Dreaded synopsis – how often do agents request the longer version?

LaFemme · Nov 18, 2009

I have finally finished my manuscript and it is ready for submission. I wanted to know from the experienced and published lurking on the board, in terms of the dreaded synopsis – do agents generally ask for the longer one, and if so how many pages do most people’s consist of? Also how common is it for an agent to ask for a synopsis as opposes to the first three chapters?

Somehow I am completely stressing out about the synopsis. My manuscript was a pleasure to write, I even had fun with the query letter, but the synopsis is giving me a panic attack. Did anyone else feel this way?

Thanks for your help.

LostInReality · Nov 18, 2009

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I've only just begun my querying, but I have had a couple of requests for partials or fulls. I have only had one agent request a synopsis. She asked for 3-5 page one and it was brutal. I agonized over it.

I dont really know if that's the answer you were looking for, but that has been my experience so far....atleast it's done now in case anyone else asks for it!

thothguard51 · Nov 18, 2009

YES...everytime I set down to revise my synopsis. I am now down to 5 pages from the 10 it started out as...Not sure I can cut it anymore... Gives me a headache. I always feel like I am leaving something important out and that may signal the rejection form...

BrooklynLee · Nov 18, 2009

I only wrote the one-page query, and agents asked for partials or fulls. No one asked for a synopsis. I suppose if someone had, I would have written one, but I didn't wait to start querying until I had one -- if writing a synopsis is all that's keeping you from querying, then I'd skip it for now and start sending out just queries. I know that if an agent liked my query enough to request a synopsis I think that would have been very, well, motivating...but none of them did. It may depend on genre, though.

dawinsor · Nov 18, 2009

I can't remember how many wanted it while I was querying, but my agent always wants one now. She uses it to sub to editors.

I write YA and for my books in the mid 50K range, I usually have a synopsis of 1000 to 1500 words.

scarletpeaches · Nov 18, 2009

I am the query ninja!

I got my 90k manuscript down to a one-page synopsis which was actually better than the two-page one in my opinion.

Am I the only one who finds them easy to write once she gets going? Once I have the intro I'm golden. It's easier when I'm selling someone else's book, though, I'll give you that.

Standard here (the UK) is either one or two pages of single-spaced Courier New, 12pt which works out at either 400-ish words, or 900-ish.

LaFemme · Nov 18, 2009

I am so glad to hear I am not alone in the dreaded department. I have done so much reading though, on how to write one, and the longer version is meant to be 10 pages – is this about correct? I am better at summarizing (I used to be a chartered accountant) so I would much prefer to do a two page synopsis than go and do a ten page one. I think that could really blew your chances of getting published as you have more room to ramble on about insignificant events in a flat uninteresting tone.

(Actually at this stage I can only but hope I am lucky enough to even get asked for a synopsis!)

scarletpeaches · Nov 18, 2009

In which country do you live?

Here in the UK it's common for the initial 'query' to be a query letter, first three chapters and short synopsis, short being one or two pages, single-spaced.

I've never been asked for a synopsis - I've always sent one anyway.

Wordwrestler · Nov 18, 2009

My advice is not query until you have several synopses. Good lengths are 250 words, 2-3 pages, and 5 pages. All single-spaced. If an agent requests a synopsis of a different length, you can adjust one of these accordingly.

I rarely needed my synopses during the querying process, but you don't want to risk not having one ready and as good as you can get it if an agent asks for it. Agent requests for material can come within minutes if you're e-querying.

I'd rather revise my entire novel completely, ten times over, than write a synopsis. But that's all the more reason not to get caught having to write one in a hurry, under stress.

Libbie · Nov 18, 2009

I did a two-page synopsis and have never had anything but that requested.

If you want to test the query-waters a bit, make a list of agents to try first who don't require a synopsis with submission. But be sure you get one written soon. It will eventually be necessary.

Wayne K · Nov 18, 2009

It was the first thing my agent asked for. I sent it this morning and have been refraining from coming in here and saying "I think I nailed it" because he mighty hate it.

he loved it. :snoopy:

He sent me two samples, so it wasn't very hard.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 18, 2009

Not to hijack, but when they ask for a synopsis, is that different from the query itself? Because the query IS a one page synopsis. So basically, in my thinking, if they ask for a query and a short synopsis, they're actually getting 2 synopsises.

scarletpeaches · Nov 18, 2009

No, the query is a letter.

LaFemme · Nov 18, 2009

Wordwrestler said:
My advice is not query until you have several synopses. Good lengths are 250 words, 2-3 pages, and 5 pages. All single-spaced. If an agent requests a synopsis of a different length, you can adjust one of these accordingly.

I think this is what I am going to do. A five page synopsis I can still handle, but when it gets into ten pages – that gets daunting. But I do agree that I should write both the short and the long versions first before a send out my query letters.

jclarkdawe · Nov 18, 2009

Shadow_Ferret said:
Not to hijack, but when they ask for a synopsis, is that different from the query itself? Because the query IS a one page synopsis. So basically, in my thinking, if they ask for a query and a short synopsis, they're actually getting 2 synopsises.

scarletpeaches said:
No, the query is a letter.

