Composing an In-Depth Synopsis
{in a two-page-maximum world}
By
Karen Wiesner
You've heard the rumors, and I'm sorry to confirm that they're
true. The romance market is moving toward a standard two-page-maximum synopsis. For most of us, writing a thank-you note as
short as two pages is impossible. How in the world can we cram everything contained within a 250-page-plus novel into a measly
two page synopsis?
If you look at the figures, it seems even more impossible:
10 pages=2500 words
5 pages=1250 words
2 pages=500 words
But maybe the old-fashioned way isn't completely useless. Maybe
we can use it to our advantage. It easier to write more than what you need instead of less than what you need, right? Because
that way it's just a matter of cutting out the extraneous. Composing the old-fashioned way.
There are two steps in writing a synopsis. Step one is the background,
where you give details concerning the hero and heroine's past. Personal and external conflicts are explored as well as why
they were or weren't resolved. Step two is the present. Here you bring the reader up to speed on how the characters have dealt
with the past and you introduce new developments. For now, concentrate on including everything you feel is important to your
story. Worry later about the length of the synopsis.
To make sure you've covered everything, follow this list:
WHO? (character name, age, career, and personality)
WHAT? (internal and external conflicts, as well as goals, both separate and mutual)
WHEN? (the time period--historical, contemporary, time travel, etc.)
WHERE? (the setting)
WHY? (why are they in this situation? why are they in it together? why do they fall in love with each other?)
HOW? (how do the hero and heroine meet (again)? how do events and the relationship progress and how are they resolved?)
For an in-depth synopsis, your totals will most likely shake
out like this:
WHO? 3 lines for each character
WHAT? 3 paragraphs for each character
WHEN? 2 lines
WHERE? 2 lines
WHY? 5 or more paragraphs
HOW? 5 or more paragraphs
Unless you write extremely long paragraphs, the majority of synopsis
pages have around four paragraphs each, which means that the old-fashioned synopsis is going to be much too long. It's time
to get out your sharpest pair of scissors.
Composing the two-page-maximum way.
WHO? (In a synopsis this short, you probably don't need to put
in more than the names and a brief description of their careers. Cut out anything else. Be ruthless here because this will
be the easiest place to whittle away the unnecessary.)
WHAT? (Depending on how far your characters go back with each
other, what isn't crucial to the synopsis should present itself almost immediately. All you need is what their main hang-up
is (a personal one), the thing that threatens them from the outside, and what they plan to do about each conflict.)
WHEN? (In a contemporary, it's always assumed present time. In
a historical and time travel you might need to be specific, but keep it down to one line if at all possible.)
WHERE? (Unless the setting is absolutely pivotal to some conflict
in the story, leave it out altogether.)
WHY? and HOW? (These are the two areas you'll have the hardest
time keeping short. Remember, a synopsis (especially one this short) isn't the place for in-depth details. Describe the events
briefly, give viable explanations for the situation and the characters' motives, then cap it off with their resolutions.)
Now we have:
WHO? 1 line for each character
WHAT? You could conceivably get this down to 2 lines for each
character if your plot isn't too complex
WHEN? 0 to 1 line
WHERE? -
WHY? 3 paragraphs
HOW? 3 paragraphs
This is manageable. With those sharp scissors, you can get your
synopsis down to two pages without having something that resembles a hollow log when you're done. Just remember to keep a
copy of that in-depth synopsis. The market still has a few souls (God love 'em!) who prefer a synopsis written the old-fashioned
way.
Good luck!
