Help! with synopsis (very short for initial email query)

[kelkat]

How much is enough? I've written a VERY brief idea of the story, but is it enough to make the agents want to read more?
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CHRIS. When unmarked letters begin showing up at the home of Sara Jackson, Sara is forced to dig into the three year old death of her husband. With the help of friends old and new, Sara is able to discover the secrets and survive what they reveal.

The search forces Sara to face a past she has been running from. It also helps her to find a future she didn’t expect.

Thanks

 

[j d worthington]

Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but... you're sending a synopsis to an agent, and you have to keep it that brief? That's something I've not encountered. To a publisher, yes, a synopsis, usually (though IO've never heard of one that short -- this reads more like a cover blurb, rather than a synopsis). To an agent... shouldn't it be the ms.?

At any rate, here's a discussion of the subject of synopses, including input from people who've had experience with this:

http://www.chronicles-network.com/forum/35277-a-synopsis.html?highlight=Synopsis

Good luck with it, whatever it is you're needing. And if this isn't really what you're looking for, by all means ask. We've got several published writers on here that can help you with such questions....

Welcome aboard, and hope to see you around!

 

[Coolhand]

Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but... you're sending a synopsis to an agent, and you have to keep it that brief? That's something I've not encountered. To a publisher, yes, a synopsis, usually (though IO've never heard of one that short -- this reads more like a cover blurb, rather than a synopsis). To an agent... shouldn't it be the ms.?

Yeah, a lot of agents do ask for a synopsis and perhaps your first three chapters. I've never yet had one ask me for just the manuscript on it's own (but then, I do get rejected a lot! )

Having said that, that is one seriously short synopsis you've got there Kelkat. Like J.D said, it's more of a blurb (the kind of thing you get on the back of the book) than a synopsis (usually a page or two in length.) Did the agent in question request a synopsis that short?

Sounds intruiging though. All the best with it and welcome to the Chron.

 

[the_faery_queen]

is this for a story or novel? either way, a synopsis does need to reveal what happens at the end. this seems more like a blurb, something that sets up a taster of what happens. a synopsis also needs to describe the entire plot

if this is just for a cover letter, to make them read the actual syopsis (as i've seen some writers suggest you say something tempting in the letter) then it sounds ok, but you probably need to link it more to the book, with the title mentioned.

 

[Susan Boulton]

For info about writing query letters go see Miss Snark's Happy hooker Crapometer and read it from end to end, it will help.

The Happy Hooker Crapometer-CLOSED

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

Some places want you to query first before submitting even your synopsis, in which case this may be okay, but that really does depend on the publisher/magazine/etc.. A synopsis itself should be around the 4-page mark, and should be a summary rather than a teaser.

-D

 

[Susan Boulton]

The most important thing to do is check the agents/publishers submission requirements. Some want only a single page synopsis, some two to three some up to four etc... Some even only want 250 words! The same goes for the sample pages, some say three chapters, some 100 pages, some 50, and so on.

Best thing to do is prepare a few, a long detailed synopsis, a two page, one and a 250 word one it stretches the mind when you have to keep condensing your story down.