How to Write a Synopsis - For a Novel or a Screenplay
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How to Write a Synopsis: What is it and Why is it Important?
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First let's just say that people write synopsis in many different ways and there really is no one right way. I may tell you one way to write a synopsis here and then your teacher, boss, or agent may ask for it written another way.
A synopsis is basically just a short summary of your entire story (spoilers included!). You should reveal information when it will be revealed in your story and include how everything is resolved in the end. Your synopsis can be used to help you plan your story, share your idea with others, or test out revisions without having to rewrite your entire draft.
Format
Your synopsis should be written in present tense and in third person.
One Page Only!
Your synopsis should only be one page long. Yes, one page. Now, this is standard for feature screenplays; if you're writing a novel then maybe we can give you a little wiggle room ;)
The goal for making you squish your large story down into just one page is to force you to put only the bare bones into the synopsis. What is the core of your story? What is the skeleton that holds everything together? Write only what must be included so that the reader can understand what is going on and why it matters.
Once you are forced to only write the bare bones of your story, you're going to be able to see a couple of things:
What bones are missing, if you're relying on fluff, and if your core is solid.
Typically, if you're having a really hard time getting your story down to one page, it means that you don't have one strong through-line to focus on (occasionally it just means that you need practice being concise, so don't get discouraged!) Does your character have a strong goal that's driving the story forward?
It can be easy to get lost in interesting situations and relationships, but that doesn't necessarily make a story. So make sure that you have that solid skeleton for your story that you can then fill up with interesting situations and relationships :)
Three Paragraphs
We've all heard of a three act structure, and that's what's typically used for your synopsis. (There are many different types of structures but this is most common -- along with the 4 act structure, which basically splits Act 2 into two parts because it is the longest act).
So, paragraph 1 will be Act 1, giving us the set-up of the story. Paragraph 2 will be Act 2, giving us the main action and obstacles of the story. And paragraph 3 will be Act 3, giving us the resolution.
What to Include
So, one page, three paragraphs. But what needs to be included and what should be omitted? Remember, we're trying to get the bare bones of your story, so a lot will be omitted. But also remember, that just like anything you write, you can have multiple drafts of your synopsis. You probably won't get it just right on your first try.
Paragraph 1 - Act 1
This is an introduction to your characters, your world, and the plot.
Introduction to Characters
Although we want just the bare bones of your story, it can be very easy to lose your character in the synopsis and only include the 'facts' of the plot. Remember to add small pieces of them so that we understand who they are, what their motivations are, and what certain happenings in the story mean to them.
The main character should, of course, be introduced in the first paragraph. The other characters can either be introduced when they appear in the story or when they become relevant (possibly with a reference to earlier involvement).
Introduction to the World
While remembering to be concise, give us a general idea of what the world of the story is like. Especially in a fantasy story, introducing pieces of the world is going to be very important. The reader needs to understand what is and isn't possible in this world. Are we on earth but in a fictional reality? Are we on some other planet? Is there magic in this world?
But, just because your story isn't fantasy doesn't mean that you don't have to introduce the world. Are we set in high school? What is the tone? What is the time period? What is the status quo of the character right now?
Introduction to the Plot
The plot! By the end of paragraph 1, your reader should get a general sense of what the story is going to be about and what the main tension is. If paragraph 1 is all about introducing the character and the world and their current status quo, it should end with how that status quo has changed and what the character plans to do about it.
Paragraph 2 - Act 2
Paragraph 2, in theory, is very simple. This is just ALL the action of the character working towards succeeding in their goal. What makes this hard is, of course, the length.
The key here is practicing concise summarization. It can be tempting to write a small summary of each scene that goes on, but even that is often too much information. We want the general, sweeping happenings.
We don't need to know the step-by-step and it can get very difficult for people to wrap their minds around that concept -- or at least how to do it. Usually, it's best to just write out the synopsis as best you can and then work on editing it. I will usually read through it and see what can be condensed, asking myself, "How can I turn these 6 sentences into 1 or 2?" I promise, it can be done!
Paragraph 3 - Act 3
Your resolution! This is where you make sure to tie up all of your loose ends. Yes, ALL of them. Every character should have a conclusion, the questions raised in the plot should all be answered, the plantings all need payoffs.
If your story is much too long to include every single resolution for every single character, then make sure you get the core ones. If you introduce them in the synopsis at all, we should understand why they were relevant and how their story ended.
Conclusion
It can seem intimidating to boil your story down to just one page but I promise you it is worth the practice! Understanding the core of your plot is key to writing a strong story. And planning out the three acts will make sure that you have some structure.
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