The Cruelty that is the Dreaded Synopsis

Song of the Day: Come Undone by Adrenaline Mob

This past week, I was forced, kicking and screaming, mind you, by my editor to write a synopsis on a book I had turned in to my publisher. And she wanted it within a few days. Now, call me naive, but I thought I would never, EVER have to write a synopsis again. I mean, I got away without writing one for the last two books.

I look exactly like this when I’m writing. Just sayin’.

You see, like every other sane—or insane, depending on how you look at it—I hate writing a synopsis. How, in the name of all the is good and holy, can one take a novel borne of blood, sweat, tears, alcohol, more tears, and untold hours upon hours of staring out the window, and condense it down to a measly hand full of pages? What devil is this? Haven’t we suffered enough?

Because I think synopsis should be avoided like a black plague, I have ignored all workshops and advice on crafting one. And I really didn’t have time to scour the internet for those *ahem* easy tips.

So I did what I always do. Fake it. Shh…don’t tell my editor.

A synopsis should be concise and tell the whole story in a nutshell. That means the romance comes full circle. The plot comes full circle. The mood, style, and voice should be apparent, too. Crazy. Absolutely, crazy.

As much as I hate to say it, it is possible.

I’m no expert. But this is how I do it. Chapter by chapter. No real secret, there. I read each chapter and jot down notes.

I make sure that I have the GMC (goal, motivation and conflict) for both the hero and heroine spelled out at the beginning of the synopsis in a way that is compelling. Since I write romance, I add in the romantic element, too. Can’t leave out the antagonist’s GMC. Gotta hit the key climaxes, the important stuff that drives the story forward, until it wraps up in a neat little irresistible bow at the end.

Once I have polished off a fifth of alcohol and summarized the 400+ pages down to 10, I get out the paring knife. No, I don’t commit hara-kiri, though the thought crosses my mind. I cut out non-essential words, remove the fluff, and trim action that can be reworded for efficiency.

Then I take another hard look, because, sheesh, I still need to edit out another 3 pages. It is here I whimper and decide what parts can be removed and still leave the overall story and romance arc untouched.

Eventually, I have a synopsis and the pain subsides. Yay, me!

How do you write a synopsis? What is your process? Got any *finger quotes* easy tips to share? Don’t be greedy. Let’s hear from you.