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How to turn a Complex Story into a Simple Synopsis

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A lot things go into telling a simple story

My least favorite type of writing has always been summarizing. Whether I was pitching a screenplay or a synopsis for a book, I got too concerned about what producers and publishers were looking for. I hated whatever I put on paper. It felt like I was cutting out the tastiest parts to make it palatable, misrepresenting the material by packaging it for mass appeal.

When my screenwriting professor videotaped the pitch for my first script, I ranted for twenty minutes. This was no elevator pitch. The lift for the tallest building in the world doesn’t take that long to get to the top. I had to lower my time to two minutes or less.

Since then I’ve learned the memorization techniques I needed to keep myself on task and how to select the parts of my story that were worth focusing on. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Brand Your Book

When our stories are medleys of multiple genres, we have to pick one to encompass each of them. When our themes branch off in too many directions, we need to identify the root from which they stem. When we have an ensemble cast, we have to choose a clear protagonist to be their delegate.

My work in progress is a horror story, a legal thriller, a relationship drama, a dark comedy, and a mystery. Since it features supernatural elements I’m calling it a supernatural thriller, because the genre’s conventions are the most prevalent.

In my case the opening might read:

– We the Damned is a supernatural thriller in the spirit of…

Familiar Only Different

If I included all of my story’s layers my synopsis would seem convoluted. This is why I reign it in with a comparison. I give my audience a point of reference then I diverge from it. My work in progress is similar to The Devil and Daniel Webster in that it’s about a trial for a man’s soul, beyond that the two stories couldn’t be anymore different.

In The Devil and Daniel Webster the devil takes center stage. In my story the Devil has no screen time.

In The Devil and Daniel Webster the defense attorney uses patriotic rhetoric to challenge Hell’s jurisdiction. In my story the defense attorney’s strategy is to challenge hell’s definition of a wasted life. In The Devil and Daniel Webster the Devil is a symbol for America’s sins. He was there when the first Native American was gunned down. He stood on the deck of the first slave ship. In my story the demons are a symbol for depression. They’re more concerned with the human condition than a history lesson.

In We the Damned the trial for Mr. Black’s soul is a framing device. The real story comes from the ghosts on the witness stand. They tell the tale of Pilgrim Valley, a town manipulated by unseen forces. The story hints early on that the demons, the ghosts, and the trial are not what they seem.

Despite those differences my opening may reference my influence. It could read like this:

– We the Damned is a supernatural thriller in the spirit of The Devil and Daniel Webster.

This would lead into the…

Logline

A logline is one or two sentences that setup the dramatic arc of your story, introducing the situation, the players, and the stakes.

I used to treat my loglines like lumps of concrete. I’d write a longwinded sentence and start chiseling away at it, hoping my sculpture would reveal itself. The end result was an incoherent mess. These days I treat my loglines like prototypes, whose parts can be mixed and matched.

Upworthy comes up with 25 different headlines before settling on the one they think will entice readers. This is a strategy I have no qualms with stealing from the click baiters. That’s why my logline documents are filled with bullet points.

When writing a logline don’t use your hero’s first name. Identify them by their job, social status, academic pursuit, hobby, or creative passion. In my case, I’m using:

– an attorney

Use adjectives to give your character some distinction. It never hurts to introduce them as underdogs. That’s why I’m specifying that my hero is:

  • a drunken attorney

I come back to this next part over and over. I try to include the break in the routine, show the character’s goal, and give a sense of the stakes without getting too wordy.

  • a drunken attorney is forced to represent a man on trial for his soul

With your hero’s mission established it’s time to give a idea of the forces working against them:

– To save a man’s soul a drunken attorney must defeat the finest minds hell has to offer, little do they know he provides better council when he’s drunk

I added that last part to show that my story has got swagger. The tone of your logline is just as important as the events it references.

Narrative

The worst way to write a synopsis is to try to tell a condensed version of everything that happens in your story.

Have you ever watched a film adaptation of a book that tried to cram in every character and every scene? A ninety-thousand word novel doesn’t fit into a ninety page screenplay. If a screenwriter tried to include every sequence they’d have to breeze through them. Each scene would be twenty seconds long. The result would feel like a ninety minute montage.

Rather than write an abridged version of each of your chapters, start with a basic framework and build outward. I try to write one sentence for each of these story beats.

PARAGRAPH 1: ACT 1

  1. Who is the hero, what’s their lot in life, what’s their drive, and what makes them sympathetic?
  2. What breaks their routine? What goal does that leave them with?
  3. Who or what is in the way of their goal?
  4. What’s the situation surrounding the events? What’s the setting, and the time period?

