Your synopsis needs to be compelling. You will use it to hook an editor and keep him reading through to the end. If you can do this, you have your foot in the door.
Join us Wednesday Evening at the Chatroom for more information on Writing a Synopsis.
A synopsis has a specific form.
It is written in the present tense no matter what tense your novel uses. It should follow a single viewpoint character, even if the novel involves more than one viewpoint character. A synopsis is written in third person, again, the novel may be done in first person. Sticking to these
guidelines will reassure the editor or agent that you are being professional.
A synopsis should always include the end of the story. The agent or publisher needs to know that you are capable of ending your novel on a strong note.
The length of your synopsis should be the length the publisher asks for. If she requests 5 pages, send 5 pages or less. Do NOT send 12 pages. Unless, you weren’t serious about submitting and you want your work rejected at this point. A good rule of thumb is 4 pages for every 100 pages of manuscript. In the publishing universe, short is always better. This means you shouldn’t be padding the synopsis just to meet a ratio of pages.
If you are sticking to one character you may not want to muck up the synopsis with a lot of subplot. Use subplot sparingly. Your synopsis should never stray from the main plot.
So, here comes a checklist.
Synopsis Checklist
Single or double spaced with 1 inch margins and numbered pages.
Written in the present tense no matter what your novel manuscript uses.
Written in the third person regardless of the novel being done in the first person.
Start with a strong hook.
Follow a single viewpoint character though the plot even if you have more than one main character.
Mention your chosen viewpoint character’s motivations and goals.
Follow the story chronologically from beginning to end.
Stick to the essential plot elements.
Use a dramatic tone and presentation.
Always include the ending.
This is part of a series of posts centered around Submission Packets. Use the Links to go back to the other posts.
Next week we can have a look at the second and maybe the third item on the Submission Packet List, a Query Letter and a Cover Letter.
As I was prepping for this topic I made a discovery.
Publishers are being bought and sold and auctioned and given up during bankruptcies. The publication you might discover as a potential market for your short story or article may not actually be there by the time you are writing your cover letter or query. Or, it may be
there, but run by a whole new group of editors. This also happens with websites. It seems the Publishing Universe is not settling out anytime soon. Always, double check the health of the publisher you chose as you were finishing up your submission. As writers, we need to double check, then check one more time because a change in ownership, generally means a change in submission trends and guidelines have changed.
Note on the publisher: As some of you may already know, Writer’s Digest’s former parent company, F+W Media, was auctioned off as part of bankruptcy proceedings in 2019. Penguin Random House LLC acquired the Writer’s Digest Books brand, including the Market Books and WritersMarket.com, while Active Interest Media acquired everything else
branded as Writer’s Digest, including the magazine, conferences, contests, online education, WritersDigest.com, and more. So while we’re still excited about the Writer’s Digest Books brand, we do want to clarify that we’re now owned by separate entities.
writersdigest.com
This news about the Writer’s Market threw me off my game. I was going to tell you how I used their Submission Tracker in 2018 and now, the website is down. A trip to the new owners’ website doesn’t mention anything other than how to buy their Writer’s Market titles for
2020. I did notice I could buy a copy of The Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market is available in ebook format as well as print. In the case of the Writer’s Market, I think holding the actual paperback makes me feel smarter.
I want to talk about choosing a Publisher. Substitute the idea of an Agent wherever necessary and many Publishers only accept agented work. (I have some notes on how to get around the need for an agent and they involve going to
Writers Conferences and interning for publications, becoming somewhat known in the Publishing Universe.)
Come on over to the chatroom and we will talk about how a Publisher’s Submission Guidelines will change some of the items in your Submissions Packet.
A Submission Packet should include each of the standard things you will come across in your Market Research. You may not use all of the items in your packet for each submission but having it in a readily accessible file is something you will not regret.
I do wish I could have accessed the Oh So Cool Submission Tracker from 2 years ago. Instead we can talk about the everchanging landscape of publishing. This, according to my experience, was a very successful company. I am sure Penguin and RandomHouse
will continue the tradition well into the 20s. I have no idea about the website.
I will continue to prepare for this topic so come on over to the Chatroom on Sunday, 12 January and be prepared to share your favorite go-to references for Market Research and Submission Tracking.
Knowing Where to Start Your 2020 Writing Goals
Sometimes the hardest part of being a writer is knowing where to start.
During January 2020, we will look at things we can do to get started.
We aren’t multi-taskers. We might think we are but physically and mentally we cannot be in more than one place doing more than one thing at the same moment in time. To make up for our inability to do several things at once, we can make lists. We can prioritize the lists.
For example, we have an idea for an article or short story. Maybe, it is already in progress, maybe not.
The Idea can go on the List.
Who is buying articles of this kind in the next six months? Well, we start a Second List. We do a bit of market research.
Who is buying stories like ours? Market Research again. Who buys from new writers? Who accepts only agented work? Yes, another list.
Market Research includes a lot of reading. Fiction or non-fiction, it can’t do any harm to know who has been buying what during the past year. Visit a bookstore or a magazine stand. You can even contact editors for back issues and be right up front that you are considering a submission. Keep a list.
You are going to need to write items for your Submission Packet. You’ll need a query letter or a cover letter, a bio, a sample or clips, the first three chapters, a synopsis and any other item indicated by the publisher’s guidelines. Yet another list.
Social Media, Websites or Blogs, Press Releases, Editing and Formatting need to go onto a list, somewhere.
All of these things, together, can stop any writer in her tracks. Prioritize your Lists and Sub-Lists. You can Network during gap time and start working on the contents of your Submission Packet. Carve out bits of time, an hour here, twenty minutes there. Maybe, Tuesdays are devoted to Market Research and its Sub-Lists. Thursday may be
set aside for future blog posts ideas.
You may have more than one project going on at a time. Maybe, you have five short stories and two article ideas ready to go out. By working 10 or 20 minutes or an hour at only one item from your list will make the process a lot less overwhelming.
Let’s sort it out in Topic Chats.
Check out the article of 6 Tips for Submitting I found on Think Written.
Join us Sunday, January 5th at 7PM ET at The Writers Chatroom
KNOW THE STANDARD POLICIES FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
By using these 6 tips you will be able to find the appropriate publisher for your manuscript and tailor it to their requirements, setting you up for success and a real shot at being offered a contract.
-- think written
Come back on Wednesday at 8PM ET and catch up on what you missed.
