Difference between prologue and synopsis

[Agentt]

So, I was going through some latest releases, and noticed many of them have gotten quite famous. Like reaching trending on 3rd and 7th chapter. Which was weird since even the authors were new and had practically no fanbase. Then I noticed the special preparation they did, which I didn't
1. My synopsis is full of click bait, giving no ideas regarding the plot whatsoever
2. I don't have a prologue even though all my work is the type where the first few chapters are boring world building.

So, what I wanted to ask was that, what should I include in what?

Also, this is a bit out of question but I am going to ask it here anyway. If one of the volumes of my work is only 3 or 5 chapters, should I separate it? Or should I merge it with a bigger volume?

 

[Valmond]

1. For the summary. Not including a grasping of the plot is a risk. Which may cause one of two scenarios to happen.

- People become more likely to not click the work.

- Worst case scenario. They misinterpret, and this can damage your work.

Now, you don’t gotta go crazy and write about the plot in the summary. However, giving an indirect grasp of it can do much better if you wish to go that route.

2. Prologues are not necessary. However, it is simply your choice or not. Some people like em, some people do not. Though, I’ve seen both good and bad ones. It really is nothing to concern yourself with on this.

As for your third question. It depends on you. These can be an extension of your work. A short story or novella length. You don’t gotta merge it, or separate it really. Though, depending on the specific context. For instance, if it involves new cast, setting, plot, etc. It would be a good idea to just make it its own thing.

If it is affecting the plot line of your other work in some way. Then it shouldn’t be hard to merge it in. In the end, it is your choice on this.

 

[Agentt]

1. For the summary. Not including a grasping of the plot is a risk. Which may cause one of two scenarios to happen.

- People become more likely to not click the work.

- Worst case scenario. They misinterpret, and this can damage your work.

Now, you don’t gotta go crazy and write about the plot in the summary. However, giving an indirect grasp of it can do much better if you wish to go that route.

2. Prologues are not necessary. However, it is simply your choice or not. Some people like em, some people do not. Though, I’ve seen both good and bad ones. It really is nothing to concern yourself with on this.

As for your third question. It depends on you. These can be an extension of your work. A short story or novella length. You don’t gotta merge it, or separate it really. Though, depending on the specific context. For instance, if it involves new cast, setting, plot, etc. It would be a good idea to just make it its own thing.

If it is affecting the plot line of your other work in some way. Then it shouldn’t be hard to merge it in. In the end, it is your choice on this.

I am afraid to do the 'indirect' grasp thing, since people may as well misinterpret that. As an example, one of my plot is of a world where no one cares for the hero since it is his 'destiny's to defeat the demon king, whether he likes it or not. Since it is not a revenge book, I can't put those tags. Hence I think when people click on it, they would expect hero plummeting through everything, not him being sad cuz no one notices him.
For the second part, that is the cast is indeed the same but there is a time skip. The events which happen, while look independent, they are caused or will cause something major in other volumes. But I think I'll post it as a short story.
Thank you

 

[Deleted member 45782]

To me synopsis, means summary. Its like the stuff that's on the back of the book or on the inside of a book cover sleeve. It is just same as a story info on Wattpad. It basically is clickbait - it serves to hook readers into your story. So you don't exactly tell them everything in the synopsis or story info.

Prologue to me is different. Prologue is like a chapter. So its not something on the outside of the book or story that hooks you in - you're already reading it. But prologue helps stir what happened at the beginning of the story to spur the possibly the events or something related down the road in the story.

Ofc, it can just be my take on it but I believe synopsis is summary or story information meant to hook readers. Prologue relates to some events/stuff/characters in the story.

 

[Agentt]

To me synopsis, means summary. Its like the stuff that's on the back of the book or on the inside of a book cover sleeve. It is just same as a story info on Wattpad. It basically is clickbait - it serves to hook readers into your story. So you don't exactly tell them everything in the synopsis or story info.

Prologue to me is different. Prologue is like a chapter. So its not something on the outside of the book or story that hooks you in - you're already reading it. But prologue helps stir what happened at the beginning of the story to spur the possibly the events or something related down the road in the story.

Ofc, it can just be my take on it but I believe synopsis is summary or story information meant to hook readers. Prologue relates to some events/stuff/characters in the story.