PARAGRAPH 2: ACT 2

  1. What’s the hero’s point of no return?
  2. What is the hero’s quest teaching them? How are they starting to change?
  3. How do their alliances shift?
  4. What’s the hero’s lowest moment? Have they learned their lesson? Do they get their goal only to realize they wanted something else all along?

PARAGRAPH 3: ACT 3

  1. What’s at stake when the hero nears the climatic confrontation? How do they use their new knowledge to resolve it?
  2. What’s the resolution? Does it set another story up?

Your story will have more to it than this, but you should focus on this barebones structure if you want to fit it all on one page. It’s possible to be accurate while omitting your favorite part. This is no place to include quotes, editorial commentary, or flowery description.

If you’re posting a synopsis on Amazon, treat it like a trailer. Give the audience enough information to make them curious about how it ends. You can make vague allusions to everything that happens beyond the midpoint. If you’re submitting your story to agents and publishers then you should include spoilers.

There are tough compromises every author has to make to categorize their book. If we want audiences to be hungry for our work, we have to package it for the taste makers first. Happy summarizing.

•••

The Pigeon King is now available on Amazon!

50 thoughts on “How to turn a Complex Story into a Simple Synopsis”

  1. Dylan Hearn – When I was young, writing was my passion. After school life somehow got in the way. Now after many years I have the opportunity to rekindle my passion and write a book. I also have fun blogging when I get the chance.
    Dylan Hearn says:

    Reblogged this on Suffolk Scribblings and commented:
    This is a really great post on the area of writing I like the least, how to pull together a synopsis and blurb for your book or screenplay.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thank you for sharing

      Reply
  2. Dylan Hearn – When I was young, writing was my passion. After school life somehow got in the way. Now after many years I have the opportunity to rekindle my passion and write a book. I also have fun blogging when I get the chance.
    Dylan Hearn says:

    Great post. It’s the area of writing I struggle with and therefore hate the most, yet your process breaks it down into (relatively) easy components. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Chris The Story Reading Ape – Hereford, UK – I am what my name states, an ape of the primate species called Homo Sapiens Sapiens. My blog is intended to present New (to me) Authors, whose stories or books I have read and enjoyed, so that anyone who happens to stumble onto this blog, while searching for a book to read, or, a new (to them) author to try, may find what they seek, or, at least, inspiration. I have also made the blog an Author Promotions Enterprise to be a platform for authors to introduce themselves to potential readers and to provide advice and tips resources information they can use to improve and enhance their story telling efforts. Please be advised that I reserve the right to remove, or decline to publish, any comments that I deem inappropriate.
    The Story Reading Ape says:

    Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    A very interesting article by author Drew Chial 😀

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks so much for reblogging this

      Reply
      1. Chris The Story Reading Ape – Hereford, UK – I am what my name states, an ape of the primate species called Homo Sapiens Sapiens. My blog is intended to present New (to me) Authors, whose stories or books I have read and enjoyed, so that anyone who happens to stumble onto this blog, while searching for a book to read, or, a new (to them) author to try, may find what they seek, or, at least, inspiration. I have also made the blog an Author Promotions Enterprise to be a platform for authors to introduce themselves to potential readers and to provide advice and tips resources information they can use to improve and enhance their story telling efforts. Please be advised that I reserve the right to remove, or decline to publish, any comments that I deem inappropriate.
        The Story Reading Ape says:

        Very welcome Drew, it’s a great post 😀

  4. Leenna Naidoo – South Africa – I read (books and tarot), write (stories and whatever else pops into my head), and watch my life go by...which makes me feel I should be doing so much more. During such moments I also design, or just stare off into space...'cos space is deep, very deep! Who knows what you'll find?
    LearningToSurfPublications says:

    Thanks! I’ve been struggling with synopses all week! Leenna 😀

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      I’ve noticed a number of friends on Twitter complaining about having to write summaries, so I figured I’d share this break down.

      Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Hopefully this barebones structure will help to simplify the process.

      Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Glad you found something useful here. I have the same problem with my stories. I like to tell layered pieces with lots of plot strings. The kind of stories that don’t fit very well in a single conversation. 😉

      Reply

      1. Yeah, Drew! Same, I did an entire re-write to condense it, but it turned out to be 4k longer lol

  7. Wayne – Editor and Soundman for MGL Media (@mglmedia) and currently completing debut novel 'Safe Hands'. Love Writing and hosting The Joined Up Writing Podcast. Follow @MrKelly2u or @jupodcast on Twitter and say hello.
    Wayne says:

    Really useful post, Drew. Many of the techniques can be just as useful when you’re in the outlining stage of your novel. It can also be a useful exercise to click through a few Amazon pages of your favourite novels to see what works.

