Guest blogger, Carole Gift Page, continues to share her Ten Steps in Writing a Novel.
As you write your synopsis, you might wonder at what point you can be sure you have a well-developed plot. You have a solid, cohesive plot (whether you’re writing a novel or short story) when you can answer these 11 questions:
1. Who is the main character in your story?
2. What is he like as a person—strengths and weaknesses?
3. Who are the key people who will affect his life?
4. What is your main character’s major conflict? (What is he trying to accomplish or resolve, or what important lesson must he learn about himself?)
5. How does he attempt to resolve the conflict?
6. What obstacles does he encounter in his efforts to reach his goal?
7. How does he overcome each obstacle or complication?
8. What is the climax/dramatic turning point of your story?
9. What is the final resolution of your story?
10. What change will occur in your main character?
11. Why is this story worth telling? (Have a worthy theme!)
Most of Carole’s synopses run about ten pages, double-spaced, for teen novels and from 15-20 pages for adult novels, although one synopsis ended up 33 pages, single-spaced! Remember, a well- done synopsis will guide and reassure you through the long, lonely labor of birthing a book. [Note: Today, many publishers prefer a 4-6-page synopsis.]