How to write synopsis?

[L1aei]

Haha, this is kind of a parallel universe. Some characters from this world might exist in the novel. Idk. Should I change this?

Hey, it's your story. If I told you what to do with it without knowing the full context, I'd be making myself into an ass.

 

[Nevafrost]

Hey, it's your story. If I told you what to do with it without knowing the full context, I'd be making myself into an ass.

It's just that I've got no experience-nya but you have got that.
Also, a blurb is for someone who doesn’t know the full context, right? So, if something feels off, then tell me-nya. I'll try to fix it . (I'm going to rewrite this a thousand times anyways hehe)

 

[L1aei]

It's just that I've got no experience-nya but you have got that.
Also, a blurb is for someone who doesn’t know the full context, right? So, if something feels off, then tell me-nya. I'll try to fix it . (I'm going to rewrite this a thousand times anyways hehe)

lol, alright. Yeah, you are correct. I personally try to avoid referencing pop culture in worlds or in a historic period that they shouldn't exist, but, like, if the big secret is that your characters are... oh, I don't know, maybe in a simulation? Okay, Sherlock is fine. See?

 

[Nevafrost]

lol, alright. Yeah, you are correct. I personally try to avoid referencing pop culture in worlds or in a historic period that they shouldn't exist, but, like, if the big secret is that your characters are... oh, I don't know, maybe in a simulation? Okay, Sherlock is fine. See?

Haha, I get it. I guess I need to change that part. I wrote this just for the sake of joking. I need to find another snarky joke-nya.
Any other problem that caught your eye? Is it, at least, a little engaging?

 

[L1aei]

Haha, I get it. I guess I need to change that part. I wrote this just for the sake of joking. I need to find another snarky joke-nya.
Any other problem that caught your eye? Is it, at least, a little engaging?

Yes, it is engageable. Not perfect, but who is? You want something to attract attention. You got mine and everybody else here in the thread, so that's a factual win.

 

[Eldoria]

@Eldoria @L1aei @CinnaSloth Sorry to annoy yall again, but I wrote a sample . Is this somewhat acceptable?

Spoiler: Sample Blurb

On a random Tuesday, Iris and her best friends decided that life as pampered princesses was boring. Just when they were craving a fun adventure, the biggest opportunity came running: a restricted castle in the neighboring kingdom.
'There must be ghosts in there.'
'Dumbass, we are faeries. Why are you acting scared?'
A chaotic journey, assisted by four random guys.
'His attire looks expensive... like a duke or a prince.'
'No shit, Sherlock. I'm one of the princes of this kingdom.'
Yes, four confused but curious princesses are led and misled by four quirky, handsome princes. What chaos will their curiosity and untold feelings lead to?
Magic, madness, heaven and sins; which one will prevail once they reach the end of this journey?

The synopsis still seems objective and neutral, like a travel report summary. As a casual reader, I might understand your synopsis.

But I don't have enough reason to care about it.

Princesses? Who are princesses? Why should I care about princesses?

Princes? Are they important characters? Why should I care about them?

Oh, there's an adventure? So what? What's so interesting about that adventure?

I've only talked about the protagonist's identity and the main conflict. I haven't even touched on the stakes and threats/challenges.

If you want readers to care about your protagonist, their identity should be concrete to readers. You can see examples of synopses in my fiction.

Clara = a conscience detective who lives to defend helpless victims. This is a concrete identity that can be connected to readers who care about advocacy for victims.

Or Marry El Rose = a former executioner + a gentle mother. Who doesn't want to live in peace after a bloody past? Marry's identity is relevant to real-life mothers who want to pour out love for their children even though they are haunted by trauma.

This is what I call a relatable protagonist identity.

As for your protagonist... I don't have a clear picture yet, so I can't give you a direct example of your case. You can think about it slowly.

 

[L1aei]

As for your protagonist... I don't have a clear picture yet, so I can't give you a direct example of your case. You can think about it slowly.

@Nevafrost That. We lack context.

 

[Nevafrost]

The synopsis still seems objective and neutral, like a travel report summary. As a casual reader, I might understand your synopsis.

