In order to publish a novel, a poem, an epic saga or present a film script to a producer, a masterpiece with a fascinating plot, charismatic characters and vivid images is not enough. A synopsis is necessary - a brief and at the same time informative presentation of the author’s creative intent.
You will need
- computer or typewriter.
Instruction manual
1
Before you begin, pay attention to the requirements made by publishers from your mailing list for the volume, content of the synopsis and its annexes. A number of publishers require that the final volume of the book and short fragments from some chapters be included in the synopsis. For others, only a synopsis is enough, but with the reference information about the author indicated at the beginning of the document. Still others are asked to send two or three chapters of the work together with a short synopsis. Note which publishers are your priority, and write a synopsis based on their particular requirements.
2
Start writing, remembering that synopsis is a bit of a concise concept of a work. Therefore, the standard synopsis should not be more than one page in volume. Better yet, if the author succeeds in presenting the idea of the work in several paragraphs. At the same time, brevity should not affect the plot intrigue. After all, the synopsis should first of all interest the editor or producer. You can do this by first formulating for yourself the thesis answers to the following questions:
• genre affiliation of the work (thriller, drama, comedy detective, erotic novel, children's fantasy);
• the main characters;
• what the plot is about;
• plot plot;
• key critical points;
• climax and denouement.
3
A thesis synopsis can take two or even three pages, so at the next stage of work it is necessary to “squeeze out” - to remove “water”, emotions and secondary characters, branches from the main storyline, trifles and refinement. When a thoroughly “wrung out” synopsis takes up no more than a page, you can more thoroughly work on each sentence. The author's task is to make the synopsis capacious. So capacious and "catchy" that the editor or producer in the process of reading his interest did not fade away, but only intensified. At the same time, complex sentences and metaphors should be avoided.
4
Allow the text to "rest", and it is recommended that you begin the final processing of the summary of the work after at least a day. The synopsis will be easier to read, and some flaws or excesses that are not noticed in the process of hard work will become apparent.
note
It is not necessary at the beginning of the synopsis to list all the characters by name - this will complicate the work of the editor.
Helpful advice
You can start work on a synopsis at any stage of writing a work, but it is easier to write a synopsis at the final stage or when the work is already finished.
Related article
How to write a synopsis of a novel
