Image: Nancy Curteman
Today we have Nancy Curteman, Mystery Novelist and blogger at Global Mysteries. Her piece in preparing a synopsis for a Mystery novel is quite good, and, by the way, it works for other types of novel as well.
We hope you find her essay as valuable as we do.
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The most difficult part of writing the synopsis of a mystery novel is getting started. First, it’s necessary to have a clear understanding of what we’re talking about when we say, “create a synopsis of your novel.” Simply put, a synopsis is a summary of the salient facts of your mystery story. It must introduce, sum up and wrap up your story. Here’s how you do it:
• Begin your synopsis when you begin your novel. As you finish each chapter, write a sentence or two describing what happened to which characters. Later you will edit, tighten and polish.
• Begin with a one-sentence hook. I opened my synopsis for my mystery novel, “Murder in a Teacup” with this sentence: Corporate trainer Lysi Weston isn’t surprised at rampant sexism from “Montana Marlboro Men,” but the murder of her co-presenter stuns her.
• Provide a sense of the setting, tone and pace of your novel.
Image: blog.gameglamour.com
• Cover all the major characters, plot points and the ending.
• Reveal the character’s emotions and motivations.
• Don’t clutter the synopsis up with secondary characters unless they are critical to the plot and affect your main characters.
• Keep characters to a minimum and use only one name for each character. James Jones needs to be James Jones not Jim or Jimmy or Jonesy or lieutenant.
•You might add one or two relevant quotes from your characters.
• Present ideas in the shortest form possible. Leave out adjectives, adverbs and physical descriptions.
• Tell the entire story in your synopsis. Save suspense and surprise for your novel. Editors want to know the ending.
• State your ending and the resolution of the main conflict.
• Write in present tense, third person, omniscient point of view.
• Keep your synopsis short. Only two to five pages is best.
• Write in the same tone as your mystery novel. If the novel is serious, be serious. If it’s funny, inject humor.
• Double space your synopsis with one-inch margins in a 12 point font. I use Times New Roman.
• These days many editors want an electronic copy but if they want a hard copy, use plain white paper, no rainbow or flowered designs.
• Before sending your synopsis out, check publishers’ guidelines. Some publishers seem to have special needs.
Finally and most important keep rereading, shortening, editing, and polishing your mystery novel synopsis until it’s perfect
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio... and isn't it time you experienced some of them?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Nancy is great.
That she is.
Thanks for featuring my piece on synopsis writing
Thanks, Nancy, for some useful points. I was particularly keen on knowing the treatment of suspense and the climax in a synopsis.
When you send a synopsis to a publisher, you must say how it ends. Share some of the exciting high points. Editors are not going to share this information with readers. They will use it to determine if they will publish your book.
Great article. When you say ‘Reveal the character’s emotions and motivations’ are you referring only to the lead character or do you mean all main characters?
When you say ‘two to five pages’ do you mean double-spaced pages?
Hello Boris,
I suggest you reveal the emotions and motivations of the main characters. If appropriate, you can reveal the emotions of the protagonist.
Always double space unless the editor/publisher requests single space.
Nancy
Guess who? Do you detect my desperation?
Hi, Maddy! Good to see you here!