How to Write a Longer Synopsis

When querying agents or working with an editor, oftentimes the general preference is to send a single-page synopsis, but sometimes a longer one is preferred. These instructions are a great guideline for including more details into your synopsis, but make sure you default to any specific instructions given by the agent or editor.

When working with any of the editors or analysts on our team, we request a longer synopsis (between 3-10 pages), so we’ve put together this helpful tutorial, complete with examples.

What is a synopsis? A synopsis is a detailed summary of the plot. Think of it like a synopsis you would find on IMDb.

Formatting Instructions

  • Have 1-inch margins, and use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
  • Centered at the top of the page, put the TITLE OF THE BOOK in bold and in ALL CAPS. Below that, put your author name (not in bold or all caps).
  • The body of the synopsis should be single-spaced, with 6-point spacing after each paragraph (Instructions: in Word, go to the “Layout” tab and in the spacing section, select “after” and change to 6 pt.)

Details

  • Write the synopsis in 3rd person, present tense regardless of the person or tense the book is written in.
  • The first time a character is introduced, put their name in ALL CAPS or bold. Do not do this for locations or other details. Also include the character’s age in parenthesis for your protagonist, your antagonist, and any other character whose age is important (this is dependent on your target audience). If a character’s age is already mentioned in the synopsis, then you don’t need to add the parenthesis.
  • Use parentheses for any clarification of worldbuilding details or other necessary information.
  • Try to limit the characters to only those essential to moving the plot forward rather than listing everyone that appears in the book. This usually includes your main character, the antagonist, the love interest (if there is one), and any significant secondary characters. For secondary characters, it helps to mention them by their role (such as mother, teacher, etc.).
  • Make sure everything is clear in the synopsis. That means you should reveal all plot twists and the end of the story. You may go into some detail about the setting if it pertains to the main plot, but it’s best to focus on the characters and their actions.

How to write a synopsis

  • 1: Go through the manuscript and list all the important events in the order they happen on the page. Include important details such as foreshadowing, subplots, romantic beats, conflicts, and climaxes.
  • 2: Merge all those events together into a long Wikipedia-like description of your plot. Make sure it makes sense and events seamlessly flow one into the next. See if any important details are missing. One of the biggest mistakes authors make when writing a synopsis is creating confusion, where the agent or editor walks away without a real understanding of the story’s plot.
  • 3: Follow the PLOT FORMULA. This should help you know how to organize the major points that should be included in the synopsis. (Please note: sometimes authors see something significant is missing from their story after they do the outline, or see their story more clearly when they go through this process, which is one of the reasons we require a synopsis when we work with a manuscript.)
  • 4: Read through the synopsis again. Is there a clear character arc for your main character? Do you mention when the main character has a moment of real struggle? Characters are key when it comes to the story, so make sure they are properly represented on the page.
  • 5: Let the synopsis sit for a day or two, then go back and look at it again with fresh eyes. Is there anything you need to add or remove? Are there better ways to revise those sentences for clarity or stronger writing? Remember, this is also a writing sample for you.
  • 6: Ask friends to review your synopsis and see what questions they had or if they were confused by anything. Revise the synopsis to address those concerns. If you can get feedback from more than one friend, great!
  • 7: Your synopsis is good to go!

Tips

  • It’s often helpful (especially in speculative or historical fiction) to set the scene in the first sentence, or somewhere in the first paragraph.
  • It helps if you give a brief, half-sentence description when you introduce any characters to help define their role in the story or relationship to the main character(s).
  • Make sure you introduce the information in the order it happens within the manuscript to reflect how someone might read through the whole story.
  • It’s important that your characters have wants and needs, and that usually means that there is a central goal that the character is working toward. Is there a clear progression toward this goal? Does the conflict get in the way of the goal? Are there enough obstacles to make success feel satisfying?

Extra points: if you have a compelling way to ‘sell’ your story in 2-3 lines maximum (called a short pitch), you could insert it at the top of your synopsis. Make sure this practice isn’t frowned upon by the person you are sending the synopsis to.

Examples

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl The Shape of Water

Want feedback on your Synopsis?
have one of our analysts to look it over with an Outline Review!

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