5. Getting a plot together - Part 3: Writing a short synopsis/ou

Now that she knows me, my editor would be happy with something shorter than five pages, but somehow my synopsis will not stay down at 2 pages - and as she has not complained, I haven't tried to do anything else. As this editor knows me, discovered me, and has helped me develop as a writer, I'm in a slightly different position to those writers sending their synopses to strangers.

For books written under my other names and not pre-sold, I produce what the publisher wants, if that is specified, or else a shorter synopsis of 2-3 pages if there are no guidelines - but I still write my plot guide in advance, then shorten it as necessary.

WHAT TO PUT INTO A PLOTTING SYNOPSIS I do not try to describe all the events in great detail, but describe the main characters/groups, how they interact, and their current situations. Then I summarise the problems that beset them, and how they overcome them - but only in broadest terms because I don't know the details until I write the story.

Although the main plot and characters don't change from my basic outline, they don't exactly stay the same, either - and actually, I believe they improve considerably. Knowing this, I deliberately avoid being too specific in the first plotting synopsis. If you know every detail in advance, write it that way. It's your call. Since I write long books (usually 140,000 words) with several sub-plots, this general outline of period, setting and situation works well for me and my editor.

Writing my summary/synopsis before I start writing the book helps me to see the story more clearly and also helps me get to know my characters before I launch them on their adventures. If you've never done that in advance, you should try it at least once, realising that you can change details as you write, so not agonising over getting it perfect or sticking tightly to it afterwards.

In other words, my first synopsis is a plotting tool before it ever becomes a selling tool. That not only works for me when it comes to writing the book, but it takes the angst out of writing a selling synopsis afterwards, because I only have to polish and amend the original synopsis to match what really happened when the story unrolled. I hear so often that writers hate producing synopses! Not me! It's a fascinating exploration

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