Ok, imagine you are writing synopsis and prologue for a mystery book, say sherlock. What will you include

 

[Deleted member 45782]

Ok, imagine you are writing synopsis and prologue for a mystery book, say sherlock. What will you include

Synopsis is basically the summary. You need that for every story you want to get out there so readers know what the story is about.
Prologue like what Valmond says, depends on you.

For example, Lost Souls Shrouded in Darkness, which I originally had on Wattpad (I have since unpublished it) had both a synopsis and a prologue.

 

[Agentt]

Synopsis is basically the summary. You need that for every story you want to get out there so readers know what the story is about.
Prologue like what Valmond says, depends on you.

For example, Lost Souls Shrouded in Darkness, which I originally had on Wattpad (I have since unpublished it) had both a synopsis and a prologue.

I still don't understand....

 

[RepresentingCaution]

To me synopsis, means summary. Its like the stuff that's on the back of the book or on the inside of a book cover sleeve. It is just same as a story info on Wattpad. It basically is clickbait - it serves to hook readers into your story. So you don't exactly tell them everything in the synopsis or story info.

Prologue to me is different. Prologue is like a chapter. So its not something on the outside of the book or story that hooks you in - you're already reading it. But prologue helps stir what happened at the beginning of the story to spur the possibly the events or something related down the road in the story.

Ofc, it can just be my take on it but I believe synopsis is summary or story information meant to hook readers. Prologue relates to some events/stuff/characters in the story.

"The stuff that's on the back of the book" is known as "back cover copy" in the industry. A synopsis is what the author or agent writes to interest the publisher, and it includes how the book ends. Back cover copy should not spoil the ending.

You're right on the prologue, though.

 

[Deleted member 45782]

I still don't understand....

Ok so in simpler terms, think of it this way...

Synopsis: Summary plot of the story, for the publisher.

Synopsis (specifically on ScribbleHub)/Story Info (Wattpad): Basically a blurb of the story description.

Prologue: pre-chapter

"The stuff that's on the back of the book" is known as "back cover copy" in the industry. A synopsis is what the author or agent writes to interest the publisher, and it includes how the book ends. Back cover copy should not spoil the ending.

You're right on the prologue, though.

Ah I see. Thanks. But isn't the story info labeled as a synopsis on ScribbleHub? Ngl, naming parts on SH it took me awhile to get used too cause I usually know series as a bunch of books in series, not an individual story like it is on here.

So @Agentt synoposis is different.

On ScribbleHub what you see when you come across other stories is bascially the summary or story blurb. If it was published traditionally, that would be the book jacket cover or back cover copy. It is basically the story description.

 

[Agentt]

Ok so in simpler terms, think of it this way...

Synopsis: Story Info/summary
Prologue: pre-chapter

Okay, well, that could be understood, I think...
So, what all is included in story summary? Like, how much of the ending should I leak?
And well, how to convey that the protagonist is not, and never will be, op.

 

[Deleted member 45782]

Okay, well, that could be understood, I think...
So, what all is included in story summary? Like, how much of the ending should I leak?
And well, how to convey that the protagonist is not, and never will be, op.

Story Info: Make it click bait and give it a hook.

Don't put the ending. You start off saying a little at the beginning of the plot of what it was but don't talk about how it exactly ends. You make it sound mysterious or not exactly known so readers who are into it, will want to read it.

Take a good look at some of the story descriptions for like say, Harry Potter or Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Does the story blurb say everything in the story, or it give you hints at the beginning what happened and now what?

Story blurb is what happened at the beginning and now what? basically.

Ex: Percy Jackson in the first book finds out he's a demigod and his mom gets kidnapped and he has to on a quest to retrieve a few things all while hoping to save his mom from the one that took here. But will he succeed?

See how I don't mention the ending? It's specifically to hook readers in to see if he did or not. So they read more to find out.

 

[Zavha0mnic]

So, I was going through some latest releases, and noticed many of them have gotten quite famous. Like reaching trending on 3rd and 7th chapter. Which was weird since even the authors were new and had practically no fanbase. Then I noticed the special preparation they did, which I didn't
1. My synopsis is full of click bait, giving no ideas regarding the plot whatsoever
2. I don't have a prologue even though all my work is the type where the first few chapters are boring world building.

So, what I wanted to ask was that, what should I include in what?