    Kelly’s Eye – Writing, Music, Life

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      That’s an excellent point. See how the masters format their summaries. I read IMDB synopsis’s too.

      Reply
  8. SD Gates – I work in the medical field, but really want to be a full-time gardener or writer or something that does not require me having to take a shower every morning. I have to work to buy my plants. My favorite thing to do is sit on the patio, with my puppies, writing, staring at the garden, daydreaming the day away.
    SD Gates says:

    Can’t tell you how much I hate writing summaries and little short blurbs. This is the best advice I have seen, very simple, breaks it down so even I can understand it. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks for reading. I had a lot of this drilled into my head when I was studying screenwriting. The plot points I listed were the things I looked for when I was script reader for an independent production house.

      Reply
  9. mandyevebarnett – Alberta, Canada – I have lived on several continents in my life - because of this I have a deep sense of their varied spiritual, physical and emotional depths. My imagination draws from my unconscious and remembered events and feelings giving my creativity a unique flavour. Children's books - Rumble's First Scare, Ockleberries to the Rescue.YA books - Clickety Click and Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria. Adult books - The Rython Kingdom, Rython Legacy, Malgraf's Dawning, The Twesome Loop, The Commodore's Gift and Life in Slake Patch. Books all available from: www.mwww.dreamwritepublishing.ca and Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo etc. My blog is - http://mandyevebarnett.com
    mandyevebarnett says:

    Fantastic descriptions of how to structure a synopsis – thank you. I will reblog at some point.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Glad you liked it. By all means feel free to share it.

      Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks!

      Reply
  11. dekutree41 – Brooklyn – I am a writer, director and ninja living in New York City with my ninja wife Leah and my five-year old ninja Asher. Please visit www.backroadskingdom.com to learn more about my cool books.
    dekutree41 says:

    Great post. Thanks for breaking it down so cleanly.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      I used to be a script reader and all of the details I listed were things I always looked for. Glad you liked my post. Thanks so much for commenting

      Reply
  12. Let's CUT the Crap! – Canada – I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!
    Let's CUT the Crap! says:

    A.w.e.s.o.m.e. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      And thank you for reading

      Reply
      1. Let's CUT the Crap! – Canada – I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!
        Let's CUT the Crap! says:

        You are welcome.

  13. wallacecass – Speculative Fiction Author. I write what you want to read. Visit me at my website http://www.wwcassjr.com , on Twitter as @WallaceCass and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WwCassJrAuthor
    wallacecass says:

    Good information here. Thanks, Drew. 🙂

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks for checking it out

      Reply
      1. wallacecass – Speculative Fiction Author. I write what you want to read. Visit me at my website http://www.wwcassjr.com , on Twitter as @WallaceCass and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WwCassJrAuthor
        wallacecass says:

        You’re welcome. Been away from blogging for a bit and recently came back. Looking forward to more. 🙂

    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
  15. D. Wallace Peach – 30 Miles beyond the edge of civilization, Oregon – I'm an adventurer in writing, peering under rocks in my garden for secret magic. I can't stop writing. My stories want to explode from my head. They demand my attention and surge from my fingertips faster than I can put them to paper. I love what I do.
    D. Wallace Peach says:

    That was incredibly helpful. I hate summarizing. It always feels impossible, like chiseling Mt. Rushmore down to a paperweight. I’m saving this post forever:)

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Wow! Thank you very much. Glad to be of service.

      Reply
  16. Jennifer L. Post – California, USA – For most of my life I've been imagining and playing, making up stories and writing them down. It's my dream to become a published author. Right now I'm working hard to make that happen. ^-^
    Jennifer L. Post says:

    Thank you so much for this simple and useful breakdown! I have such a hard time with condensing anything outside of short story length. And actually, some of my short stories I have trouble with as well. XD I’m bookmarking this.

    Interestingly, your breakdown kind of reminded me of a post on Seven-Point Story Structure that I read earlier this year. Do you ever use SPS to help break your story into it’s basic components for summarizing purposes? It seems like it would work well in conjunction with your Synopsis Structure. ^-^

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      I think I might be using some form of the seven point story structure. The same tools I use for summarizing I use for drafting and pitching. This list is based on what I’d learned in screenwriting class and what I learned as a script reader.

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

      Reply
  17. wallacecass – Speculative Fiction Author. I write what you want to read. Visit me at my website http://www.wwcassjr.com , on Twitter as @WallaceCass and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WwCassJrAuthor
    wallacecass says:

    Reblogged this on Thoughts, Musings, and Storytelling and commented:
    Drew puts out interesting and useful information. Highly recommended.

