Comments on: The Synopsis Snare

By: D. C. DaCosta

D. C. DaCosta — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:55:34 +0000

P.G. Wodehouse addressed this in his Bertie Wooster stories. When introducing a character who has appeared in previous books, Bertie candidly tells us, “I never know how much to tell about” these people, and then does so in as few words as possible (max. 100?). The combination of the apology, the brevity, and the wit in which the summary is wrapped make for an enjoyable review of the earlier stories.
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way what you do it, and they don’t call him The Master for nothing!

By: Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa

Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:47:02 +0000

The only prologues I never read are the ones that summarize the previous books. I’ve yet to see a good one.

By: Kevin A. Lewis

Kevin A. Lewis — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:14:37 +0000

One small addendum… I think the sample chapter on top of an intense query letter was a bit too much like the synopsis overload you described, hence the better results with just the query. Message ends.

By: Kevin A. Lewis

Kevin A. Lewis — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:59:33 +0000

As a matter of technique, I think it’s wise to avoid spinning a storyline so convoluted you need a Talmudic scholar to help you make sense of it, and since the apocalyptic and dystopian markets are saturated with this kind of stuff, I too tend to stick with real-world settings at this point. For a long time, I sent out sample chapters and was universally ignored…(Present agency not excepted, I fear) However, since adopting a sell-the-sizzle-not-the-steak approach I’ve been getting manuscript requests even from agents who are normally terrified of heavy real-world subject matter, so it’s only a matter of time. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to post a nyah,nyah,nyah shoutout when it happens, After all, you guys are the only agency that has a lively real-time blog where one can pop in and talk shop-so keep it up!