The way my new contracts are set up I have to write a brief synopsis and the first 10 pages of the book when doing proposals. I know, it sounds easy, but for me writing a synopsis is the hardest thing in the world. For my editor Anne Sowards at Berkley, all I had to do was write a short paragraph telling her the who, what, when, where and why of the book. I think she did that, because she knew no matter what I wrote in a synopsis the story would change in a very big way.
I’m a pantser. That means I just sit down and write, so putting together something ahead of time is extremely difficult for me. I’d almost rather write the book first and hand it over. That sounds crazy, but it’s true for me. My new editor, Kathryn Lye at Harlequin, is the one who wants the brief synopsis and a few pages. And she has every right to want that. She’s willing to fork over a wad of cash, she should have some idea of what she is getting.
Still, it’s difficult for me. And almost every email to her with attached proposals begins with, “You know, I don’t write great synopses, but this will give you an idea of where I want to go with the book.”
I have devised a rather crude way of putting together a synopsis, that those of you who struggle might find useful. It’s basically a bigger version of that who, what, where, when and why I did before. There are entire books written on this process, but this is what works for me.
The Who
We need to know what makes the main characters a tick.What makes them different from all the other characters in the world? What is that thing that helps identify with them? We need to know everything about them, though not all of that needs to go in the synopsis.
The Why
What is their goal, motivation and conflict? They have to want something, that they can’t have and that is what drives them to move forward. It also is what drives the story. Since I write romance, that has to be an element of the why too. Why are these two characters thrown together, and why can’t they be apart? Or why can’t they be together?
The What
What is this thing they so desire, and what is they need to do to get it? What are they willing to do to make it happen? You’ll see bits of your plot popping up here.
The Where
Where is all of this taking place? Do they have to get from one destination to the other? What kind of setting is it? A few key details and textures can set the mood for you.
The When
When is all of this taking place? Why is it happening at that particular moment? Is there a specific time line to tell the story. A week? A month? A year?
Once you put all of these elements together, it makes it a little easier to weave a plot around them. And you do need your four plot points, and the major arcs in your story. (Read Christopher Vogler’s “The Writer’s Journey” if you need help with this.) To help me plot out my stories I just started to the big arch Jim Butcher uses for his work. Someone shared this link with me http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/ and I’ve found it immensely helpful. It can really help you organize your thoughts.
Now I’m off to write four synopsis. You heard me. Four. Ugh. I can tell you they will be as simplified as the information I’ve given you above. Of that, you can be sure.
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Wow, that certainly simplifies the process of synopsis writing, and couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve just finished editing my latest novel, and am now waiting to have it critiqued. In the meantime I am struggling with its synopsis. It’s not easy for me either. I find it far easier to write the story than the synopsis. This is the first time I’m approaching agents with my work, and understand the importance of a good synopsis. It’s much more daunting than writing an entire novel.
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Dawn, It may not be perfect, but at least my system will get you started.
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Thanks for this. The synopsis is so darn hard. I’m with you and it feel better to just write the book being a pantser. Good luck with 4!
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Thank you!
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I hate synopsi (what’s the plural for synopsis?) I can’t write them either, before, because I’m a pantser too and after, because they’re so dry and step by step that they’re boring!
I’m saving this and will use it next time I have to write one. Thanks!
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I hope it helps the next time you have to write one!
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I’m a total panster to. And like you, I’ve only ever had to send in short paragraph with the who what when and why sort of thing. Thanks for sharing your version of a synopsis. I’m going to try it out.
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I too struggle with the synopsis. I’m half a plotter [knowing major points in the story] and half a pantser. I find I change the story depending on where my characters are heading. But I always struggle with the synopsis, trying to decide what is important and not. I’m going to trying it your way.
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Sybir, I think the most important thing is to keep it simple.
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Ooops That didn’t go where it was supposed to. LOL. Well, Sybir and Mageela, I do think it’s important just to keep it simple.
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I do that all the time
And yes, here I work so hard to put details in, zen writer at my best, you would think the synopsis part would be EASY!
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Totally bookmarking this post Candace! I’m a panster too so the synopsis has always been hard. And of course, when I do write one, I tend to want to make it creative as well, which I’ve learned is NOT the way to go
When I was working on learning more about plot, I outlined a few books of authors I enjoyed and that seems to have helped me learn to go back, outline and write the synopsis as well. And I agree with Mageela, it’s hard to know what’s important to put in and what’s not.
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This is a great post. Just thinking about writing a synopsis makes my stomach do massive flip-flops. However, your post really broke it down and I think I’ll have to give your way a try. Thanks for the tips and good luck with your FOUR synopsis. Wow. And I’m sweating over one:)
Brenna
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I hear you on the nervous stomach. One thing I do lately is to write it in a notebook first. It doesn’t feel so real. Then I draft it onto the computer. For some reason it takes a lot of the stress out of it for me.
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Candy, I am going to print this out an post it above my desk. I hate, hate, hate to write a synopsis! So glad you simplified it for us. Candace Havens rocks!
Melba Moon
President-Elect KOD
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I really hope it helps!
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I’m very much a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer as well. So I feel your pain. Your list is very helpful … but I fear that approach would reduce my writing to a Tweet. My characters are involved in internal struggles. During writing workshops I’ve been told that my story had no conflict, when to my mind the characters are in constant conflict. So the journalist’s who, what, why, when and where opener could be done, but … imagine applying that to Ian McEwan’s “Enduring Love” or “Atonement.”
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Noel, Actually if you think about it, it would be easy to apply Atonment or Enduring Love. You are just digging deep into the core of your story and pulling out the essential elements. Those internal struggles, the relationship of the characters and the major plot points are all a part of your synopsis, they just fall under those various headers. I find that things are easier if I break them down to their core and look at them as steps. Atonement is the story of a star-crossed couple who’s lives are ripped apart by a teenager. The synopsis would talk about each of the main characters as it wove around that plot.
It’s just a simple way of looking at it.
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I think you’ve put your finger on my fear – reducing it all to a few sentences.
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I don’t mind them but it helps that I’m a plotter. Before starting to write a book, I put down scenes on index cards with the most vivid ones first until I have the whole story mapped out. To do the synopsis, I just take the cards (including my character cards), and put them in paragraph form. Well it’s a little more involved than that but you get the gist. The hardest part for me is when I have to get it down to two double spaced pages but that makes it much tighter and to the point.
Candace, thanks for showing us your system. It’s interesting to see the different ways of doing them.
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When I mailed off my GH entry this week, it was the synopsis that was making me nauseous. I love the way you’ve explained this, and will definitely add it to my “how-the-heck-to-write-a-synopsis” file. What makes them “different and special” is what I need to remember. Thanks for spelling it out.
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I wrote my first novel as a pantster, my second with a 7 page outline and my current WIP has a 25 page outline. Still hate writing synopsisesi. (Or whatever the plural is of the little devils.) Mine tend to be boring short versions of the outlines. This is a keeper, thanks! (If you have it in an easy document, could you email it to me at some point?)
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Hi Candy
I like your ‘cut to the chase’ version. LOL Please don’t throw things when I say I don’t mind writing the synopsis. I am an outliner so I think that helps tremendously in the task. I also was one of those crazies who loved book reports in school.