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JaneShuff posted an update 7 years, 4 months ago
Has anybody ever had to write a long synopsis – 3 to 10 pages? If so, any tips?
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If it was me? I’d set out to write a one-page synopsis.
To be less flippant, though… you could probably give a bit more detail to character arcs
I’ve done a shortish one page version but this press asks specifically for a 3 to 10 page version so I think they want a bit more detail. I’ve started writing a summary of each chapter to see where that gets me but it will still be on the shorter side.
Sorry just seen your second reply. Yes, I think you’re right. Character arcs. And funnily enough, I don’t have too much of a problem keeping my synopses short these days.
Maybe put in the subplot(s), assuming you haven’t done this with a shorter synopsis? And anything else which is important to you such as themes, settings, similarities/differences between main characters. Ten pages is a lot so I’m wondering what they want which wouldn’t be in a standard synopsis.
I was asked for a chapter by chapter breakdown once. With secondary characters plotted too…
I can’t help feeling it’s so they can unerstand the book without the bother of actually reading any of it.
“I can’t help feeling it’s so they can unerstand the book without the bother of actually reading any of it” – I’m sure you’re right. But perhaps also to get a feel for how much you understand your own book, in terms of thinking about it structurally and thematically
The wall is doing that thing again when it says there have been seven replies to this comment but is only showing me one. Anyone have any idea how to view the whole conversation?
There should be an eye icon with a “show all n comments” link after the initial post, but some kind of bug is stopping it appearing reliably. No ideas I’m afraid.
Is it a browser thing? I see the ‘show all comments’ thing.
I’m seeing it now. I suspect it’s intermittent, especially on my browser
Revenge of the vowel-challenged, perhaps.
Out of curiousity, which press is that? (only if you don’t mind sharing)
*curiosity
I don’t mind sharing at all. In fact I’d be interested in hvaing a separate group/thread on the Forum for people to share their experiences of the Indie Presses and Imprints that you can submit direct to. I bought the Indie Press Guide from Mxlexia which is useful but personal experiences are always better. Anyway the imprint wanting the long, long synopsis is an American one, part of Macmillan, called Tor Forge -https://us.macmillan.com/torforge/about/faq – I think they mainly publish sci-fi and fantasy but also thrillers and crime, so they seemed like they might be open to my ‘thriller with a speculative twist’.
Oh, interesting! I hadn’t heard of them. Out of interest, are you also planning to submit to agents? Or going purely down the indie route? I agree a dedicated thread for indie processes might be a good idea, to get lots of info all in one place.
I’m going purely down the Indie Route @philippaeast. I’m staying with my agent but she’s happy for me to try and sell this to an Indie myself as suggested by Raine and Debi. Speculative fiction is apparently a bit of a hard sell…
I was wondering what happened in the end with your agent and that book @janeshuff – that sounds like a brilliant plan. You get to keep the agent relationship and also your (wonderful) book has its chance, independent of that. I do love all he options open to writers these days, even if publishing is so much harder in others. Good luck!!
*in other ways
Thanks @kazg.