Outtakes 119

Synopsis

By Cait Collins

I love writing novels, memoirs, and screenplays. I hate writing synopsis, and treatments. Reducing a completed work to a few paragraphs is a daunting task. What do I include? What should be omitted? I still do not have the process perfected, but these are some things that help me.

• Write a basic synopsis or treatment before putting the first word of the work on paper. This helps focus the story.
• Determine the theme of the work. The theme of my present work is Baby Boomers meet the Y Generation.
• Determine the audience. Knowing the target audience not only limits the scope of the work, it keeps the setting, timeline, characters, and language on target.
• Include the conflict. A story without conflict is flat.
• Begin with the day that is different. Back story can be inserted later.
• Since I’m a pantser and not an outliner, the initial synopsis helps me keep characters real and it allows me to add or delete secondary characters as needed.
• Use the basic synopsis to tie up loose ends.

After the work is finished, review the initial synopsis. Make sure the protagonists and antagonist are clearly introduced. Name the key secondary characters and their relationships to the main characters. Refine the setting and the timeline making sure the setting is well defined and the timeline is tight. Check submission guidelines for the synopsis or treatment length. Most agents and publishers have a set number of pages for a synopsis. Prepare three lengths –one-page, three-page, and five-page. This eliminates rewriting for different requirements.

Writing a great synopsis is essential to a successful submission. Hooking the agent or editor with a creative introduction to the story could be the difference in a request for the complete project instead of delegation to the reject pile.