Synopsis - questions

[Spectro]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and just getting to the stage of sending my novel out to agents in the UK.

I need to write a one page synopsis to accompany many of my submissions. I've taken a look through this forum and this thread in particular and found a lot of useful advice.

But I still have one question: should the synopsis be single or double-spaced. I see you say that single spaced should be fine, Teresa, but I've read quite a bit of detailed advice (including a Writer's Digest book) saying it should be double-spaced, so I'm confused.

It does make quite a difference as one page is a very short amount of space in which to sum up a whole novel in the first place.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Spectro

But I still have one question: should the synopsis be single or double-spaced. I see you say that single spaced should be fine, Teresa, but I've read quite a bit of detailed advice (including a Writer's Digest book) saying it should be double-spaced, so I'm confused.

I'm not sure where you're reading all this (except for that Writer's Digest book, and the quality of their books and articles seems to vary) because everything I've read either says it doesn't matter, or that single-spaced is fine for a one page synopsis, but for two or more you should go to double-spaced. Sometimes, though, when an agent or editor specifies a one-page synopsis, they'll tell you what they want.

(I've also read something by an ex-editor who suggested 1.5 spaces for the one-page synopsis. That does strike me as a sensible compromise if the agent or editor hasn't expressed a preference.)

Here is the thing: Manuscript format is based on the way that books used to be edited and on the needs of the production department. But the agent or editor is not editing the synopsis, he or she is just reading it. It needs to look clean and professional and easy to read, and tell them what they want to know. Beyond that, they'll tell you what they want if they have any particular specifications.

[Troo]

Yup. I'll second that. A single-spaced synopsis is fine.

[Spectro]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

I'm not sure where you're reading all this (except for that Writer's Digest book, and the quality of their books and articles seems to vary)

The book is The Writer's Digest Writing Clinic, Kelly Nickell (which has a chapter on novel synopses) and I noticed various websites found from a google search that claim double-spacing is the way to go for any synopsis (sorry - apparently I can only put up links once I've submitted more posts).

But anyway, I have no idea if any of the information contained in the above is at all accurate.

Thanks for your advice.

[Teresa Edgerton]

But I just Googled the same question and came up with different answers, Spectro.

In any case, anyone can say anything on the internet whether they know what they are talking about or not. My advice is to get different opinions, but find out the qualifications of the people giving those opinions.

Find out what they have published, and where, and if it relates to novel writing at all.

If they haven't been published, find out how long they've been writing and submitting their work.

(A lot of people are just repeating what they've been told by sources of questionable authority. In fact, I sometimes think there is a whole sub-culture on the internet devoted to confusing and frightening new writers with advice they are by no means qualified to give.)

When you feel that you have opinions from several reliable sources, go with the consensus.

[ctg]

Right, I blew it again. I wrote a full summary, when I should have done more research. But I did find this page, which has 'the winning synopses' to give an idea on what it should look like. Check it out ... http://www.charlottedillon.com/SynopsisSamples.html