Also, this is a bit out of question but I am going to ask it here anyway. If one of the volumes of my work is only 3 or 5 chapters, should I separate it? Or should I merge it with a bigger volume?

This really helped me improve my own synopsis! Thanks!

 

[Agentt]

This really helped me improve my own synopsis! Thanks!

I guide others to a treasure I can't possess

 

[A.P.R.L.]

Well, if we want to be completely technical...

Summary: a brief statement or account of the main points of something (in this case the story).
Prologue: a part that comes at the beginning of a play, story, or long poem, often giving information about events that happened before the time when the play, story, or poem begins.

An example of a summary (from Observation Record of a Self-proclaimed Villainess’ Fiance):

Spoiler

Lady Bertia, who’s become my fiancée, is a bit odd. On our first meeting, she proclaimed herself a villainess noble girl who’s been reincarnated and said that she’s working hard every day to become a splendid flower of evil that’s elegantly put in her place.

I don’t get it.

But she entertains me because I don’t understand.

That’s why I think I’ll observe her for a while.

This is a story of a crown prince who’s so talented and handsome that he’s grown bored of his easy-mode life. A story of this prince observing a self-proclaimed villainess noble girl (who seems perfect at first but is a bit off) who’s become his fiancée as she snatches flags and breaks them into pieces.

As you can see, it explains the main points of the story you're about to read without giving much away (less of all the ending). As for how to convey the main character won't ever be OP... well, it might sound tacky, but you could place a warning in the summary, something like:
Warning: the MC is not OP and will not become OP. Ever.

Or however you want to phrase it. Since writing online gives the possibility of adding these kinds of things, you should try it and this way, people will know from the beginning that your character will never be OP, and read it or not depending on what they like.

 

[Agentt]

Well, if we want to be completely technical...

Summary: a brief statement or account of the main points of something (in this case the story).
Prologue: a part that comes at the beginning of a play, story, or long poem, often giving information about events that happened before the time when the play, story, or poem begins.

An example of a summary (from Observation Record of a Self-proclaimed Villainess’ Fiance):

Spoiler

Lady Bertia, who’s become my fiancée, is a bit odd. On our first meeting, she proclaimed herself a villainess noble girl who’s been reincarnated and said that she’s working hard every day to become a splendid flower of evil that’s elegantly put in her place.

I don’t get it.

But she entertains me because I don’t understand.

That’s why I think I’ll observe her for a while.

This is a story of a crown prince who’s so talented and handsome that he’s grown bored of his easy-mode life. A story of this prince observing a self-proclaimed villainess noble girl (who seems perfect at first but is a bit off) who’s become his fiancée as she snatches flags and breaks them into pieces.

As you can see, it explains the main points of the story you're about to read without giving much away (less of all the ending). As for how to convey the main character won't ever be OP... well, it might sound tacky, but you could place a warning in the summary, something like:
Warning: the MC is not OP and will not become OP. Ever.

Or however you want to phrase it. Since writing online gives the possibility of adding these kind of things, you should try it and this way, people will know from the beginning that your character will never be OP, and read it or not depending on what they like.

Okay, well, continuing the eg, would you put the fact that the villianess is a reincarnated otaku in prologue? Or would it be part of the main story?
Also, again, would you place the fact that the Male mc is tired of everyone clinging to him in prologue? Or would the prologue only contain that this world contains magic and monsters?

 

[Deleted member 45782]

Okay, well, continuing the eg, would you put the fact that the villianess is a reincarnated otaku in prologue? Or would it be part of the main story?
Also, again, would you place the fact that the Male mc is tired of everyone clinging to him in prologue? Or would the prologue only contain that this world contains magic and monsters?

That sounds like something in a summary. Not everything is explained in a prologue, not even the rough outline of a story. Rough outline of a story is best for a summary. Unless that is what starts things off -like you're describing a scene or something. Prologue, at least to me, is like an entrance to something but you don't exactly know what it is about yet.

Example of maybe your story info:
The villainess was reincarnated into an otaku. As the male main character of the story though, he is tired of everyone clinging on to him. Furthermore, it gets annoying when he has to deal with escaping from all the magic and monsters hitting him left and right and they are coming from all directions. Will he survive in this new world he just reincarnated into?

Here is an example. Its a rough draft hiatus. Srry since it may be a bit shoddy and not the best example.

