If you are thinking of writing a book of your very own, you should also know how to write an effective synopsis. This is because through your synopsis, you can create anticipation for your book and attract potential readers. In short a lot is hanging on how good your synopsis is.
So it stands to reason that you take steps to write a truly effective synopsis. But this is easier said than done. This is because writing a truly comprehensive and potent synopsis can be tricky.
Here are 6 great tips to make a truly effective synopsis:
- Keep it short and sweet
Your synopsis should never be overly long. Remember that the only reason why readers take the time to read a synopsis, is that they want to know the gist of the story. They only want to know what the book is about.
And if you make the synopsis too long, then what would be the point of reading the book? They should just read the synopsis instead. So when you write your synopsis, make it short and sweet.
- Write with clarity
It takes a certain level of skill to write a synopsis. This is because writing a synopsis entails you to compress the ideas and concepts of your book with a few sentences. And if not done right, the synopsis can get chaotic.
This is why you should write with as much clarity as possible. When you write your synopsis, make sure that it strikes at the heart of the matter. Don’t take detours or mention unnecessary aspects of the story.
All in all, the more clear and concise your synopsis, the easier it will be for readers to read.
- Highlight the main concepts
When you write your synopsis, your intent should always be to highlight the main concepts of the book. Remember that you only have a few sentences to make an impact with potential readers. So try to highlight the important aspects of your book.
Show the reader what the book is about. Show your readers what they stand to learn or earn from your book. By doing so, you will be able to pique their curiosity and increase your chances of selling your book.
- Keep the details to a minimum
As it was stated earlier, your readers are only reading the synopsis to find out what your book is about. They only want to get the gist of it. So don’t ruin the suspense or thrills for them by putting in too much information.
Some authors make this mistake, and totally ruin the experience for their readers by mentioning twists and spoilers to their readers. So if you want your readers to thoroughly enjoy your book, then keep the details to a minimum.
- Don’t use dialogue
Some authors make the mistake of including dialogue in their synopsis. This is a mistake because dialogues don’t really add anything to the synopsis. It only makes the synopsis overly long and can even make it sound clunky or unwieldy.
So when you write your synopsis, your main intent should only be to tell your readers what your book is about. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Have a minimalist mindset
You should have a minimalist mindset when you edit your synopsis. Remember that you only have a few sentences to show readers what your book is about. So when you edit your synopsis, try to cut out unnecessary words.
Cut out flowery words and make your wordplay as simple and concise as possible. All in all, simplicity and clarity is key when it comes to writing a synopsis.
The BookVenture Company hopes this article was useful.
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