    Reply
  18. Chris L. Owens – Chris Owens believes that it’s never too early or too late for any of us to be a hero. For most of his life, he has enjoyed reading about the exploits of heroes in both traditional and graphic novels. He still dreams of receiving spider powers from a radioactive spider bite or super speed from being doused by electrified chemicals. While waiting for a dying alien to present him with a fantastic power ring, Chris decided to write a series of books featuring his own fictional hero. The first volume of the series is currently in the revision phase. Chris is an alumnus of the University of Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Master’s in Business Administration. His first publishing credit was writing a study guide for the University’s Independent Study division while in graduate school. A lifelong Missouri resident, Chris lives with his family in suburban Kansas City.
    Chris L. Owens says:

    Reblogged this on One Writer's Journey by Chris Owens and commented:
    Need help with your synopsis? Take a look at this…

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
  20. Erik – South Shore, MA – I'm an author, speaker, blogger, facilitator, people lover, creative force, conversationalist, problem solver, chance-taker, listener, noticer and lover of life. "It's more about writing lives than writing pages."
    Erik says:

    First, congrats, Drew, on writing something that has garnered so much buzz in a day. That’s always gratifying — to know that what you yourself felt passionate about and spent time putting to words hit its mark.

    Now, I’m about to alienate myself and wind up sitting at the geek table alone. But I actually enjoy writing a synopsis. It’s the same place in me that enjoys puzzles or rules-based poetry (e.g., writing a Petrarchan sonnet, etc.).

    Some years back, I came across years’ worth of old issues of Writer’s Digest magazine. Each of them contained a writing challenge or contest, and I found myself wanting to do them all (even though the submission dates were all past). One such challenge was to write something that would qualify as a true story — with a clear beginning, middle and end — in 50 words or less and ending with the words “That’s when they knew that it was over.” I loved it.

    Then again, I always loved hiding in cabinets and toy boxes as a kid. I guess I like the challenges associated with confinement.

    One extension idea I would offer to those who hate condensing is that mindset can change how you feel about a process. It sounds like a lot of readers feel like they are selling their work short by summarizing it. However, when considering that curiosity is a main factor in attracting interest (I highly recommend reading “Made to Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath) — it’s easier to approach summarizing, when viewing it as actually doing your story a FAVOR by building that all-important curiosity. It also helps, as Drew so well pointed out, in not feeling you need to (or even should) give much away.

    Still, even for me who doesn’t find synopsis writing quite as daunting (and is eating my PB&J all alone at the uncool kids’ table), there was a good amount of food for thought here, Drew. And, as ever, I’m continually impressed not only with your ability to convey ideas in writing and to produce interesting, branded graphics — but with the mind workings behind it all, which are able to envision the graphics that could represent the idea in the first place. Choosing the “montage self” CONCEPT to represent the idea of simplification of a complex idea was, frankly, brilliant. (So, will you come sit with me at my table?)

    Reply
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  22. mandyevebarnett – Alberta, Canada – I have lived on several continents in my life - because of this I have a deep sense of their varied spiritual, physical and emotional depths. My imagination draws from my unconscious and remembered events and feelings giving my creativity a unique flavour. Children's books - Rumble's First Scare, Ockleberries to the Rescue.YA books - Clickety Click and Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria. Adult books - The Rython Kingdom, Rython Legacy, Malgraf's Dawning, The Twesome Loop, The Commodore's Gift and Life in Slake Patch. Books all available from: www.mwww.dreamwritepublishing.ca and Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo etc. My blog is - http://mandyevebarnett.com
    mandyevebarnett says:

    Reblogged this on Mandy Eve Barnett's Official Blog and commented:
    Great advice on creating a synopisis

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  26. creativefreeflow – Thailand – About us: Craig Hopson is a freelance artist from the UK, and has been living and working in the north of Thailand for the last decade. Ramon Ramirez is the author of Bangkok Street Dogs, and he was born in South Africa. He met Craig in Thailand, and together they started creating art. Ramon supplies the words and Craig creates the art.
    creativefreeflow says:

    Reblogged this on creativefreeflow and commented:
    This is very helpful advice indeed.

    Reply

  28. It’s heartening to know that I am not the only writer in the world who hates writing synopses. Most people assume that as writers, putting together a synopsis should be a breeze for us. I hear that ALL the time. Great post, Drew.

    Reply
  29. Pingback: How To Write A Synopsis – short and sweet from Drew Chial website | Dan Alatorre - AUTHOR

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