a beautiful blonde ignoring some woman in a necklace

…or, What Was I Thinking?

Several weeks ago the writing whirlwind that is Nicola Morgan got one of her many scary assistants to ask me if I’d be willing to host a guest post from the Great Crabbit One. At the time I was feeling somewhat weak (translation: I’d had a couple of glasses of pink fizz) and so I agreed, and here we are today. Nicola Morgan is now going to take over my blog.

I apologise in advance for her behaviour which I know will be bad. So without any further precautions ado, here she is. That bloody woman. Um, Nicola Morgan, writer extraordinaire.

xxx

Oh, Jane, you foolish woman! You said I could come here and do anything I wanted, didn’t you? You did, you know you did. So… Actually, I’m in teaching mode so I’m going to be terribly responsible and just peer over the top of my specs a bit. *peers*

Write A GREAT Synopsis!

So, today we are talking about Write a Great Synopsis (WAGS, henceforth). Why do writers need to know how to write a great synopsis? Because agents or publishers almost always want one before they’ll give you your first deal (and, usually, subsequent ones, too.) And if that’s what they want, that’s what you must give them. So, WAGS shows you exactly how to do it properly, smartly, snappily and stress-freely.

I decided to offer each host blogger a free extract. So, here’s yours, and you are inordinately privileged to learn of my patent Crappy Memory Tool. In WAGS, I offer lots of guidelines and answers to questions, along with two methods and masses more detail. This is Method Two:

Method Two: Start with the heart

I first heard of this method from Emma Darwin, who commented on my blog: “The best tip I’ve ever had for writing synopses is to write it in a single sentence: your hook, if you like. Then expand that to a paragraph. Then finally expand that to a full page. That way, instead of agonising over what to leave out and feeling the book looks limp and lifeless as a result, you’re starting with the core conflict, and only adding what fleshes it out most effectively.”

And I’ve done that ever since. Thank you, Emma!

I suggest adding my patent Crappy Memory Tool to this method. I discovered it while writing this book, when constructing the sample synopsis of my novel, Wasted. The point is that if you forget the details of your book, what you do remember is most likely to be all the crucial stuff. And that’s all you need.

So, here’s how to use Method Two with the Crappy Memory Tool. Do all this without referring to your book or any notes.

Stage 1: Create a one-sentence/twenty-five-word pitch. (I’ll show you how in a minute.) (Except that I won’t, because there’s not room, but I do in the book and have also blogged about it before.)

Stage 2: Expand that till you have a ‘hook’ paragraph such as you might use in your covering letter, or such as might appear on the back of your book, except without the praisy bits.

Stage 3: Expand a little further, adding what happens in the end, showing how the main character’s journey is completed. You now have two paragraphs, probably.

Stage 4: Note the climaxes and plot stages or major obstacles. Incorporate those into your paragraphs, adjusting the order if necessary for clear explanation. You probably now have a page.

Stage 5: Join those events with good prose that properly conveys how everything fits together, avoiding explaining anything unless crucial.

Stage 6: Ruthlessly hone to make it as perfect as possible. But bear in mind that there is no such thing as perfection…

It’s a slightly more mentally taxing system but I believe it helps you focus on the core of your book. Also, at the end of it you have a one-sentence pitch and a paragraph pitch and you know your book better than you ever thought possible!

You will, I promise, feel empowered.

(Ends extract.)

Write a Great Synopsis covers everything about synopsis-writing, clearly and reassuringly. It aims to stop you panicking and show you how to produce a smart and snappy synopsis.

Would you like the chance of winning a critique of your synopsis from me? All commenters below (by Feb 15^th) will be entered into the Big WAGS Competition, with chances to win a critique of your synopsis by the Crabbit Old Bat herself! One comment per person on each blog – though you can add to your chances by commenting on the other posts on the tour. Details of all stops on the tour will appear on my blog (Help! I Need a Publisher!) as they go out.

Thanks for having me here, Jane, and good luck to all your readers. I hope they’ll find the advice in WAGS really useful and fun to read – yes, really, a book about synopses, fun!

For details about the book, including buying options, go here.

Thanks again for letting me visit.

xxx

Phew. I think she’s gone now. Full details of Nicola’s competition appeared on her blog on January 16, but don’t think you’re going to win it because I want that prize and I will play dirty. Because no matter what I say about her in public, Nicola Morgan really knows her stuff and this book is brilliant. Buy it now. You’ll be very pleased that you did.

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2. How To Write A Synopsis The job of the synopsis is to tell the story briefly and coherently; to outline the ups and downs of your story, and to introduce...
3. What Is A Synopsis For? A synopsis is selling-tool, which shows editors and agents that you can write well and that you know how to structure a book. A synopsis,...