Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis: A Series of 10 Lectures

By Lisa Gardner

In her Writer’s Toolbox section of the website Lisa offers this great series of lectures (PDF) to help you with the dreaded synopsis.

This in-depth lecture series, developed from a month-long class, covers everything from understanding the publishing market to writing a short synopsis to putting together a complete submission package. If you’re serious about marketing your novel, this is a good place to start.

… read more  Scroll down to the LECTURES section of the page.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE:  Each lecture is filled with great information.

• Introduction – In her Writer’s Toolbox section of the website Lisa offers this great series of lectures (PDF) to help you with the dreaded synopsis.  This in-depth lecture series, developed from a month-long class, covers everything from understanding the publishing market to writing a short synopsis to putting together a complete submission package. If you’re serious about marketing your novel, this is a good place to start.
  
• Lecture 1 – The Market:  For today’s lecture we must stop being artists.  Today, we are business people.  We have either created a products or we have a great idea for a product.  Either way we need to sell our widget and to do that we have to stop thinking about what we like about it, and start thinking about what other people might like about it.
• Lecture 2  – The Query Letter:  The one-page query letter is the first step of the submission process.   The majority of publishers and agents require you to submit a query letter before you may send in your manuscript.  The purpose of the query letter is to briefly introduce yourself, your concept, and your background, so that an editor/agent may determine if they are interested in requesting more.  The query letter is only one-page in length, and it’s one of the most important documents you’ll ever create in your writing career.
• Lecture 3  – Synopsis Overview:  the goal of the synopsis is to provide a bare bones sketch of your full manuscript.  Think set up, major developments, and resolution.  Another approach is to cover internal conflict, external conflict, black moment … and resolution.  In addition to providing an overview of your story, a synopsis has the additional burden of showing the flavor of your writing.
• Lecture 4  –  Short Synopsis Examples:  Two synopsis examples.  One for the mainstream suspense market.  The second is for a 80,000 word Romantic Suspense novel targeted for Silhouette Intimate Moments.
• Lecture 5  –  Creating a Strong Hook:  The Hook can be from one sentence up to three paragraphs long.  the goal is to grab the editor’s attention and establish your writing voice in one feel swoop.
• Lecture 6  –  Identifying Plot Points:  Unfortunately this is where many synopses fail.  The writer succumbs to  “laundry list”  sundrome, cramming in one sentence for every scene of the novel, regardless of importance.  This overwhelming detail suffocates voice and leaves the editor reeling.
• Lecture 7  –  Short Synopsis Outlines:  The Character Focused Synopsis – This is a great approach for Harlequin/Silhouette or any other romance-oriended publisher.  The Plot Focused Synopsis – outlines key plot points and would be good for mainstream submissions where character issues are of secondary importance.
• Lecture 8  –  The Long Synopsis:  The long and short synopsis are similar in many respects.  The key difference is that long synopsis must reveal voice.
• Lecture 9  –  Full Submission:  This lecture details the nuts and bolts of putting synopsis together, including the Cover Page, Manuscript  Formatting, Binding, the Cover Letter, Mail, and the dreaded Wait.
• Lecture 10  –  Final Summary of Submission Do’s and Don’ts:  What to do and what not to do to get your manuscript noticed.