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  • MinxieAD
    by MinxieAD 1 year ago
    I've posted a synopsis that started off around 4 pages! I've edited it down but I think it isn't flowing well and I'm not sure if the storyline comes across properly. Any help would be very welcome
  • Drew
    by Drew 1 year ago
    Just posted a synopsis in 'General - Critique' area on the forum. Hope that's ok - I'm a newbie here!
  • Weens
    by Weens 2 years ago
    I'd find that really useful too Mel. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say.
  • Mel
    by Mel 2 years ago
    Thanks Tony - will do. Still feeling my way around this site at present so leaving comments in the wrong place all the time, sorry!
  • Tony
    by Tony 2 years ago
    Thanks for the advice, Mel. I'll certainly look forward to hearing (almost) direct from the horse's mouth, when you get a moment. (Use the Forum here - Create Topic).
  • Mel
    by Mel 2 years ago
    I used to work for a literary agent and he gave me very specific advice about the content of a synopsis, and also of the covering letter. Will try and post it on here when I get a moment, in the hope that it helps you guys. In meantime, quick advice is probably obvious: to check and double-check grammar and spelling of both before sending out - as you wouldn't believe the poor quality of the stuff some people submit to publishers and agents!
  • Avis HG
    by Avis HG 2 years ago
    Yes - it seems you use a pin and a blindfold to choose! Maybe best to have a long and short version polished up - try and second guess the buggers?
  • Spangles
    by Spangles 2 years ago
    That's interesting about the York one-to-one advice on synopsis length. One of my book doctors told me that my three-page double-spaced synopsis was wrong and should consist of one page of single-spaced copy. Yet in Carole Blake's From Pitch to Publication she says she wants synopses of up to 10 pages! It seems that everyone has their own ideas about what they want.
  • Avis HG
    by Avis HG 2 years ago
    Interesting. Maybe I'll feel free to expand!!!
  • Tony
    by Tony 2 years ago
    Charmed, it sounds like you've got it about right. It may be when you come back to it after a day or two you may be able to tighten it just a little further here and there, but, from the sound of it, the contents is right. I was glad to hear of Ancient's 1-to-1 advice, because depending on where you look, the advice varies from one page up to five!

    I think there are two main criteria: a) you must include everything that's important and b) it must be as concisely written as possible. Length, in itself is not the issue. However, if your synopsis is less than a page, I would look carefully at (a) again; if it's more than five pages, go back and consider (b) very carefully.