The Word Cloud

This has always been my main weakness in presenting my book, Gods Inc. Part of the problem is that it takes place in the afterlife where the dead watch and control the living via machines called visualisers. It is a plot driven allegory of modern life and is told in close up third person from the POV of 3 of the characters. It is partly set in modern day England and partly in the afterworld (known as First World) Because of these complications and also having to explain the strange 'rules' of this parallel world, it is incredibly difficult to write a synopsis that wraps it all up in a couple of pages or less. I have no such problem with my second book as it is told from one POV and set in the real world that everyone understands. I was wondering if it would be acceptable to provide additional information on Gods Inc that agents could chose to look at or not? I thought I could then do a synopsis without worrying about how to explain things and keep within the word limit but the agent could look at the accompanying explanatory material on structure and info about First World if they felt so inclined?

The story takes place in the afterlife where the dead watch and control the living via machines called visualisers. It is an allegory of modern life , told in close up from the POV of 3 of the characters.

It is partly set in modern day England, and partly in the afterworld (known as First World).

There is your synopsis framework. Just fill it out.

stephen

Thanks Stephen, that seems very clearly put to me. Often I think a writer is too close to a story to stand back and see the wood for the trees.

Yes, Stephen's pinpointed it very clearly. One thing's missing: what's the problem/need/desire/danger, and what's the obstacle to them solving/achieving it? What's your through-line, in other words?

Thanks, Emma. I have now summarised it as follows:

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:center 207.65pt right 415.3pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:center 207.65pt right 415.3pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoBodyText2, li.MsoBodyText2, div.MsoBodyText2 {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

The story is an allegory of modern life, told in close up third person from the POV of three of the characters, David, Georgina and psychopath, Steven. It is partly set in modern day England, and partly in the afterlife (known as First World), where the dead watch and control the living via machines called visualisers.

It follows David’s struggle to come to terms with his own death, and the regret he feels over the selfish way he treated his mortal wife, Georgina. He grasps the opportunity for redemption when he discovers she is in serious danger, realising he must save her from beyond the grave.

(Can't seem to get rid of the bold and underlining!)

Or the formatting!