Last night I shared my synopsis with my critique group. My
reading was followed by the obligatory silence and then several people making
the same basic statement.
Well, it’s a good start.”
Here is my understanding of the purpose of a synopsis. The synopsis, which is intended for an agent or editor, tells the story so that if they choose to read the novel, there are no surprises. If your work is marketed as a literary novel, but at the end everyone turns into zombies, they are probably not going to be entertained.
The other challenge is to reflect the voice of the narrator. My narrator, who is the protagonist, is on the surface, a cynical middle-aged businessman. He has a soft side for the homeless, though, and he is haunted by past relationships. One of the advance critique readers at the Southern California Writers’ Conference observed, “Oh, this guy is hilarious.” The trick is to inject as much of that humor and cynicism character as is possible into the synopsis.
I’ve already come across agents who say they are looking for writing that is truly funny. Funny is good, but it also has to make a point. Humor for the sake of humor, without a higher message or theme, is just good for a laugh. I want people to laugh and then say, “Huh, I never thought of it that way.”
By the way, all this and did I mention the synopsis is only two pages.
The members of my critique group were good at pointing out some of the elements I could get away without telling in the synopsis, too. This made room for other things. Another two days of staring at it and I might have something.
If nothing else, it will be a good start.
See ya’ later
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