What is a synopsis?

Answer 1

A synopsis is the summary of the plot of another work. It tends to list the events in the order in which they were written, and is much shorter than the work it is summarizing.

1. A brief summary or general survey of something.
2. An outline of the plot of a play, film, or book.

Answer 2

HOW DO USE SYNOPSISIN A SENTENCE

Yes. Thank you for your very informative reply. (I tried, incidentally to give you a good rating, but AllExperts is returning an error message--something about an error in my "SQL server"--whatever that is. Perhaps I should see a surgeon!)

Anyway, I regret having to say that despite all the useful info in your answer, it too (specifically its last sentence) has added to my confusion. It augments my fear that whereas some agents use the word "synopsis", they really mean "book proposal" (As you know, the two are quite different animals.) Accordingly, I fear submitting one, when the other was anticipated. Reading the submission guidelines, you see, of the plethoroa of agents out there, gives the distinct impression that, effectively, a prospective successful applicant-author must write individual synopses (or worse, proposals) of differing lengths to suit each of them applyied to. (Turning blue--turning blue!)

I could write even a one-hundred page "synopsis", no problem--if only I had a suspicion that such was called for--but that would be a death sentence to an agent who wanted only two pages. Given then, my book is "comprehensive" (ok--its BIG--because the subject is vast), if even I had some rounded idea of an "average expectation" of length for such (betwen X & Y), then the degree of detail that could be fitted into that length would be implied. I would have no trouble writing a synopsis (or a "proposal") if only I was comfortable that an agent would not think it "way too short" (or long).

"The whole leaves me wondering--if agents want such detail from us, could they not give a little themselves, in advance, and not just the one word--"synopsis"?"

I suppose what I am trying to ask is, when does a "synopsis" become a "proposal"--and do agents themselves know the difference?

Regards,

Dan O'Hanlon

-------------------------

Followup To

Question -

Hello, Susan,

(In accordiance with your caveat above: I am writing a comprehensive--read "very large"--non-fiction book on the Power Relationship. Accordingly, it covers a multitude of areas: The French Revolution, certain Greek myths, Britain between Waterloo and the Reform Bill of 1832, Frankenstein and Dracula (Yes these all have a specific connection.)

Looking to see what literary agents expect of a (non-fiction) book synopsis, I am getting all sorts of ambiguous info. The descriptions seem to mirror exactly what they already get in the query letter. Having written what I consider a very good query letter, I am confused about apparently having to write essentially the same information to the same recipient, all over again.

Thus, to my question:

when an agent says "send a synopsis", what do YOU think that means? (Specifically, in the absence of any other information, how LONG does that magic word, "synopsis", imply?

regards,

Dan O'Hanlon

Answer -

Hello Danny:

Yes, if you consult the net you will get lots of conflicting information, for the simple reason that no one has, as of yet, established the "rules" for writing synopses (along with a lot of other "rules").

Actually, the query letter and the snyopsis are quite different, in that the purpose of the query is to pique the editor's interest, so that she wants to read the synopsis. The synopsis, in turn, should so engage her that she wants to read the whole book. Not to see how it turns out, for the synopsis will tell her that, but simply to enjoy the whole thing. If you do not pique her interest with the query, you won't get a chance to submit a synopsis.

The synopsis will tell the editor if the book is likely to fulfil the promise of the query (which the query does not do). It will also give her some information about how skillfully you handle the essay form (non-fiction books are essentially expanded essays), how you write dialogue, description, action, etc. The beginning of the synopsis should again grab her attention, the middle should hold it fast, and the end should satisfy it completely. Don't quote me, but I believe the synopsis will eventually replace the "three chapters and an outline" of the old days, as agents/publishers streamline their production lines.

More information on writing essays can be found at http://people.howstuffworks.com/magazine-writing4.htm (You will have to cut and paste as this site does not support hyperlinks). Also http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/Types.html.

On writing a synopsis, go to http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml.

If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high score over 700 questions.

And good luck with your writing!

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Answer

Hello again, Dan:

If you have visited the site I gave you about writing a synopsis, you should know now what a synopsis is.

A book proposal is altogether a different thing. A synopsis does not morph into a book proposal. Synopses are often included in book proposals - along with much other information, such as:

1. The title

2. Info on other published books on your subject, and how and why yours is different.

3. How many words/pages your book has or will have, without padding or repeating yourself - do you really need that many pages to prove your point (and there must be a point).

4. The synopsis. Different agents/publishers have different requirements as to length, etc.

5. Author's credentials - promotional resources - what you plan to do to promote your book.

6. Market potential. This is the hardest part and requires the most research. A real chore.

7. Read the competition, write a synopsis of each book (a couple of pages) and tell how your book is different (and better, if true).

8. Table of contents and chapter outline.

9. Sample chapters (3).

For more informaiton, go to http://www.spawn.org/marketing/bookprop.htm. (You will have to cut and paste as this site does not support hyperlinks).

If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high score over 700 questions.

And good luck with your writing!

Answer 3

The book's synopsis explained the plot perfectly.

or

For our school assignment we have to write a synopsis for the story we wrote.

or

That synopsis i read yesterday was so interesting that I had to return to the store to purchase the book.

Hope this helped :D

Answer 4

The teacher's guide gives a synopsis of the plot of each story in the collection.

Answer 5

A synopsis is a list of the high points of something. Make a list of the most important things that happened in the book, and that's your synopsis.

Answer 6

A synopsis is a detailed description of the story's plot. It includes all the important details and, yes, that includes the ending.

Answer 7

A brief summary of the plot

Answer 8

Synopses

Answer 9

summary