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Determine the initial conditions. Although a synopsis is a very brief overview of a larger work, you still need to take the time to define the novel's premise and include all the important information for the reader to understand the plot.

Imagine that someone reads first the synopsis and then the book. What information is critically needed? Does the reader need to know specific details on https://writingassignment.net/assignment-expert/ about the setting of the novel or the world you created?

Keep in mind that you are trying to interest the reader, so include a couple of interesting details that will help present the time and place of the events.

Highlight the main conflict. Many puzzle over what to include in a synopsis, but the ironclad rule is to identify and delineate the main plot conflict.

What will the protagonist of the book have to face?

Perhaps you should point out specific obstacles that the characters will encounter?

What happens if the main character does not cope with the mission assigned to him?

Show character development. It will be difficult for you to fit the full character development described in the novel into a short synopsis, but many literary agents insist that the synopsis should reflect the changes that occur to the main character during the events of the book.

Try not to describe the characters one-sidedly, show their reactions to different situations. Although you are limited in the scope of the synopsis, it is still up to the reader to understand the personalities of the characters and how they will change.

Outline the plot. Since the synopsis is a summary of the book, you need to outline the plot of the novel and give an idea of ​​the direction of events.

It will be difficult for you not to drown in the details, but try to start by writing a short (1-2 sentence) summary of each chapter. Then try to combine these paragraphs with each other.

You won't be able to include every detail of the plot, so figure out which ones are most important to understanding the book. Consider whether the ending would make sense without that detail. If the answer is yes, then exclude it.

A clear idea of ​​the ending. You may not want to spoil the unexpected moment, but the synopsis should give a clear picture of the ending of the novel and the global resolution of the conflict.

Literary agents want to know how you will resolve the conflict and link up the chain of events.

Do not worry. If your work is published, then the synopsis will not be printed on the cover and will not spoil the reader's sense of novelty.

Read the synopsis. It is important to re-read your synopsis yourself and get the opinion of others. The more feedback from the outside, the more logical your synopsis will be.

Reading the synopsis aloud is very helpful, as it makes it easier to spot grammatical errors and edit the wording. While reading aloud, your brain processes information in a different way, so you begin to notice previously unnoticed errors and shortcomings.

Ask friends, relatives or colleagues who have not yet read the book or are not familiar with your work to read the synopsis. They will be able to give you a more objective view, as well as tell you how coherent and interesting the synopsis is in reading the book.

The synopsis should contain answers to important questions. Before submitting a synopsis, make sure it answers the following key questions:

Who is the central character in the book?

What is he/she striving for or trying to achieve?

Who or what complicates the character's search, journey, life?

What does all this lead to?

Practice writing. Many authors complain that the synopsis is the most difficult text to write, since it has to crystallize the content of the entire book in just a few paragraphs. Fortunately, the more often you write synopses, the better you will get.

To practice, try writing synopses of classics or recently read books. Sometimes it's easier to start with a book that hasn't taken you many hours, days, or years to prepare.