How to Write a Synopsis (and the Rest of Your Query Package)

When you query a literary agent, you almost never send the whole book. You send a query package: a query letter, a synopsis and sample pages. Each part answers a different question. The query asks whether the premise grabs, the synopsis whether the story works, and the pages whether you can write.

Many writers find the synopsis harder than the novel itself, and that is understandable: a few hundred pages have to become one or two. With a clear structure, it is far more manageable than it looks.

What a synopsis is for

A synopsis is not marketing copy and not a back-cover blurb. It is a working document for professionals who need to know whether your plot holds together and whether the book fits their list. That is why it gives away the ending. An agent wants to see that the story lands, not to be kept in suspense.

How to structure your synopsis

There is no single required format, but there is a shape agents recognise. Follow the main character through the story in order, and let cause and effect carry the reader from one turning point to the next.

Write in the present tense and the third person, even if your novel is told in the past tense or in first person. Capitalise each character's name the first time it appears, a common convention that helps the reader keep track. Limit yourself to the main plot and the characters who drive it; subplots belong in only if they matter to the ending.

If the plot itself still feels shaky, it helps to step back to what plot is and how it works. Writing a synopsis exposes weaknesses, which is why some authors draft one during revision.

How long should a synopsis be?

The most common request is one page single-spaced or two pages double-spaced, roughly 500 to 800 words. Some agents ask for longer. Always follow the submission guidelines of the agent you are querying; if they give a length, stick to it exactly. A short, clear synopsis reads as more confident than a long one that retells every scene.

• Too long: every chapter summarised, minor characters given their own paragraphs.
• Too vague: “In the end, she must make a choice” without saying what the choice is.
• Too salesy: superlatives, rhetorical questions, comparisons to global bestsellers.
• Just right: cause and effect are clear, and every named character has a job to do.

The query letter

The query letter is the first thing an agent reads, and it should fit on one page, usually around 250 to 350 words. It pitches your book the way a blurb would, and it tells the agent why you are querying them in particular.

1. Address the agent by name; never “Dear Sir or Madam”
2. A hook: one or two sentences that capture the premise
3. A short pitch paragraph: protagonist, goal, obstacle, stakes, without the ending
4. Title, genre, word count and one or two recent comparable titles
5. A brief bio: publishing credits, awards or relevant expertise, if you have them
6. A polite close, noting what you have included

Sample pages

Sample pages show whether you can write. They always start at the beginning of the book, never with your favourite scene. Agents commonly ask for the first five or ten pages, or the first three chapters; many query systems have you paste them into a form. Unless told otherwise, format them in standard manuscript format.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most rejections come down to the story, not the paperwork. A weak package, though, can stop an agent from ever looking at the story. These mistakes are easy to spot once you step back:

• Ignoring the guidelines. Sending a ten-page synopsis when two pages were requested tells the agent you did not read them.
• Too many names. Name only the characters who drive the plot. Describe everyone else by their role, such as “her editor” or “the sheriff”.
• Theme instead of events. Sentences about guilt, love or identity cannot replace what happens. Show the events and the theme will come through.
• A series opener with no ending. Book one of a planned series should still have a complete arc. Mention series potential in a single line of the query.
• Wrong comps. Pick recent titles in your category, not classics or megasellers. Comps show where your book would sit on the shelf, not how successful you hope it will be.
• Mass queries. A letter that is obviously sent to everyone rarely gets a careful read.

Frequently asked questions

Should a synopsis reveal the ending?

Yes. Agents need to judge whether the story works. A synopsis that withholds the ending suggests you have not resolved it yourself.

How long should a synopsis be?

Most agents ask for one page single-spaced or two pages double-spaced. Follow each agent's guidelines exactly; if they specify a length, that is the length.

Can I query before my novel is finished?

For fiction, and especially for a debut, agents expect a complete, revised manuscript before you query. Non-fiction works differently and is usually sold on a proposal.