quite different. If you or someone you know is working on a non-fiction novel, then check out this guide to non-fiction synopsis and share it with your writer friends.

Now, what is a fiction synopsis?

A synopsis for a fiction novel is a significant part of your submission package. The ones who will read your synopsis are literary agents and editors at publishing houses.

A synopsis is a straight-cut, no-nonsense but short summary of your novel that covers all important elements, characters, and plot points of the story. The aim of a fiction synopsis is not only to lure a suitable literary agent but also to make them hungry enough for the entire manuscript. Hence, a synopsis is not a piece of writing that should be full of mysteries. It should include a crisp outline and every inevitable twist and turn that leads the story from its beginning to its end. You can say, that a synopsis is a much tighter version of the entire story.

Why do you need a fiction synopsis?

To Find an Agent/Publisher:
The average length of a novel is somewhere around 60k to 80k words. For an agent, it is impossible to read through the entire manuscript to decide if they want to go ahead with it or not. They need to know the entire story without reading the entire story. Here comes the role of a synopsis which provides a concise but complete version of the story enabling the agent to decide which books they want to champion and feel confident in selling to publishers.

This is why a synopsis is usually a mandatory part of a manuscript submission package. It is an essential component in your journey to find appropriate literary agents and eventually a publisher for your book.

If you’re looking for children’s book publishers in India, this is a specially curated list by our team.

To Find Your Story:
The synopsis of a fiction book is nothing but its bare bones – the skeletal structure of the story. We might have a 70000-word novel on our laptops but try writing a one-page synopsis for the novel, try reducing those seventy thousand words to 700, and you’ll understand what we mean by the bare bones of the story. As mentioned earlier, a synopsis will only include the main plot points and the entire narrative arc of the novel. And while in this process of writing a synopsis, we often come to the realization that our novel might be more messed up than we thought. But writing a solid synopsis can definitely help you get back on track. You’ll have better clarity on what are the important events in your story and which characters are indispensable. So, apart from making the lives of literary agents and publishers easier, a fiction synopsis is also pretty helpful for a writer as they navigate their story.

How to write a compelling fiction synopsis?

Yes, we know… we know it’s ridiculous to expect a writer to summarize their novel into a single-page document. But it’s a necessary and not an impossible step in the journey of publishing a book. Especially, if you want to get traditionally published.

Before we proceed, you must know that a synopsis is nowhere the same as a book blurb that you generally see on the back cover of a book or the dust jacket of a book.

Book Blurbs are aimed at potential readers and often end in questions and make the reader want to start flipping the pages. But a synopsis is aimed at literary agents and editors at publishing houses. There should be no cliffhangers here and the ending must be included.

Important Points for writing a fiction synopsis

• The average length of a synopsis is somewhere between 700 to 800 words. Mostly, a one-page synopsis is demanded but some publishers or agents might ask for a longer (three-page) synopsis. Always check before sending out your submission package.
• It is ideally written in the third person narrative (even if your book is written in the first person).
• It should be written in the present tense irrespective of what tenses you’ve used in the novel.
• A clear and readable font should be used.
• Although double-spacing is preferred by many, it is not mandatory. Again, do a thorough check of the specific literary agent’s requirements before sending it out.
• The first mention of every major character must be either in CAPS or in bold lettering. Subsequent mentions of the same characters do not require the same format.
• Proofread and eliminate all grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and typos.
• Must represent your story’s entire narrative clearly.
• A synopsis primarily aims to showcase your main characters and their journey while also telling what happens in the story.

How to approach writing a “pick-me” synopsis for your fiction novel?

1. The Plotter’s Approach
   You must be aware that there’s a category of writers who are generally referred to as “Plotters” or “Architects”. These writers tend to build an outline/structure/blueprint for their novel first and then start adding words to the skeletal structure. For plotters, writing a synopsis might be a bit easier since they already have their outline which is the starting point for a synopsis. The outline already holds all the important plot points of the novel and one can easily build a short synopsis around it. The main structure of any fiction novel usually includes the following:
   – Inciting Incident
   – Plot Point 1 (Going Uphill)
   – Midpoint
   – Plot Point 2 (Going Downhill)
   – Climax
   – Resolution
2. Three Paragraph Approach
   We all know there are mainly three parts of a story – the beginning, the middle, and the end. If we follow this approach, keeping in mind that the average length of your synopsis should be ~750 words, then it becomes easier to break it down further into each section.
   First Paragraph: Includes the beginning and can be around 200-250 words
   Second Paragraph: Includes the middle (which is usually the longest part of a book) and can be around 300-400 words.
   Third Paragraph: Includes the ending, often the shortest part of the book and hence, around 150-200 words.
   It is obviously not mandatory to keep only three paragraphs. You can break the longer paragraphs into smaller ones to make it easier to read for the literary agents.
3. Condensing the Chapters
   Suppose your book has 30 chapters. Try to summarize each chapter in a single sentence. You’ll have 30 sentences that bring out the core of your book. You can add and delete certain details to adjust the word count. Ensure that the synopsis includes the ending as well. Format it according to the above-mentioned pointers.
4. The Q & A Method
   You’ve already heard of these guys, right?
   Who, Where, What, Why, How.
   Now, keep your main character (the protagonist) in your mind and ask the questions.
   – Who is/are the primary characters?
   – Where is the story taking place?
   – What is the conflict? What is happening to them?
   – Why is it happening to them?
   – How are they going to get out of it?
   Try to answer each of these questions under 150-200 words. Once you have the rough draft, edit the synopsis to make it chronological and follow a linear narrative arc. Or however it happens in your book.

Fiction Synopsis – A Sample

Katniss Everdeen (16) volunteers as a tribute to save her sister for the 74^th Hunger Games in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem built on the ruins of North America. Peeta Mellark (16) is chosen at random as the male tribute from their district to participate in the brutal contest that is telecasted from the Capitol of the nation.

As both of them are shepherded toward the Capitol, suddenly plunged into a life of luxury from dirt-poor conditions, they try to deal with the consequences of being a tribute in the Hunger Games – you win or you die. Having begged by her sister to try to win, Katniss tries to make their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy (40), help her win the games as he has already been a winner before.

Note: The age of the characters is usually mentioned in brackets to cut down on the word count.

Conclusion

Although writing a synopsis seems like a daunting task, remember that it is NOT impossible. Some writers often write a synopsis before fleshing out their book. In this case, it acts as an outline or a road map for their story. But even if you don’t use an outline, writing a synopsis can serve to be an exceptional exercise in editing.