Writing a Synopsis: The Basics to Get Your Book Synopsis Written

Writers of novels of all kinds dream about getting their book published and seeing it fly off bookshelves around the globe. But the dream of publication also comes with fears and doubts about the steps included. In fact, seeking publishers and agents can be a huge stressor for potential novelists. One way to take that stress away is to know about the steps involved, to know what to expect, and to know what you can do to make those steps easier.

One commonly known step to publication is the synopsis that is required by publishers during the enquiry phase of finding the right publisher. A good synopsis can really catch and hold the editor of whatever publisher you're looking at and make them more interested in publishing your work. As such, knowing how to write a good synopsis of your novel is essential!

The first thing to start with is the format of your synopsis. This is important because you want it to look professional, you want to show the editor you know what you're doing and you do it well. Don't use colorful paper, use only stock plain white paper. Don't try and spice it up with something colorful and original, it won't work and it might make reading your synopsis harder. Keep it simple, type with an easy to read font (most writers agree that Courier 12 point is the best), print it on plain white paper, leave one-inch margins along the edges. Place a header in the upper right hand corner of each page (reminiscent of college papers, isn't it?). The header should include the page number as well as the author's last name and the title of the novel. This is a very basic format, and publishers may require additional information be present when you submit it, so make sure to include anything they ask for. You can call to get this information or check their website.