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Synopsis question

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RK Capps

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If you book's in first person, do you write the synopsis in first person? I thinking yes because it's like a consistency thing. Thoughts?
 

Paul Whybrow

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That's an interesting proposition...writing a synopsis in the first person would be confrontational and attention-grabbing. But, it would also feel wrong, as a synopsis isn't narration, it's a description or summary—which requires the stance of a third person.
 

Carol Rose

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The standard is to write a synopsis in third person present tense, as @Jackson Banks has indicated, no matter what POV your book is written in. Certainly you can experiment, but bear in mind it likely won't make a difference. A synopsis is only a piece of data. It's not meant to entice or sell the work. It's meant to show an agent or editor you have a cohesive story that has a beginning, a middle, and an end that resolves all major arcs.
 

RK Capps

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Nah, not wanting to experiment, my synopsis is currently in 3rd, but I'm just swapping my MS to 1st and wanted to check what's standard :)
 
D

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Regardless of what POV you use in your Manuscript. A Synopsis is always in 3rd but do use some elements in there from your Manuscript such as the manner etc.
 

Tim James

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A full synopsis should be, as mentioned, third person present tense, clear and simple, plainly factual. Don't hide anything, tell the whole story; secrets, surprises, reveals and all.
Now there are some who would say, don't give it all away in the synopsis. But then what you are giving them is just a taster. The purpose of a full synopsis is to demonstrate to the publisher/agent that you have the whole story plotted out and that it all hangs together without them having to read the whole MS.
 
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Amusement Cure for Writer's Block

Verification Process

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