How to Write a Synopsis There must be a billion pages on the internet dealing with this subject. The fact that you're reading mine when you've probably read at least a dozen others shows you're still not confident about writing a synopsis and are looking for the perfect, foolproof, absolute best way to do it. There isn't one.  Like ice cream, synopses (yes, that's the correct plural form of the word) come in all flavors and colors.  There is no single "correct" way to write a synopsis.  Some people will tell you to start with a paragraph about the heroine and then introduce the hero. Some will advise you to begin with a one- or two-paragraph "teaser" before you get down to details. Others will tell you to slice your story into even pieces and write one paragraph about each chapter. You know what I'm talking about.  You've already read several "How to Write the Dreaded Synopsis" articles, haven't you?  And now here you are, back for more.   Friends, this is not rocket science.  Forget all those fancy formulas and just tell your story.  If you've written a romance novel, you know you can tell a story.  So just do it, already!  Stop obsessing about your synopsis and write the silly thing.   Tell the story the same way you'd tell it to your mom or your best friend.  Start at the beginning and stop at the end.  Use present tense for a sense of immediacy, like this:  "Afraid that Dirk is planning to talk his younger brother out of going through with the wedding, Cleo spikes Dirk's coffee with an herbal laxative.  When he rushes to the outhouse, she locks him in.   Incensed by her trickery, Dirk kicks the outhouse door so hard the entire structure falls to its side and rolls down the hill."   Yes? the reader asks.  What happens next?  Present tense works because it pulls your reader into the action and makes her live the story as it unfolds.  Always use present tense in a synopsis  Editors expect it.   And this is a romance, remember, so be sure to tell not just how your main characters meet and what they go through in the course of the story, but why they are attracted to each other and why they cannot possibly fall in love.  Show us the first kiss and the first realization (by both the hero and heroine) of love.  Remember to show emotion, emotion, emotion at every point. Don't say, "Even though Cleo is planning to marry his brother, Dirk can't stop himself from kissing her.  She responds eagerly."  Those may be the facts of your story, but they convey no emotion.   So try it this way:  "Despising himself for his powerful attraction to his brother's fiancée, Dirk roughly pulls Cleo into his arms and kisses her breathless.  She can't believe what's happening, but she is unable to resist, and after a few moments the small section of her brain that is still functioning tells her she can never marry Jake, not after this. Yes, she hates it that Dirk is a gunslinger, and he's told her a thousand times he's not the marrying kind, but as his kiss curls her toes Cleo admits to herself that in some terrifying, wonderful way, she will always belong to this enigmatic man and to him alone."   Did you feel the emotion?   Don't just report what happens, tell how your characters feel about what is happening.  If you can't convey emotion in your synopses, editors won't expect to find it in your story.  You'll be dead in the water and will never receive that hoped-for request for your full manuscript.   It's important to remember that your synopsis should sound like you.  It should be written in the same tone as your manuscript.  If your story is dark and mysterious, your synopsis should not be warm and chatty.   And that's all the advice I have for you.  Everyone makes this sound much more difficult than it is.  All you have to do is show that you've put together an interesting plot and that you have a knack for showing emotion and romantic tension.  If an editor sees that, she'll request your manuscript.   As regards formatting, do it as you would a manuscript.  That means double-spacing.  And keep it short.  Five pages should be plenty for a 75K manuscript. Just let yourself go, write from beginning to end, and when you have finished telling your story, go back and edit for length.  You'll end up with a complete, tight synopsis.   For more on formatting, here's a good snapshot of a fake synopsis from the nice people over at eHarlequin.com. _______________________________________ I hope you found this page helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please  e-mail Brenda. UPDATE:  The day after I posted this page I received an e-mail from Janice, who lives in Missouri.  She had a good laugh as she imagined poor Dirk in the outhouse, and she immediately went out and took this photo of her grandmother's outhouse.  Which she has inherited, apparently.  (I'm not going to ask.)  I am indebted to Janice for permission to use this picture because her outhouse happens to look exactly like the one Cleo locked Dirk inside.       Return to Brenda's Writing Tips Go back to home page: Brenda Coulter, Inspirational Romance Novelist