The difference between a synopsis and a blurb is that the synopsis is a brief summary of the major points of a story, while the blurb is a short description of a book and used for promotional purposes.

• The blurb is the elevator pitch for your story
• The synopsis is the summary of your book
• The blurb hints at the story and leaves you with questions
• The synopsis maps out the entire story, including the end
• The blurb is what you use to sell your book to readers
• The synopsis is what you use to pitch your book to reviewers
• Your blurb will be on the back of your book
• Your synopsis will be part of your press kit and manuscript applications

In short, you use the blurb on the back of your book to make it exciting to readers. You use the synopsis to explain your entire story to reviewers (agents, editors, or influencers). If you can write a synopsis, you have a head start on a book blurb.

So, how do you write a synopsis? It's no secret that authors can write hundreds of pages of enthralling story, but can't summarize the story to save their life!
Here are 5 tips to help you on your way...

BTW, I have listed some affiliate links to helpful books I recommend. If you purchase one of the books, you help me AND the author pay the bills. So, thank you in advance!

1. Keep it to a long brief.
The purpose of a synopsis is to give an agent/editor/reviewer a full overlook on how your story starts, carries through, and ends. Yes, that means you give away the ending and plot twists. They want to know exactly where your story is going, and how you’re going to pull it off. With that in mind, it should obviously be longer than the blurb, but no longer than 5 pages. Even if you have a 3 book series you are pitching, your synopsis should be kept between 3-5 pages.

2. Keep your characters interesting.
If you're using words like “warrior,” “dragon rider,” or “moody high schooler,” then we need to have a talk... These nouns are fine so long as they are paired with interesting identifiers, such as “knife-obsessed,” “dragon egg thief,” or “reluctant rock collector.” Describing my character as "Keegan is a cynical warrior, orphaned at a young age and adopted by a dragon" doesn't make nearly the impression as "Keegan is the daydreaming Dragon's Son who is terrified of dragons and has eye-rolling disbelief in sincerity or integrity from his fellow man". (Did I just struggle for a solid hour to write that? Yes I did. Do I like it at all? No. No I don't.) Don’t let your character be defined only by their mood, title, enemy, and quest. What makes your character—human or otherwise—unique? How can you work their quirks into a single sentence that explains them?

3. Keep it snappy!
Agents don’t need to know that “Keegan woke up from a dream, ate breakfast, woke the boys, got fishing tackle together, and went to the river only to run into a monster” Rather, they’ll need to know that your character “went to the river with the kids for the day, where they were ambushed by a monster”. Yes, you are supposed to explain your entire plot, but don't bore us with endless details. Just the important stuff! Use active voice, keep it interesting, and reveal only the major beats (and read THIS BOOK if you don't know what a beat is). Those reading the synopsis should never be bored; rather, they should be excited.

4. Keep it easy to understand.
This is SO important if your story is SciFi or Fantasy. SFF plots can be twisty-turny, character lists can be long, and magic can be overwhelming to explain. Do your best to make it clear, as if you are telling a child the quick version of your story without loosing their interest. Keep it clear. Keep it concise. Remember that your readers aren't dumb, but they don't know your story like you do. They want to be excited about your story, not confused. They want a good reason to read the entire book.

5. Keep it flowing. 
A synopsis should be an easy, fun read. Does each paragraph make you automatically flow to the next? Does it provide a memorable fact about your characters or plot? Ask yourself these questions to avoid telling versus showing. Keep your synopsis concise, but entertaining. You are a story teller! Tell us the quick story. Apply the same writing style you use in your manuscript. If it helps, write the synopsis like a letter to a friend. I once wrote a synopsis to one of my characters in the story, explaining it in such a way that they would be excited to get to the end, instead of stabbing me to death! However you do it, I recommend you read it out loud to yourself... like, a lot. Make sure it flows smoothly, makes the characters sound fun, explains the plot points clearly, and is exciting.

"Your writing is so good! You have so much talent!"
​No. Nope. Writing improves with practice. When I was a teen, I spent time every day writing. Writing on a daily basis means I got a lot of practice, and that daily practice improved my writing. Not talent.
When you write every day, your brain learns to think faster and more efficiently, allowing you to put out better writing. Whether you are doing freelance writing, creative writing, or academic writing, they all benefit from writing being a daily habit. A writing routine is hard to set at first, but if you stay consistent, you’ll see improvement.

Here are a few daily writing tips you can follow:
​
1. Put it on your schedule. Put it in your phone, write it on a calendar, make it once a day or twice a day - whatever works - make the time. Scheduling it in makes it easier for you to do every day, and every day you sit your butt down to write, it becomes a stronger, easier habit. If you’re serious about becoming a great writer, your writing time should be treated seriously—and a daily scheduled writing session is the first step in getting into a routine.

2. Create a writing zone. Give yourself a designated writing space or place where you can focus on the task at hand. A distraction-free zone works best, but write where you can be comfortable and productive. If that is on your bed, fine. If it's at your sofa, fine. Table? Fine. Find a space, make sure it is clear and comfortable for you, add some snacks if you need to, put the phone away in another room, and sit down to write for your dedicated amount of time.

3. Set a daily goal. Start your writing goals small. You could set your goal at one page a day, ten pages a day, 500 words a day, or as many words as you can cram on the page in 15 minutes. By giving yourself a page or word count to meet each day, you help set reasonable expectations for yourself and your progress.

4. Consider it a daily habit. Viewing writing as a habit—something ingrained in you that you cannot help but do—can get you into the spirit of writing more often. Whether you’re trying to write a number of words in a single day or get as much on the page as you can in five minutes, just showing up to write every day is enough to build the habit. You could even try blogging or journaling just to get into the practice. It doesn't have to be one specific project. Just write!

5. Do some free-style writing. Sometimes all your brain needs is a little exercise. In "freewriting" you follow the impulses of your mind, allowing thoughts and inspiration to appear on paper. If you find yourself stuck on a writing project, or need inspiration, put your pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and write down whatever words come to mind. Don’t worry about typos, grammar, editing, or rewriting during this process, just write—it’s better than staring at a blank page.

6. Write in the morning time. Kick-start your morning with some writing time— personally, for me, this is easier because my brain has not been bogged down with the events and exhaustion of the day. It is fresh and can focus better, even if I am still a little groggy. I also find it helps me complete a goal for the day and it makes me feel accomplished and productive!

7. Join a writing group. Writing groups or workshops can give you other people to work with and help hold you accountable. A group can keep you writing frequently by giving out writing prompts, assignments, or just good advice. You don’t have to take writing advice given by others, but feedback can inform or inspire you further in your work, keeping you motivated to become a good writer and breaking through any writer’s block or insecurities you might have. I am in, not one, but TWO writing groups. They are a lot of fun (maybe too much fun) and really keep me going.

8. Be fearless. Sometimes the only thing stopping a writer from writing is themselves. Insecurity and a lack of confidence can lead to you procrastinating, which only causes your writing progress to stagnate. When you start writing, keep writing, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. It probably won’t be perfect (or even good if it’s your first time writing), but that’s okay—the more you write, the better you become!

Do you need help maintaining a writing schedule? Do you not know where to start? Do you want to join a writing group?
I'm here to help you.
Send me a message! I will schedule a call with you, so we can get you started.