How to Write a Good Synopsis: 6 Key Things to Note

Figuring out how to write a good story synopsis may seem like a daunting task, but you've more than likely already done the challenging bit – you've written your novel or are well on your way to doing so.

Now you've just got to talk about it, spoilers and all.

I’ll be honest. Crafting a book synopsis is one of the trickier parts of the writing process. But it’s something that has to be done. 

If you're sending your story off to a publisher or an agent, a compelling synopsis is essential. These people read hundreds of synopses every day, so you need to make yours stand out.

Here, I’m going to guide you through exactly how to write a good synopsis so you can increase your chances of grabbing a publisher's or agent's attention.

What is a synopsis?

In simple terms, a synopsis is an overview of your manuscript. 

It is not a blurb and it is not a short teaser of your book.

A few synopsis essentials

A synopsis should outline exactly what happens throughout the course of your story. This description should be business-like, rather than lyrical and literary.

You don't have to delve into the greatest of detail, but you definitely need to cover your story’s most important events and character arcs.

Another synopsis essential? Spoilers.

Because you’re trying to sell your book, rather than pique interest, you need to showcase that plot-line, that twist and that exciting ending.

These are your book’s USPs and it’s important that you tell agents and publishers all about them.

And a few practical considerations

Some agents or publishers stipulate what they expect from a synopsis. They may specify the points they want you to include or ask you to stick to a particular work count.

So check submissions guidelines before writing and sending your synopsis. 

You may also like to adapt your tone and presentation to each individual publisher or agent, tailoring your synopsis so it better aligns with their way of working.

Even if no word count is specified, try not to write reams. The general consensus on synopses is that one page of text will suffice. 

Why do I need a synopsis?

Almost every single publisher or agent will request a synopsis when you send over your work. This, along with your cover/query letter is the first thing they'll read.

If they don't think your story sounds engaging and like something they'd be happy to represent/publish, then they simply won't bother reading your manuscript.

You may have a literary masterpiece on your hands. But if you don't know how to write a good synopsis, you’ll be sabotaging your own chances of success.

How to write a synopsis

To write a good synopsis, you should include:

• Your manuscript's complete narrative arc

• The major elements of your story

• The ending/resolution

Those are the key points you have to cover. But let's delve a little deeper...

1) Your title

This one is pretty self-explanatory. But always remember to include the title of your work, even if it's just a working title at this point.

While you're at the top of the document, it's also worth mentioning your target audience, genre and word count.

2) Pitch line

Next up, you need a pitch line. Or at least have one handy for the publishers or agents that ask for one.

According to Christie Wright Wild, a pitch line is 'a one or two sentence description that condenses your book’s dramatic narrative into the essence of your story’s plot.'

For more info on how to write the perfect pitch line for your novel, I'd thoroughly recommend checking out Christie's post.

3) Who is the story about? 

Now we’re into the main body of your synopsis. And it’s time to introduce your protagonist(s). 

Focus on describing the characters who truly drive your story, leaving out members of the supporting cast for now. 

Your synopsis should answer the following questions: 

• Who is your main character(s)?

• What are their motivations? 

• What happens in the story to initiate the character’s main arc (e.g. an 'inciting incident')?

4) The narrative

In this section of your synopsis, you’ll provide an outline of your novel as it unfolds for a reader - even if the events of your book don’t come in a chronological order. 

Include key scenes, plot lines and relevant story details. But be concise and to the point.

What is your protagonist's goal and what gets in their way? Do they achieve their goal and, if so, how?

Remember, only include the essentials. 

If you're not sure how to determine what your story essentials are, try this exercise: 

Set a five minute timer. 

Imagine you're telling a stranger on the bus what your story is about. 

What do you feel compelled to say? And what are happy to miss out given the time constraint?

One final note on narrative. Don’t break your novel down into themes or chapters. Publishers and agents don’t generally like this type of synopsis approach. Instead, just stick to the narrative arc.

5) Write with style

“And then this happens, and then that happened, and then…”

It goes without saying that your synopsis shouldn’t read like a school child’s hastily written homework. 

Anyone who reads your synopsis should get a sense of your writing skill and style. 

To achieve this, treat your synopsis as an extension of your manuscript. Outline your story with clarity. But try to make your synopsis an engaging and exciting read in its own right.

The hope is that a publisher or agent will actually enjoy reading your synopsis to the end.

Speaking of which…

6) Ta-dah! La Fin, The End

Don’t leave your synopsis on a cliffhanger!

While you may think you’re tempting an agent or publisher to read your full novel, failing to reveal your story’s ending means it’s more likely to end up on the NO pile. 

These guys want to know how your story ends without having to trawl through your entire manuscript. 

They want to know what sense of resolution you have crafted for both your characters and a reader. 

An additional note on endings

Apparently there are some agents who prefer not to discover a book’s ending in a synopsis. But so far, when it comes to publishers, I've not encountered any who share that opinion. 

As always, check an agent or publisher's website and guidelines before you send your synopsis so you can be clear on what they want.

What to do now?

At this stage, you're probably looking to submit your story to publishers or agents. If so, check out my posts on publishers accepting submissions to see which publishers are currently open to being sent unsolicited manuscripts.

I offer a range of editorial services for authors at every stage of the editing process, so if you're looking for some professional editorial help before sending your manuscript off to publishers or agents, get in touch.

With that, I'm off for a cuppa. Good luck and happy synopsis writing!

Candida x