Writing a synopsis and a one line pitch

Sooner or later someone asks, "So what is your book about?" You need an answer ready in a breath, and another ready on a page.

The one line pitch

This is a single sentence that tells a stranger what the book is. It does not have to be clever. It has to be clear.

A reliable shape:

When [something happens to a person], they must [do something], or else [something is at stake].

For example: "When a retired teacher finds her late husband's unfinished letters, she sets out to deliver them, and learns who he was." That is invented, but you can see how it gives the person, the event, the aim and the feeling.

Not every book fits this shape. A poetry collection or a book of essays needs a different sentence. For those, say what the book is and what it feels like to read.

Tips:

• Use a real character or a real subject, not a theme. "A book about grief" tells nobody anything.
• Avoid words like "journey" and "exploration" and "tapestry". They could describe any book.
• Say it to a friend. If they ask a follow-up question, you have found a way to improve it.

The synopsis

A synopsis is a short summary of the whole book, usually one or two pages. It tells the whole story, including the ending. This is different from a blurb, which teases without revealing.

Write it in the present tense and in plain language. Cover the beginning, the main turns, and how it ends. Name the main characters, but only the ones who matter.

A simple method:

1. Write one sentence for each major part of the book.
2. Join the sentences into paragraphs.
3. Cut anything a reader would not miss.
4. Read it aloud. Where you stumble, rewrite.

For non-fiction, a synopsis lists the main argument, how the book is organised, and what the reader will know by the end. A chapter-by-chapter outline, one or two lines each, is usually welcome.

The blurb

The blurb is the back cover text. It is not a summary. It is a hook. Give the situation, hint at the problem, and stop before the ending. A blurb of around a hundred words is plenty.

Why bother

These small pieces of writing are tools. You will use the one line pitch in emails, in conversations at book fairs, and on social media. The synopsis will go to anyone who is thinking about reviewing, stocking or publishing your book.

Writing them also forces you to see the book clearly. If you cannot say what it is in one sentence, it is worth knowing that before readers tell you.