How to Write a Synopsis for a book or screenplay!

 

How to Write a Synopsis for a book or screenplay!

A synopsis is basically a summary of not only the plot but the storyline of any book or screenplay. Not only should your summary be intriguing to the point where the reader doesn’t want to put it down. The first paragraph should have a line that is your hook. Your hook plus summary should entice your reader to want to read your entire manuscript even though the summary will give them all the twists and turns of the actual storyline. Three things should be included in your summary, your hook, your main plot, and your arc. It should also include the conclusion of the story tying the entire story up in a nice bow for the reader.

Before I write any book, storyline, or screenplay, I always write the synopsis because It’s my blueprint for my project and helps me stay on point for the story. Once the synopsis is written I begin writing the screenplay, just so I can get the story out of my head along with who is in each scene and the basic dialogue, then I write the book.

Here's how you should do it:

1)      Your synopsis should have substance. What this means is that you must flesh out the plot for an agent or publisher to entice them to ask for the entire manuscript. You should provide the plot and the strongest arc within your story. Many stories have a minimum of three plot points, these are your major story points the first conflict of our story. The second plot point is your action point that explains the conflict and the tension of the story. The last plot point is your resolution point which is your ending explanation of how the conflict happened, who was involved, and why they did it, then explain the reasoning behind the other two plots. You must also include in your summary the motivation of your character in why they are trying to solve the conflict in which they are embroiled.

Always remember your synopsis should be written in the third person and never narrated it is not a memoir, it is a novel-style storyline. When you write your synopsis in the third person it helps the reader follow along and understand it better.

Let’s say your character was in love with someone but lost them during the war yet they never came home. So, they are handed the opportunity to search for them in a foreign country, and they fly there in search of that true love. This is called inciting action.

Your ending result would be that they climb over hurdle after hurdle trying to find them, and then all of a sudden, they come upon a nurse in a war-torn hospital who knows the man your character is searching for, but he’s not using the name she knew him as, but a different name. He’s had amnesia all these years. Upon seeing him after all this time, he recognizes her but doesn’t know her name, but he’s intrigued to learn it. With her help, he remembers who he is and wants to return home with her to begin his life once again as her lost love. This would be the resolution the motivation of your character and the last plot. The arc would be that he’s lost his memory.

Make your work stand out by using your voice and a unique way of sharing the various elements of your storyline. You need to explain in your writer’s voice how unique your story is and why the agent or publisher should sign you to a contract to publish it. Make sure you use proper prose to reflect your character’s feelings within the synopsis as you explain the uniqueness of your story.

Use juicy plot twists to help make your synopsis pop. Don’t give it all away but overshadow the story by hinting at your potential plot twists at the beginning of your synopsis. In other words, if you’re writing a mystery novel then hint at the person being missing at first, leaving it open to wonder if the person is dead or has just run away. This leaves the story open to you, the writer, to change your mind if you want the person to run away with a new lover or escape a horrible setup marriage that they really don’t want. But if it is a murder, you can reveal it all at the climax of the story. The ending is where you reveal all.

One story I have always loved is that of the book titled “Ben and Me” by Robert Lawson. The story is told from the voice of a mouse called Amos. This type of story is told from the point of view of another person or in this case a mouse. It’s a cute story if you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it.

The publisher describes this book as follows:

“Ever wonder where inventors get their ideas? As it turns out, the great inventor Benjamin Franklin got his best ideas from a mouse named Amos! Funny, interesting, and wise, this classic tale has been a favorite for generations. Once you've met Amos and read his account, you'll never think of Ben Franklin—or American history—quite the same way.” (Originally published in 1939 and republished on April 28, 1988, by Little, Brown Books for Young Reader).

Remember to reread your synopsis and edit it accordingly. Have another person read it for you and give you critical feedback because if you keep your synopsis mysterious you will frustrate the crap out of a potential agent or publisher. They need to know the nitty-gritty of your story to know if it will sell or not, so don’t hold back, but don’t give it all away before you get that contract.

 Keep your synopsis short but not so short that you leave out the best parts. Keep relevant details in by telling the story with a plot that leads to another plot and so on. Be sure to include distinctive elements that give your synopsis substance to intrigue the reader to want to ask you for that entire manuscript.

If you don’t have a few friends you can count on to test-read your work, hire someone to do it. Don’t ask your friends to read your word within a day or two, give them a month to read it over and give you critical feedback. If they can’t do it, don’t get mad, find someone else to do it. But be sure to give them enough time to do it and get back to you. Ask them for a commitment upfront so you can get the edits done and send it off to a potential agent or publisher.

Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.