Lost and Shrouded in Darkness - Synopsis- is shown here. (I put it in a poem at that time, so its not as clear sign what story is about and it may or may not do so well with hooking readers in).

Lost and Shrouded in Darkness - Prologue - My Prologue. Notice you don't know much of anything here.

 

[Agentt]

That sounds like something in a summary. Not everything is explained in a prologue. Its like an entrance to something but you don't exactly know what it is about yet.

Here is an example. Its a rough draft hiatus. Srry since it may be a bit shoddy and not the best example.

Lost and Shrouded in Darkness - Synopsis- is shown here. (I put it in a poem at that time, so its not as clear sign what story is about and it may or may not do so well with hooking readers in).

Lost and Shrouded in Darkness - Prologue - My Prologue. Notice you don't know much of anything here.

While I am still confused about the synopsis, this greatly cleared my doubts about the prologue.
So, prologue is basically like a cameraman was thrown in between an important conversation. He doesn't know who these people are, he doesn't know what they are talking about. He is not even part of conversation, he is just seeing it from a third person view without giving his own opinions.

 

[A.P.R.L.]

Okay, well, continuing the eg, would you put the fact that the villianess is a reincarnated otaku in prologue? Or would it be part of the main story?
Also, again, would you place the fact that the Male mc is tired of everyone clinging to him in prologue? Or would the prologue only contain that this world contains magic and monsters?

The prologue would contain not the beginning of the story but what happened before the story began. Like, you write what happened ten, five, two years, or even a few weeks before the official beginning of the story. Therefore, you can put that information wherever you want. Think the prologues from A Song of Ice and Fire, especifically the first book. It tells something that happened a few months before the beginning of the story that had a consequence in the main story.

A prologue doesn't necessarily deal with the main characters. You can have other characters doing something important that sets the story in motion in your prologue. Or you can have your main character and what happened to him/her ten years ago that lead to them getting where they are now. It varies a lot, and there's not really a formula to follow when writing one.

Edit: Something I forgot to add: your story doesn't even need a prologue! Only if you think it's relevant to your story. If not, you can begin with the first chapter without a problem, or even the ending (think Chronicle of a Death Foretold from Gabriel García Márquez, that begins with the death of the protagonist and the rest of the book details how he died).

 

[Deleted member 45782]

While I am still confused about the synopsis, this greatly cleared my doubts about the prologue.
So, prologue is basically like a cameraman was thrown in between an important conversation. He doesn't know who these people are, he doesn't know what they are talking about. He is not even part of conversation, he is just seeing it from a third person view without giving his own opinions.

Perhaps. It could be a flashback or a scene like something happened before. Its supposed pave way for your story. You could make it mysterious and make it sound like looking from an outside angle. You can also make it a scene before the main story occurs.

---

Summary: A story about a guy learning to open his heart again to this girl he just met at a concert.

Prologue: A flashback to the guy's ex dumping him.

Story: So...he dealing with heartbreak from previous ex. But there's a new girl he just met and it seems like that slow pain inside his heart is finally fading for once.

See how the prologue sets something up for the remainder of the story? Something like that. What happened before the main events of the story.

---

Another example:
Summary: A story of a demon girl fighting against a horde of demons as she tries to break for safety. But when she's had enough, she decides to turn to the tide and come back to wipe all those who came to bring her down.

Prologue: So uh...demon girl was dancing at the ball when a demon lord proposed to her. However because she thought he was slimy person, she rejects him and throws a cold glass of water over him. For moment, some silence. She senses the rising anger, so she slowly backs away then runs.

Story: She keeps jumping from town to town to escape all those demon minions that the salty demon lord who she rejected sent after her. Eventually she can't stands it anymore bc whatever stuff happened it took a significant toll on her life and loved ones. So she decides to grab a chainsaw and start ripping into some dirty demons henchmen. And she is definitely know coming after that one guy. He wanted her before but, well, now she's coming his way for sure. All she seeks is his bloody hand torn from his body. And she accomplishes the mission at the end of the day, wipes the blood from her face and finally heave a sigh of relief that she can now safely relax without having to marry that demon.

See how the prologue set things up? It sets the stage sorta why the following events in the story occurred. The story talks about why she ran away and then turned back to attack. The prologue showed what happened beforehand of the story and why she ran in the first place.