Larissa Ione

On Synopses

I hate them. Let's just get that out in the open right now.

I. Hate. Synopses.

What brought this on? Well, I'm going to have to write one soon for my second Demon ER proposal, and the August issue of the Romance Writers Report came in the mail, and inside, there's an article on writing synopses.

It's called "Stop the Synopsis Madness," and it's wonderful! Okay, I'm a little biased because the author, Geri Krotow, is a fellow RomVet, and because I'm quoted in the article, but I'd still think it was wonderful. Why? Because it focuses on how to write a synopsis if you're a pantser.

I used to be a strict plotter. And I always wrote the book before I wrote the synopsis…which you would THINK makes writing a synopsis easier. But no. I've found that writing a synopsis based on an unfinished, unplotted book can actually be easier simply because I don't have to distill a 400 page manuscript into a few pages of summary.

If I haven't written the story, my synopsis focuses only on the most important elements in the book, something I tend to forget when writing a synopsis from a finished product.

I use what I call "The Roadmap" method when writing a synopsis for an unplotted book. Basically:

Say I'm planning a trip from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine. (This would be the beginning and end of the book, which I always know before I start writing a synopsis.)

I know what stops I HAVE to make (these would be scenes I've already got in my head and plot points I NEED to have in order for the book to work.)

So I schedule my stops…Missoula, Montana. Madison, Wisconsin. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Okay, now I have a starting point, ending point, and several important stops. Because I didn't fill in every stop for gas, every stop for food, and every stop for a bathroom break, I've allowed a lot of room for detours. Because really, what happens if you run into construction or road closures or natural disasters?

That can happen in a book, as well. If I add every little stop to the synopsis, I can very easily write myself into trouble because I'm not allowing for any detours. And those pesky characters toss in a LOT of detours when you're a pantser.

The Pantsing, Road Map Synopsis is, for me, much tighter while at the same time much more freeing than a synopsis written off a fully-plotted book.

So I still hate them. But Geri's article reminded me that writing one doesn't have to ruin the freedom pantsers crave when writing a book. You CAN write a synopsis but leave plenty of room for seat-of-the-pants writing and detours. Check out the article if you get the RWR. It's fantastic!

6 Responses to “On Synopses”

Oo. Must check mailbox and see if my RWR is here! Because I will have to write another synopsis soon.

by Charlene on August 4th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
It’s a good article, Charlene!

by Larissa on August 5th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I think synopses are an invention of the devil.

by Tori Lennox on August 5th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I had some problems with the article, mainly because it seemed to posit that these “road map” synopses only work if you’re a panster, or that plotters go at it differently.

Not so. I’ve ALWAYS loved synopses, I’ve ALWAYS been a very dedicated plotter, and I’ve ALWAYS written my synopses just like that, as a road map, before writing the book (in many instances, before writing the outline).

I really don’t understand this divide, but it’s stressed so much in RWA circles that most new writers I meet think they have to decide to be one or the other and never the twain shall meet. So I am always wary when I come across articles that stress this divide. I know the writer said “for the purposes of this article” but for me, being told what I write like or that there is only one of two ways for a writer to write makes me nervous.

by Diana on August 6th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Tori, I tend to agree with you!

Diana, I sort of saw it as more of a “even if you are a pantser, you CAN write a synopsis,” piece for those who didn’t think it was possible. Because I have to say…I used to be like that. I’d write my synopses based on a finished product, so I was stumped when it came to trying to write one when I had nothing more than three chapters and no plot ideas. So I didn’t really see it as an article that said plotters don’t write a synopsis the same way as pantsers, but more that yes, pantsers, you CAN do it!

But I do know what you mean about the divide…I can see how new writers can worry about their own process if divides are stressed!

by Larissa on August 7th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Larissa Thanks so much for tooting about my Synopsis article in the RWR. But honestly, as I’ve told all the Romvets, this is all of our article as so many great people contributed to it.
Diana, I’m with you on the “black and white” mentality of pantser vs plotter and many other craft subjects that circulate in RWA and other writing organizations. I didn’t mean for the article to be one way or the other, just another alternative view on how to approach synopses.
I’m off to write two new synopses, as soon as I finish up a book due Sep 1st. I love my job!! I’m grateful to be employed!!
Peace,
Geri

by Geri on August 7th, 2007 at 2:45 pm