Thursday 5 March 2009

How to write a book synopsis

Writing a good synopsis is a skill all writers need to develop but many writers find the process painful and difficult. I do have some good and bad news about the dreaded synopsis. The bad news is that there is no one outline or standard way to write a synopsis. The good news is that there are some things you can include to avoid writing a terrible synopsis.
  • An elevator pitch: A few lines to sell your book. This needs to be concise and to the point. Kind of like the blurb you see on the back of books.
  • A detailed outline: This should consist of a guide to the book’s structure and the basic narrative thread of the story
  • A word count: No really.
  • Marketing information: You need to define the genre of your book, detail your potential market, suggest similar titles and give any ideas for future titles.
  • A bit about you: Detail any previous writing experience. If you have other books written then include them. Also include a very brief outline showing who you are and why you write.
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