A well-written synopsis sells books. Contrary to how the saying goes, people do often judge books by their covers, and subsequently by their synopses. Your synopsis should hook your audience, give them a hint as to what they’ll find within the pages, and leave them wanting more. If the synopsis is confusing, lengthy, or gives away the whole plot, a buyer might just put the book back on the shelf.
Here are five tips to help you write a synopsis that will sell your book for you.
If your synopsis gives away the entire plot of your book, including the twist, what reason does someone have to buy it? They already know what happens! Like a movie trailer, a synopsis should be a preview of what’s to come—enough to intrigue your audience but not give away so much that they feel like they’ve already read the whole thing.
Luckily, writing your synopsis doesn’t need to be a shot in the dark. The publishing industry has standards that will guide you in writing a concise and catchy synopsis. Just take a look at any book on your shelf in a similar genre, and you’ll see that they all generally follow the same rules.
For starters, your synopsis should only be a few paragraphs. Any longer, and customers will probably stop reading halfway through—and besides, if the synopsis is too long, it won’t fit on your cover!
Oftentimes, a synopsis includes a line in boldface at the top to entice readers (usually a quote from the book or a clever hook). Then, write two paragraphs introducing your main character(s) and the important themes and plot points, but don’t say too much! Allude to surprises that will draw readers in and make them feel like there’s a secret in your book they just need to discover.
Finally, end with a short paragraph that gives the sales pitch. This might include the book’s genre (i.e., part memoir, part self-help guide), a comparison to similar books or authors, and a punchy conclusion stating the book’s deliverables for your audience.
When writing your synopsis, you are probably focused on how it’s going to look on your book’s back cover and dust jacket. But don’t forget that many of your book sales will come from online retail websites! A synopsis for a retail site like Amazon can be longer since it does not have to fit on a small back cover, but it should still not exceed one page in Microsoft Word. Many retail synopses often include bullet-point lists that describe important elements found in the book; these are eye-catching and easy for customers to understand.
How you write your synopsis will be different depending on your book’s genre. Fiction synopses can be more creative and vague. They should give readers just a taste to interest them, but they often will not mention some of the most important plot points and characters, saving those for the book itself. A fiction synopsis should focus on the events of the first part of the book and the main character and just hint at what else will unfold.
A nonfiction synopsis can give much more detail. Since you don’t need to hide the “plot,” you can focus more on the main themes of the book and what your reader is going to find inside its pages. You can be more descriptive about the specifics so interested audiences automatically add it to their cart.
The synopsis should be about the book. Unless your career and life story are relevant to the book (i.e., you’re a Navy SEAL writing about a specific mission), save the personal information for your bio. Readers want to know what your book will offer them and why this story matters enough to be published for the masses. Of course, if your book is a memoir, your synopsis should include some details from your life, but it should still be clear what your purpose in sharing your story with readers is. Things like your hometown, family members, and other personal accomplishments can be listed in your bio.
Take a look at the Ballast Books website for examples of attention-grabbing synopses—or let us write your synopsis for you!