Is a detailed synopsis a good idea?

[Jonny Ryan Mac]

I recently finished work on a detailed synopsis for my novel. Is 1600 words just to dang long? I have a one pager that covers all the basic plots, (450 words), but I felt that it couldn’t hurt to have a much longer one ready in case someone asked for it. this covers every major development in the story, every major POV, and how they all intertwine.



Any one heard of a detailed synopsis ever being requested?

[Julie Worth]

I recently finished work on a detailed synopsis for my novel. Is 1600 words just to dang long? I have a one pager that covers all the basic plots, (450 words), but I felt that it couldn’t hurt to have a much longer one ready in case someone asked for it. this covers every major development in the story, every major POV, and how they all intertwine.



Any one heard of a detailed synopsis ever being requested?

Yes, some agents want the longer one—maybe 5 percent of them. And a very few want a detailed, chapter-by-chapter summary. In my experience, it's best not to send any of these things unless they insist. The reason? It's just another way to get rejected before they ever read the ms.

[dragonjax]

Use what you've got. Typically, a brief synopsis runs about 3 double-spaced pages, but different agents will ask for different things.

And, side note: the synopsis that my agent never needed when he was considering whether to offer representation, he did need when he was pitching to editors.

[Jamesaritchie]

Here it's best to look for guidelines and follow them, but I'd also say to single space a synopsis. Double spacing is used for anything that's going to be edited. Synopses are never edited, and single spacing allows you to get more words on fewer pages.