About 20 years ago, the rule of thumb for synopses was 1 page for every 10,000 words of text. That ration has changed over the years until now we’re at 1 page for every 25-40,000 words or so.

But the best rule is to check the guidelines for the house you’re targeting. Always.

Thanks so much for your help!
Sarah

Aside from the H/H, if a secondary character plays a major part in the plot, should he/she be named? I have more than two secondary characters that are involved in the plot twists and I’ve “read” that as a rule, only one other character (other than the H/H) should be included in a synopsis.

My other question is how long should a synopsis be for a single title romance that’s around 350-400 pages? I’ve “heard” there should be a paragraph for each chapter.

I’ve decided to write the synopsis first for my next manuscript. I usually outline the story before hand, though it changes a lot as the story makes it onto the page. I took a synopsis workshop and it really opened my eyes to plot holes…and not in a good way! Filling out the templates in the book “Break Into Fiction” helped me establish the “framework” (for lack of a better phrase!) for writing the synopsis…now whether it’s any good is the big question!

Thanks! Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Jen

I had a partial request with a synopsis. I am sure the synopsis killed it. (the query was painstakingly edited by someone from a workshop, so I got past step one)

Actually I will take ideas from anyone who has had to write the synopsis for an agent/editor and had it work… Desperate, want to write, need to write, but HELP

For some unknown reason, the process of writing a synopsis escapes me. I’ve read – no, devoured, everything on the topic and then when I sit down, totally inspired by great ideas – and I start typing? Holy flaming pages of crap! Seriously, I’ve actually sat there after I’ve completed my first run and stared at the computer screen going WTF? Even I don’t understand what I’m trying to say there. Or? Where did that fancy-shmancy word come from? Queen Elizabeth herself? I’ve actually made gagging noises so loudly that honey’s come rushing into the room ready to do the heimlich on me.

But after stepping away from it for a time, I’ve boiled a part of the problem down to one thing. For me, it’s subplots that are tied into the final resolution. That’s where I go bi-polar and get to the end of the freaking thing and go uh-oh. I need to mention this or that first – so I go back to the beginning and start plugging in stuff that probably doesn’t matter, but I have this need to try and make it work with the meat of the meal – so to speak. And even though I know it dilutes the message – AND – messes with my over-all writing tone/style I’m loath to forget about plugging this information in.

So my question would be. Is including all the ties to the final resolution important? I’m of a mind that this is what makes the story interesting – and it’s the story idea your trying to sell with a synopsis, right?

Murphy

Thanks for the info! I actually don’t mind writing synopses. Whether I do them well is another thing entirely.