Craft Chat The synopsis thing again. Info worth reading

[Quillwitch]

How to Write a One Page Synopsis

How to Write a One Page Synopsis
synopsis
noun syn·op·sis \sə-ˈnäp-səs\
a short description of the most important information about something : a summary or outline

For the first stage of the competition, we ask for one-page synopsis of your novel along with the opening extract. Please don’t worry too much about writing the perfect one. Your writing style will shine out in the novel extract and the role of the synopsis is simply to show what happens in the rest of your plot. The most useful elements to include are:

Your novel in one line. It’s always helpful when readers and judges are able to get an immediate sense of what your book is about. One line (usually past tense, third person) which summarises your main character, setting and the central conflict of the book gets you off to a great start.

Plot summary. From there, we’re looking to understand what happens in your novel. A structure which often works well is to focus your synopsis into three parts.

Part one: What is the set-up of the novel? Describe how your story starts including the inciting incident.

Part two: What is your character trying to achieve and who or what is stopping them? What happens to raise the stakes and how does this affect your characters?

Part three: How does the character try to solve the conflict? Describe what happens in the climax of the book and how the story ends.

Note: The above is a suggested outline only. If you have a differently formatted one-page synopsis that works for your book, please feel free to submit that, or if you have any questions please do email us at info@bathnovelaward.co.uk

The Bath Novel Award 2017 opens to entries from 1st December 2016. Read more…
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is open NOW until 20th November 2016. Read more…

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Thank you for posting this useful information, as I'm just about to compose a synopsis for my third novel.

 

[Quillwitch]

Thank you for posting this useful information, as I'm just about to compose a synopsis for my third novel.

I hope it´s helpful. Good luck, Paul!

 

[Peggy Lou]

Thanks Quillwitch. Synopses are even worse than query letters.

 

[Quillwitch]

The interesting thing about this template, for me, is that I often forget the first part, which is so important in terms of setting the setting. A bit of what is going on in the world of your story and how your MC will become a part of the situation for good or bad. That was an eye opener for me. It actually changed my vision of my story, making it more universal.

BTW- have you noticed, there are also links to 2 writing contests at the bottom? Check them out!

 

[Peggy Lou]

Thanks for the reminder. I had actually missed with. Too busy griping mentally about queries and synopses. I don't think my novels are ready, but what has one got to lose - apart from 22 pounds.

 

[AgentPete]

Hello @Quillwitch,

We are changing the status of this ticket to closed as we have not heard back from you in 7 days.