Book Synopsis

The importance of a synopsis should be obvious, but for me it wasn’t until I wrote one. It was only then that I realized just how critical it is to spill the beans. Not every twist and turn, but you really shouldn’t hide the juicy bits from an agent. Since agents don’t have time to read manuscripts, they have to have an understanding of your book so they can decide if they want to read the first chapter. A cover letter might do it, but it might not be enough, thus the synopsis. It sounds so obvious now that I can’t understand how I couldn’t see it before.

So, how do you write a good synopsis? It’s easy. Follow the (conflicting) advice you find online and write your first draft. Then look at it and cringe. Then rewrite it one hundred times. You will likely still be cringing after the hundredth time, but this will be supplemented by cursing and wailing so it will make your pain fresh.

Finally, give up and just send the damned thing because you’ll never get it right.