I am not an expert by any means. However, as I am beginning to prepare myself for the world of querying and traditional publishing, I have done a lot of research. SO. While I wouldn't say this is a comprehensive guide, I hope that it helps you find a good place to start.
The thing about querying anything--be it query letter, synopsis, first pages, etc.--is that each agent may have a slightly different preference for how those things are presented. And the bottom line is: do what the agent wants.
If the agent asks for a twelve-page synopsis with A-story and B-story, that's what you're going to do. If they want one-page with only the main character's motivations, that's what you're going to do.
But as a general rule of thumb, here are some things that most seem to agree on.
Format.
It's understood that, no matter what tense the story is written in, the synopsis is third person, present tense. This is because we're not trying to tell our story in only a few pages, we're simply summarizing the main points. There is no narration involved, just the facts.
From my understanding, formatting a synopsis is very similar to formatting a manuscript. (Think New Roman, 12pt, and double spaced.)
However, this is one point that does seem to vary across platforms so be looking out for the specifics depending on the agent.
Some people recommend keeping the synopsis to about 500 words. But I think what's more common is to aim for two to three pages. When building your query package, it can be beneficial, though, to have a short summary (one page), a mid-length synopsis (two to three pages), and a longer synopsis (five pages-ish). Having these lined up and ready to go means that you don't have to pause and rewrite whenever an agent wants something different. You can just attach the most accurate document.
What is a synopsis.
The synopsis is a summary of the story from beginning to end. But the big difference between a synopsis and a blurb is that the synopsis doesn't pull any punches. When an agent reads a synopsis, they're looking for storytelling capability. That means they want to know the twists, the motivations, the choices, and--most important--the ending.
This is not the time to keep plot points secret.
When to write a synopsis.
This is very much personal preference. I know some authors who start with a synopsis to see if a story idea has somewhere to go--using it sort of like an outline. Others like to wait until they're pretty much finished a book (totally polished and revised) so they know what to include.
I actually wrote mine in between drafts. It was a helpful way to narrow down character motivations and figure out where the story needed to diverge.
Common mistakes.
A big mistake I see in many drafts is making statements like:
...but Camilla knew the choice she had to make.
That's it. So simple. Seen so frequently. The issue isn't the statement itself; it could be very true that it was obvious to Camilla what choice she had to make. The issue is that the reader isn't told what that is.
Did she steal a dragon? Run away from home? Stay put? How does that choice impact the rest of the story?
Another big mistake I see in a lot of synopses is not sharing the stakes. While motivations are important, stating what the character will lose if they do nothing is what makes the story interesting.
If the main character stays home, does she lose her house? If he doesn't go to that meeting, does he miss the opportunity to become a lawyer?
This is what makes your story unique. Why the character wants something, and what they stand to lose if they don't get it. This is a BIG thing that agents look for when reading synopses.
How to write a synopsis.
Now. What are we actually writing, though? Because there are so many moving parts of a story that there is a lot to choose from.
You want to pick your A-story. Or, typically, the story that follows your main character. When starting out, this means you'll probably avoid any side characters or plots. Naming them is fine if they impact the MC, but you don't want to get into your twelve different storylines.
It's recommend to start with a scene setting, just a sentence or two. What's the world the MC lives in and how does it impact them? Then you want to state their motivation and what they want. Next come the stakes. If they don't get what they want, what do they lose? And, finally, in the opening, what prompts them on the course toward getting what they want?
From there, there's a good foundation to continue the MC's choices and reactions. How their choices push the story forward, and ultimately where it leads them (the ending).
For an excellent step-by-step how to, I recommend this article by Susan Dennard. I personally used this to write my synopsis and it was super helpful in determining what points were necessary and what could be cut away. She uses the example of Star Wars to show an excellent synopsis strategy.
Personality.
Many people describe synopses as bland or boring (myself included). This doesn't mean that it should read as boring, but just that there isn't much flourish.
We still want our voice and personality to show through, but it doesn't need the same kind of setting descriptions, tugging at heart strings, surprising twists, etc. We're sharing the backbone of our story, and that's still very much a part of us.
Post-writing.
Once you have a synopsis written, just like the book, it's time to revise. Read it over and over. Share it with people who both know your story and those who don't. (The ones who have never read your book will be able to tell you if the story makes sense in summary.)
Be ruthless in trimming away the excess. Even a word or two can make a big difference. My sister and I sat down for a couple hours to revise and edit down my synopsis to two pages. And we went word by word.
Be conscious of the language used. Is there a way to describe something in a word or two as opposed to that whole sentence? Is that sentence even necessary to get the main points across?
So, there you have it: How to Write a Synopsis. Easy peasy, right?
Well, personally, I still find them incredibly difficult. But the more I write, the easier it gets. Some people even love it more than writing the actual book! To you, I say kudos.
It may not be many author's favourite part, but it's a skill that we will need before becoming a published author and long after. So we best get used to it.
I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a line and I'll do my best to answer! I've collected many resources over the past few years, but as I said, I'm no expert.
Happy writing,
Erin