Craft Chat An interesting take on prologues and some synopsis tips

[LJ Beck]

I just did a workshop put on by Jane Friedman, taught by Jessica Strawser on synopsis. In it, Jessica said that one of the reasons a lot of agents don't like prologues is because they’ve read the query and the synopsis, which prompts them to read the pages. Then when they read the opening, it's a prologue that doesn't give them what they were promised or what they expected. (Assuming the prologue is not about the MC.) I never thought about that before. But I would imagine that's true? @AgentPete ? What do you think?

Some other interesting points on synopsis from the workshop...

• Don’t make us work to find the MC's goal.
• Flaw in plot can sometimes be excused, but flaw in plausibility is death for your synopsis. Explain the why. Avoid coincidences and unexplained out-of-char behavior.
• If the ending makes sense without a plot point or a supporting char, leave it out.
• If you only mention a supporting char twice, maybe don’t need them in the synopsis.
• Don’t start with hypothetical questions.
• Start the synopsis the way the story starts. Think of the synergy between all the marketing material. Does it all work together? One-liner, pitch, blurb, synopsis, and opening pages/chapter should all flow together. (This is where she talked about prologues)
• Don't mute your voice. Give a subtle flavor of what to expect from the ms. Don't be overly flowery but do include emotion.

Some resources shared in the webinar:

• For memoirs: Tough Categories: Five Top Book Editors on Publishing Memoir and Essay Collections @Vagabond Heart
• Supplemental Resources – The Business of Being a Writer - loads of examples of published queries, and some synopsis and other resources.
• How to Write a Novel or Memoir Synopsis | Jane Friedman - A basic guide from Jane.

and of course, speaking of synopsis, there's this! The Joy of Synopses – Litopia

 

[James Charles]

I hope you can join the book club discussion for The Bookseller of Inverness. There is a lengthy Introductory (historical) Note then a long Prologue. Of course this is historical fiction, but ....

With my WIP, on the advice of an agent, I have gone back in and added my Historical note (it's only 3/4 of a page long) but sets it up. I also have a one paragraph preface as a tease that is important to the epilogue. This agent said both of these are necessay for my WIP.