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A book synopsis is a condensed version of your novel that showcases the most important elements of your story – your characters, conflict, and resolution. It’s a tool that helps agents, publishers, and readers get a sense of your story and determine whether it’s a good fit for them.
It is different from a blurb – a sneak-peak that tempts readers – which is the text on the back of a book. Where a blurb leaves you wondering, a synopsis answers (most of) your questions.
A book synopsis can range from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what an agent or publisher has asked for. The longer the synopsis, the more detail you can include. But no matter how short, make sure you include the following three elements. They will help you write a book synopsis that hooks readers and showcases your story in its best light.
1. Introduce your characters
Start by introducing your main characters and showing what’s at stake for them. Let the reader know what motivates them and what they stand to gain or lose. Give the reader a reason to care about your protagonist and to be invested in their story. This is a crucial step as it sets the stage for the conflict to come.
I’m going to use Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge as an example. I admit… I couldn’t find the synopsis (they are harder to find than blurbs because they give away the ending – no one wants to accidentally stumble upon a spoiler!), so this example is based on the blurb but mentions how to change it to suit a book synopsis.
When Rachelle was fifteen she was good – apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless – straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness.
Here, the protagonist, Rachelle, is introduced. We get a glimpse into the sort of person she is, how she grew up, and a potential character flaw – her recklessness. In a synopsis, you would explain how Rachelle strayed from the path, and what the threat of eternal darkness really pertains to.
In this short snippet, we also get a lead into the next element of the synopsis: conflict.
2. Present the conflict
Give a clear idea of the conflict the protagonist must overcome. What challenges are they facing and what are they fighting against?
After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.
If this were a synopsis, you would go into more detail. Let the reader know why the meeting is illicit, who is attending the meeting, and how the meeting goes dreadfully wrong – as long as this information is important to the plot. What exactly was the terrible choice Rachelle had to make? And what is the evil that she is now bound to?
When I say to go into more detail, I mean detail that is plot-related. Don’t spend too many words describing the landscape and unnecessary backstory (you’ll run out of words quick!), but don’t skimp on the details that give context or explanation to the character’s actions either.
Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand — the man she hates most — Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing.
Here, we get more insight into Rachelle’s internal conflict and how her character will develop. She is dedicated to serving her realm, and by extension the king, but is conflicted by his order to guard his son. This section definitely needs more explanation to be a synopsis, but you can see the outline of the events. For a synopsis, it would be good to include why Rachelle hates Armand, why she wants to go after the legendary sword, and more about how she and Armand become allies.
The conflict is the driving force of your story and should be clearly defined. Show how the protagonist deals with the conflict, and how the conflict impacts the protagonist and those around them.
3. Resolution and character development
Finally, show how the conflict is resolved and how the protagonist has changed. Describe how the protagonist has grown and evolved as a result of their experiences and the obstacles they have had to overcome.
Has the protagonist become a stronger, wiser, and more capable person – or the opposite? This is your opportunity to show the reader the journey’s impact on the protagonist and how the resolution of the conflict has affected them.
In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?
This line is clearly part of a blurb. It is just clear enough to allude to hooks, but still vague enough to tempt curiosity.
For a synopsis, you would share all your secrets (or at least most). What will happen? Do they win? What do they lose in the process? The ending is (usually) the most exciting part, so give the reader all the info they need to see why your book is brilliant. In the case of an agent or publisher, they need to know that you’ve got the plot handled and that you’ve resolved the conflict in a way that fits with the rest of the story. Show them exactly why they should have confidence in your writing and plot.
A compelling book synopsis
By introducing your characters, presenting the conflict, and showcasing the resolution and character development, you’ll be able to write a compelling book synopsis that gives the reader a clear idea of what to expect from your story. So, get to writing, and don’t be afraid to revise and refine your synopsis until you have a version that truly represents your story.
More synopsis tips
- How to write a novel synopsis by Jane Friedman
- How to write a synopsis of your novel by Glen C. Strathy
- What is a novel synopsis? 2 examples of novel synopses by Masterclass