How to Write an Effective Book Synopsis?

A synopsis is basically a short overview of the book's story, and it helps you find a publisher or literary agent, which is why it is very important to write a compelling synopsis that will attract the publisher or the agent to your story. An author should know how to explain the story premise and advertise it successfully to the literary agent or publisher. If they feel that the story of the author has that potential to gain the interest of the reader and perform good in the market, then only they will be interested in getting into your further story. So, a good synopsis can be your door to a huge success or lead to failure. 

In this blog, we discuss what a book synopsis is, and describe steps for effective synopsis and tips that will help you in a long way. Double9 Books has always been your publishing solution, and today, we are here to deal with another such question that any writer must have. 

What is Synopsis?

A book summary that explains the book's plot and some essential elements of the book is the synopsis. It is meant for the literary agent so that they invest in the story and sell the final product to the publisher. This sample of an author manuscript is sent to publishers. The synopsis aims to outline and demonstrate a clear and neutral arc of the story and describe major plot twists, character descriptions and ending. The features of the synopsis vary from book to book. The synopsis and blurb are not the same, since the blurb offers only a teaser to catch the attention of the readers.

How to Write an Effective Synopsis 

When an author sits down to write a synopsis, it can be a little different from the final version of the story, given the edits that take place and publishers know and understand this, but what matters the most and should not change is that readers should get your story, main character and the plots around them.

Here are some steps to write a book synopsis for a publisher. 

Determine the Premise

The first step when writing a synopsis is to determine the premise clearly. Now, what is the premise? It is something that explains the overarching plot of a story and turns it into a single line. The premise should be short and crisp, and so thoughts should be given when composing a synopsis that convey the central plot of the book. 

Examples: 

• The entry of the protagonist 
• Centre point of Conflicts, twists or mysteries of the story
• The setting and timelines of the story
• X factor of the story

Detertime the Story Structure

The next step in story structure is writing a book synopsis for nonfiction, showcasing how the story develops throughout the book. And then the structure is broken down into sequences to help assess how the story will flow. The sequences can be divided into individual parts describing their characters and their arcs. 

The elements that should be considered in the story structure are: 

• Introduction
• Inciting incident
• Progressing developments
• Major crisis or climax
• Resolution

Focus on the Details 

The third step is to fill in the details of the story. To not overdo the details, keep all the details in each section of the synopsis, covering segments and explaining them in quick succession. The author cannot go into every minute detail in a synopsis, so the major information that can be included should be when writing a book synopsis for a literary agent: 

• The main characters in the story
• How they meet
• Some elements of the world or setting
• How their journey progresses through the story
• The major conflict 
• How the story concludes

Some Helpful Tips for an Effective Synopsis 

• Write a book synopsis in the present tense and in third-person. This helps engage the reader and lets your story flow smoothly. 
• The synopsis should be short and concise, and not long. Shorts and crips always stand the first chance in the face of literary agents and publishers. If a word limit is assigned, then stick to it; it will showcase your professionalism. Normal fonts, margins and line spacing should be used. 
• Reviewing before submitting is very important. Look for spelling errors, edit sentences if they feel vague, and avoid any run-on sentences or subordinate clauses that unnecessarily lengthen your piece.
• Make your characters stand out. Avoid writing too many characters in the synopsis and limit it to 4 or 5. Focus on the main character and make the character highlight and mention its descriptions in the first reference. 
• Specify the book category. Categorisation helps the agents and publishers to market the books accordingly in the market once it has passed all the steps of publication. Take professional help for your synopsis, or one can take the help of any sample synopsis to compare and make the changes accordingly. 

Conclusion

Consider and view writing a book synopsis as an opportunity that can make an author dream of getting published. With Double9 Books, we make your publishing dream come true in very easy and convenient steps. Whether you are a first-time author or seasoned, we provide an equal platform for all and make sure that your story reaches billions and more. 

FAQ

Question 1. How to write a good synopsis for a book?

Answer: Stick to the basics. Do not go into many details. Focus on the main and a few characters, story conflict and plot and always write in the third person and present tense, no matter what tense the book is written in. 

Question 1. How long is a typical book synopsis?

Answer: A synopsis is a 500-800 word summary of your book. It should outline your plot in neutral language and show a clear narrative arc.

Question 1. What is the difference between a synopsis and a summary?

Answer: A synopsis gives a complete plot outline, revealing major spoilers, while a summary is a shorter, spoiler-free overview of the main points and themes of a work.