Sort of. In the query is a short version of the story, which is technically a synopsis. However, the story portion of the query may only cover the first fifty pages of the book, or may cover a longer section, but will rarely have the ending. Sometimes the story in the query does have the ending.

So technically, yeah, the agent is requesting two synopses. However, the two synopses are written for two entirely different purposes.

The story section of a query letter is designed solely to interest the agent. It's entirely a sales tool. You don't worry about subplots, or most of the characters. All you want to do is get the agent to spit coffee all over your query.

A two page synopsis will always go to the end of the book, should list all of the major characters, and give hints as to some of the subplots. It should be revealing whether you have any major plot holes. Although you can lose a sale through a two page synopsis, it's unlikely to cause an agent to drool.

Longer synopses will cover more characters, more subplots, and more details, hopefully showing you any plot holes before you send it to the agent.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

kaitie · Nov 18, 2009

Well, the query itself includes a very short synopsis, but other information as well. Often agents will ask for a short synopsis, and a general rule I've heard is 2-3 pages or under 1000 words. It took me about four tries I'd guess, but I finally did get under that mark (and my story is huge).

I've found that the trick is to not worry about including everything. When I did it the first time just deciding to sit down and write out the plot, I ended up with something that was about eight pages long. Clearly that wasn't going to work. I set it aside, pulled up a fresh piece of paper (I always saved the old versions in case I liked some particular wording on something), and thought, "What are the most important things that happen?" I have basically four major plot things that had to be included. After that, it was a matter of branching out and asking what else needed to be included in order to make those make sense.

I would seriously suggest if you have something really long to start over instead of cutting. It's very hard to wrap your mind around the structure of a shorter version if you're looking at a very long one. It's much easier to step back when you're starting from scratch and try again. It's also easier to go back and add something in than it is to constantly try to cut things out.

scarletpeaches · Nov 18, 2009

I disagree. I find it much, much easier to cut than to add.

I went through each chapter of my novel and scribbled down a paragraph, a few sentences, whatever struck me. Just plain ol' facts. What happened, nothing more. Ended up with nine pages.

Eventually I got it down to two, and that was with putting a twist on it to explain why the events occurred too.

And it was a piece of piss getting the two-pager down to one. Only took half an hour.

I'd always advise writing everything down and then working on compressing it. Well, it works for me, anyway.

And I've sold two books doing it that way.

Not mine, though! GAH!

*shakes fist at sky*

LaFemme · Nov 18, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
And I've sold two books doing it that way.

Not mine, though! GAH!

*shakes fist at sky*

Um, won't you do mine for me

scarletpeaches · Nov 18, 2009

I invite tt42 to give her answer to that...

thethinker42 · Nov 18, 2009

LaFemme said:
Um, won't you do mine for me

scarletpeaches said:
I invite tt42 to give her answer to that...

Scarletpeaches is MY SYNOPSIS NINJA! NO CAN HAS!

LaFemme · Nov 18, 2009

thethinker42 said:
Scarletpeaches is MY SYNOPSIS NINJA! NO CAN HAS!

Er, I’m guessing that’s an outright no. Well if you ever change your mind...

thethinker42 · Nov 18, 2009

LaFemme said:
Er, I’m guessing that’s an outright no. Well if you ever change your mind...

Actually, I rent her out as a synopsis ninja. $15 per synopsis, preferably paid directly through me to PayPal.

Kathleen42 · Nov 18, 2009

LostInReality said:
Yeah, I'm right there with you. I've only just begun my querying, but I have had a couple of requests for partials or fulls. I have only had one agent request a synopsis. She asked for 3-5 page one and it was brutal. I agonized over it.

I dont really know if that's the answer you were looking for, but that has been my experience so far....atleast it's done now in case anyone else asks for it!

At least she knows it's brutal and her reasoning actually makes quite good sense (I had to do one for her too).

Kathleen42 · Nov 18, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
No, the query is a letter.

Yup.

And it doesn't always include the details a synopsis does. A true synopsis includes every main character, major plot point, and the ending. Most query letters don't.

kaitie · Nov 18, 2009

I've seen agents refer to it as a synopsis on websites, though, which I think is part of the confusion. I think it's better to call it a blurb as well, but often you'll find a submissions page that says, "A query letter contains a short synopsis of your book, a paragraph about yourself..." etc. I've even seen a few worded in such a way that it's difficult to know whether they're talking about a separate synopsis included with the query letter or what they want to see in the query letter itself. So even if it's not the best wording choice, I've at least seen it a few times.

Dreaded synopsis – how often do agents request the longer version?

LaFemme

LostInReality

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

BrooklynLee

Got the hang of it, here

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

scarletpeaches

LaFemme

scarletpeaches

Wordwrestler

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Wayne K

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

scarletpeaches

LaFemme

jclarkdawe

Feeling lucky, Query?

kaitie

With great power comes

scarletpeaches

LaFemme

scarletpeaches

thethinker42

Abnormal Romance Author

LaFemme

thethinker42

Abnormal Romance Author

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

kaitie

With great power comes