But I don't have enough reason to care about it.

Princesses? Who are princesses? Why should I care about princesses?

Princes? Are they important characters? Why should I care about them? Oh, there's an adventure?

So what? What's so interesting about that adventure?

I've only talked about the protagonist's identity and the main conflict. I haven't even touched on the stakes and threats/challenges.

If you want readers to care about your protagonist, their identity should be concrete to readers. You can see examples of synopses in my fiction.

Clara = a conscience detective who lives to defend helpless victims. This is a concrete identity that can be connected to readers who care about advocacy for victims.

Or Marry El Rose = a former executioner + a gentle mother. Who doesn't want to live in peace after a bloody past? Marry's identity is relevant to real-life mothers who want to pour out love for their children even though they are haunted by trauma.

This is what I call a relatable protagonist identity.

As for your protagonist... I don't have a clear picture yet, so I can't give you a direct example of your case. You can think about it slowly.

Is it fine if my synopsis is longer than the one I wrote?
Also, I should explain what the characters' roles in the novel are, right? Tell me if I'm wrong-nya. I've got a very smol brain.

 

[ElijahRyne]

I come again with another call for help. I don’t know how to write synopsis lol. My previous one was a flop so I'm asking for advice this time so I can write a better one, hehe.

Spoiler: Plot

: Four princesses embark on a sneaky journey to discover the secrets their parents are hiding from them. They think it will be fun to do something exciting, so they sneak out of the palace to the neighboring kingdom. There, they meet some weirdos who turn out to be the princes of that kingdom.

Initially, they thought it would be a funny little sneak-off, but it turns out to be something bigger as they uncover more about the secret. The story becomes darker as the plot develops.

I provided the plot so you could give me better advice hehe. If you have any questions regarding the plot of the novel, just ask me. Thanks in advance.

The progeny of the ruling class slowly discover the harsh truth of their parents society, their society. Can they stay the same after learning their wealth is stolen by force and threat and force, their power maintained by murder and repression, and their status by selling their young to be married to the highest bidder. Find all this out and more in the next episode of Dragon Ball Z.

 

[Nevafrost]

@Nevafrost That. We lack context.

Context. So, I will really have to write a longer one I guess

 

[L1aei]

Is it fine if my synopsis is longer than the one I wrote?
Also, I should explain what the characters' roles in the novel are, right? Tell me if I'm wrong-nya. I've got a very swol brain.

There, fixed your message for you. Can you spot the edit?

 

[Eldoria]

Is it fine if my synopsis is longer than the one I wrote?
Also, I should explain what the characters' roles in the novel are, right? Tell me if I'm wrong-nya. I've got a very smol brain.

A compelling synopsis is generally written in 200-250 words. Before you worry about word count, you need to worry about how to make readers care about your fiction through the synopsis.

 

[Nevafrost]

The progeny of the ruling class slowly discover the harsh truth of their parents society, their society. Can they stay the same after learning their wealth is stolen by force and threat and force, their power maintained by murder and repression, and their status by selling their young to be married to the highest bidder. Find all this out and more in the next episode of Dragon Ball Z.

My reaction instantly changed from ? to ?

There, fixed your message for you. Can you spot the edit?

I'm really trynna get swol-nya. How did you know?

 

[CinnaSloth]

@Eldoria @L1aei @CinnaSloth Sorry to annoy yall again, but I wrote a sample . Is this somewhat acceptable?

Spoiler: Sample Blurb

On a random Tuesday, Iris and her best friends decided that life as pampered princesses was boring. Just when they were craving a fun adventure, the biggest opportunity came running: a restricted castle in the neighboring kingdom.
'There must be ghosts in there.'
'Dumbass, we are faeries. Why are you acting scared?'
A chaotic journey, assisted by four random guys.
'His attire looks expensive... like a duke or a prince.'
'No shit, Sherlock. I'm one of the princes of this kingdom.'
Yes, four confused but curious princesses are led and misled by four quirky, handsome princes. What chaos will their curiosity and untold feelings lead to?
Magic, madness, heaven and sins; which one will prevail once they reach the end of this journey?

