A synopsis is a detailed summary of a work, outlining its story from beginning to end. While often associated with film or science, this term also applies to the world of books, writing, and publishing. Many publishing houses now require authors to include a synopsis when submitting their manuscripts; some even prefer to receive only a synopsis instead of the manuscript itself. That’s why, on Édith & Nous, you can now add a synopsis to your manuscript from your Author account. It’s therefore crucial to write a good synopsis that will convince editors to start reading your work and potentially offer it for publication.
What should a book synopsis contain?
In the case of a novel, the synopsis differs from the back cover blurb, which aims to present the initial situation and build suspense to pique readers’ interest and make them want to learn more. Writing a synopsis is also distinct from writing a pitch, which is much shorter and must present the work, its plot, setting, and characters in just a few lines, as effectively as possible. Nor is it the same as a letter of intent, in which you provide more context for your work, such as your reasons for submitting your manuscript to a particular publisher, the idea you wished to develop in this project, and so on. Furthermore, the synopsis invariably reveals the ending of the novel, as its purpose is to unveil the entire plot. While the back cover is primarily aimed at readers, the pitch and synopsis are generally addressed to the potential publisher of the book, so that they have a fairly precise idea of the story they are about to devote their reading time to.
A book synopsis should primarily present a detailed summary of the plot, outlining the various stages of the novel’s narrative arc. It should also introduce the characters, the setting, and the themes explored in the manuscript. Unlike a pitch, which is limited to a few lines (for example, it’s restricted to 400 characters on Edith & Us), and a back cover blurb, which is only one or two paragraphs long, a synopsis can be up to a page and a half long. However, contrary to what one might think, it’s also an exercise in conciseness (a synopsis of two pages or more is already too long). The author must present an overview of the challenges the characters will face throughout the plot, the influence these challenges will have on their development, the evolution of the story, and the progression toward its resolution. The synopsis serves to explain the structure of your novel and demonstrate that the plot is coherent throughout the manuscript.
Spark publishers’ curiosity with a compelling and well-constructed synopsis! Entrust your manuscript to a professional editorial consultant who will annotate and analyze it to make it the first asset of your project.
Why write a synopsis for your book?
So you don’t get lost in your story
The synopsis is an important step in writing your novel, as it clearly defines the initial situation, the final situation, and the various plot twists to be included in the story , providing a framework for the narrative. It is therefore an invaluable tool to prevent you from getting lost in the writing process, guiding you from the very first pages. It is therefore recommended to write it before you even begin writing a book.
To convince publishers to read your manuscript
The synopsis of your book also plays a crucial role when submitting your manuscript to a publishing house. Publishers are inundated with manuscripts, and reading a manuscript takes time, not to mention that their main activities remain the production and marketing of books. Publishers are therefore both highly selective and very demanding, particularly in their assessment of submitted projects, when deciding whether or not to begin reading a text. The cover letter and pitch must therefore capture the publisher’s attention, but the role of the synopsis is to maintain this attention by presenting a structured and well-thought-out project that will encourage them to dedicate their time and attention to reading the entire text.
The synopsis is also a valuable tool for publishers, as it allows them to quickly assess how well your project aligns with their editorial focus, grasp the main points of your story, understand the consistency of your characters, and get a first glimpse of your writing style. While a synopsis doesn’t necessarily demand literary virtuosity, you can, within reason, incorporate some stylistic flourishes to add a personal touch. The key is to be clear and concise, paying close attention to syntax, spelling, conjugation, and grammar so that the publisher’s focus remains solely on your plot or the world you’ve created.
Our tips for writing a good synopsis
Write the synopsis of a work of fiction
To write a synopsis of a novel, you have two options: write a chapter-by-chapter summary, or write an overall summary of the work (the latter being generally recommended) .
Write a synopsis chapter by chapter…
This exercise aims to demonstrate that each written chapter is important and contributes key elements to the story. Therefore, when creating this summary, you must explain which character is introduced in which chapter, what plot twists or resolutions each chapter provides, highlighting the work and care put into constructing the novel’s plot. Be aware, however, that if your book has many chapters, the synopsis can become very long using this method.
… or volume by volume
In the case of a fantasy novel, it is best to write a synopsis for each volume. Indeed, fantasy sagas can be difficult to summarize due to the number of books they comprise, the complexity of the world presented, and the number of adventures the characters must face.
Write a general summary of the novel
This method is more flexible, allowing you to summarize your book’s story as you see fit. It therefore requires careful attention to the synopsis’s structure to ensure it remains clear and concise. You can begin by outlining the novel’s initial situation in one or two sentences , introducing the characters , and then summarizing the various adventures your characters experience, leading to the plot’s resolution and the final situation .
The distinctive features of comics
A comic book synopsis must summarize the story in detail so that the publisher can understand the entire plot (the main storyline, the characters’ narrative arcs throughout the story, etc.). In most cases, submitted projects are not finished, but whether they are or not, the publisher needs to know the complete story before offering a contract to the author.
Write the synopsis of a non-fiction work
Writing a synopsis for a non-fiction work is different because it must connect the text to the real-life events that inspired it. You can therefore begin your synopsis with the book’s subject matter, the relevant historical context, and the events or figures that inspired it. Then, you can write an overall summary or a chapter-by-chapter outline of the story, keeping in mind the element of real events underlying it. The goal is to demonstrate that you have thoroughly researched your chosen subject before writing and that your writing has successfully brought the events to life in a new light.