I had to reread this a few dozen times. Not because I don't get it, but because it's a colossal mess. I understand what's going on (I think??), I just don't like it.

This is just my ranting..

Spoiler

It's narrated, but then, I assume, they're talking through... thoughts?? instead of actual speech?? because of the (apostrophes) '__' instead of what should be (quotations) "___", looking to venture through a seemingly haunted castle. One being afraid (which awesome, natural response to wanting to walk into a spooky castle); The other acting in a condescending tone, as if a Fae should have no concept of what fear is (obviously the braindead kind of b****. We all know at least one).
Then there's suddenly 4 random dudes, but picks one one out of the lineup to mention their clothes specifically, and he's immediately aggravated, and offended (HOW DARE ANYONE CALL HIM RICH LOOKING!) for some reason?
BUT yet, the girls turn around like "ah curiosity, and untold feelings!" Do they enjoy being yelled at by random strangers?
Magic, madness, heaven, and sins.. which will prevail? I wasn't aware these were competing over one another. Hell, I didn't even know these were all in the same categories TO compete. I was under the impression this was a story about adventure starved princesses (with apparent shame kinks).

The idea.. whatever the idea is, started fine (girls go to scary castle in another kingdom). But then escalated to... a mess of.. I don't know, incredibly shallow romance option(s?), and some kind of awkward chaos? It's a mess.
It's craving structure. Start with bullet points. Line them up. Shoot the down as you go along. I know, you know what you're trying to go for, and I can vaguely understand. But it won't get readers to stay, especially if its this out of hand. You want the story to be chaotic, not your writing.

Iris, and her best friends decided that their lives as pampered princesses were boring.
Plural. Iris, (AND her best friends)'s lives are getting boring.
UNLESS, you mean: Iris's friends thought Iris's life was too boring, and pampered.

Just when they were craving a fun adventure, the biggest opportunity came running: A restricted castle in the neighboring kingdom.
Clear, concise, perfect. No edits.

The rest is ...difficult. I would sum the rest up to something like:
Unbeknownst the them, there were four, somewhat quirky strangers within the castle; The handsome Princes of (Name of the neighbouring kingdom here).

Drama ensues. A comedic, and chaotic experience for (whatever range of) ages. etc etc within blah blah page stuff. Idk. Figure out what you want to say. Clarify. Focus on a single point, and expand without throwing in everything else you want to write within the story. Just the one idea. That's your synopsis. MC + Problem + concept of how to fix it = story

Iris (MC) the first half of the first sentence
Boring life (Problem) second half of the first sentence
Exploring a neighbouring castle. (How to fix it) the answer to the boring life.

You've answered these. Now, just throw in some feeling about these 3 lines. A single line each. You mentioned above she was scared.
Use that fear. -She was afraid, hesitant to leave the safety of her own castle, her pampered life. Next. Boring life part. EXPAND. It excited her, and her friends. It was something different. everyone was going, and she didn't want to be left out. Something she feels about this one little instance that is happening in front of her.
You have 3 line already above. Adding these simple 2 lines will give you 5. THAT's a paragraph.
A synopsis doesn't need to be ANY longer than a paragraph. 5 incredibly simple lines. Don't over complicate it. don't over think it.
Leave the overthinking, and overdoing for the actual story. -and EVEN THEN.. don't!!!! when it comes to the actual story, Just write. Fix it later. Your one real mission is to tell a story. Make it readable, and understandable. The end. You have a book.

 

[Nevafrost]

You were scolding me (kind off) YET I laughed all the time while reading your comment haha. You must be a great writer. I loved the way you expressed your frustration about my writing lol.

Btw, that quotation thing was partly my fault. I did use (" ") at first but then I decided that correcting my grammatical errors with AI was a good idea. Then that tool replaced the (" ") with (' '). I thought I was wrong haha.
And yeah ARIGATO GOZAIMASU for the analysis. You spent so much time to point out my mistakes ?. I will try to reflect on them and write a better version-nya

 

[HungrySheep]

Start with whatever grabs the most attention. Everything after that doesn't matter as much.