When I first started writing this synopsis, I only had a rough idea of where to begin. The only thing that I knew was that a synopsis was in simple terms – a brief description of the novel, from start to finish. Knowing this, the first thing I did was go through all my old word documents to see, if I had anything remotely dealing with a synopsis. Even though I did find one document, it was over twenty pages long that covered the first two books that I had written. This was not even close to what I was looking for. My second step was doing research on what a synopsis looked like and how to write it. Below are the two examples I found:

Synopsis of Harry Potter

The story begins at the eleventh birthday of Harry when he comes to know that his parents were wizards. He receives a letter from Hagrid for the acceptance and invitation to study at Hogwarts. He leaves his uncle Vernon, aunt Petunia, and his cousin Dudley. He makes new friends Hermione and Ron. He learns many techniques at Hogwarts, taught by his professors and the headmaster, Dumbledore. His friends help him through the most challenging years in Hogwart. He comes to know about the reality of his parent’s death. The wizard practicing dark magic: Voldemort. His scar and mirror alarm him of Voldemort. Every experience Harry, Hermione, and Ron find themselves in dangerous situations. However, it brings them closer to Harry as his fight with Voldemort begins.

A synopsis is a brief and general view of a storyline and other defining factors of a literary work. Also known as a summary or an outline, its a condensed statement of a large piece of work to the point and in an effective manner. It tells us about the plot, style, genre, characters, tone, theme, the story from the beginning, climax, and anti-climax. It gives a reliable preview of writing skills. It is mostly written in active voice and third person. The impression of emotions and feelings is also included in it. In short, it is less, and yet we can understand the critical parts of a story or a poem. It can be of any type – fictional and non-fictional setting. When writing a synopsis, we shouldn’t be over-detailed and wordy. It helps in grabbing the attention and convincing the readers. A synopsis should be long enough to pack in everything good about the story or any writing piece.

How To Write Synopsis With Examples – Literary Devices

Now that I had my examples, I began working on writing the synopsis. Still not sure as to how to begin. I followed the example above and simply began writing.  

Synopsis of Crow.

 The story begins when Jocren, who is a thief by trade. Finds out that his sister Jill has been kidnapped. In order to save her, Jocren must embark on a quest to free Crow from his prison. In order to do this, Jocren first goes to the person who has is holding his sister hostage and that is Dr. Rotter. Bringing with him the tablet, that he had just stolen back from the Dragtonians. Joining him is Sassy, who through some mishaps has found herself possessing Jocren’s sword. Upon arriving at the Crowdidyian lab of Science and Religious Exploration  Jocren, found several surprises waiting for him. The first being that Dr. Rotter is his father and he had orcherated the kidnapping not only for the tablet but for Jocren’s assured willingness to undertake a quest to et crow free. Since it is believed that only one who is half Crowdidyian and half Dragtonian can achieve this. Or so the prophesy told by Phlegm, the Crowdidyian High Priest.  Faced with the predicament that either he is sent on this mission or his sister is sent on the mission, Jocren reluctantly agrees. This is necessary since they’re the only two that are mixed breeds The whole reason why Dr,rotter shacked up with Jillian-A to begin with. After this, Jocren and Sassy are required to witness a tournament where his teammates will be decided. The competitors that survive are, john, Ava, Fatheriam, Ninja and Lucky Star. After attending another banquet in honor of the victors, where Jocren is forced to take an innocent life. They are informed that they would be leaving early in the morning. With all that is going on, Jocren struggles, but eventually succeeds in taking the first few steps needed to set Crow free.

Once I had finished writing the rough draft of the synopsis, I knew that I had to cut it down quite a bit. Starting from the beginning, I cut out everything that was not needed and condensed everything else. In the end I was able to cut out 125 words from the first draft. What you see below is the final draft:

New version below:

Having returned home from a rather dangerous job, Jocren finds his sister Jillan has been kidnapped. Following the instructions left on the note by the kidnappers, Jocren and his sword Sassy quickly makes their way to the lab of Crowdidyian lab of Science and Religious Exploration. There he attempts to negotiate for his sisters return, but soon finds out that Dr. Rotter wants something more than just returning the ancient tablet that Jocren had stollen from them. To ensure his sisters safety, Jocren agrees to undergo a dangerous mission to set Crow, the leader and god of the Crowdidyians free. Joined by John, Ava, Fatheriam, Ninja and Lucky Star, the sole survivors in a death tournament in honor of Crow. Together with a set number of scientists and Phlegm, the high priest of crow, they struggle with the scant clues and challenges left by Click, a servant of Crow. as their numbers begin to dwindle, Jocren and the others learn to work together, even though their faith in each other is only skin deep.

Now my whole purpose of writing this blog, is to help any other writers who are facing the same difficulties that I did when writing this or overall looking to get published. I do not claim to be an expert on such things. Given that this is my first synopsis that I have written successfully.  

As to what I plan to do next, I’m going to take the cover letter (that I had written previously), along with the synopsis here and paste them into the query manager form. Afterall of this is done and I have followed the publishers’ directions precisely, then and only then will I hit the submit button.

Personally, I don’t hold out much hope from hearing back from any of these publishers that I submit to. However, I also knew that if I didn’t at least try, then I wouldn’t get anywhere and that is unacceptable. So there you have it, come what may, at least I know that I have succeed in writing a synopsis.

Sincerely,

Richard Polk

Journal Entry 194

8/3/2024

I decided to write this morning, with the hope of trying to get some serious work done. Starting with a fresh mind is always good and I don’t know what work has in store for me. If the record holds true, then I’ll end up doing someone else’s work as well as mine. This naturally makes me tired at the end of the night and ends up causing me to fall asleep while writing.

Then again, right now I’m trying to write with a certain black and white dog on my lap. This makes it just a tad difficult to tap the keys on the laptop.

So anyway, I think that my goal this morning is to do a plan for writing for these next few weeks. This list will also include plans for projects around the house.,,, on the one day a week that I have to do anything.

Below is the list of things that I hope to get accomplished in the next month or so:

1. Write every day
2. Write Synopsis about Crow. I hope to have this done by the end of this week
3. Work on the blog. Wrap it up in a nice neat bow
4. Begin planning for next blog series. See if Jillian webpage needs to be updated, given that I’m going to be stepping away from the gore for a little bit and launching a blog series about cats again.
5. Once synopsis is written, begin submitting to publishing sites. This will hopefully make things a little easier with submitting.
6. Once I have these completed and I’m able to submit once a week to publishing sites, then I will begin editing Project November. This should take me up until November/ December to get done.
7. Continue working on the garage. Now that the small pieces of plywood around the door are on, the rest of the side of the garage should go on fairly easily.
8. Fix the front step. I have an idea forming in my mid of what I’m going to do. But I won’t know for sure, until I do it.
9. Do work inside the house. I know how I’m going to do it and I have the needed materials. Now, all I need is the time to do it.
10. Clean out and organize the garage. Begin getting ready for winter/buying coal.
11. Do all work needed on the vehicles. This includes get the oil changed in the blue beetle.
12. Try and keep calm and not let the ever-growing workload become overwhelming.
13. Write out this list
14. Print out this list
15. Post this list as the weekly blog for this week
16. Anything else that comes to mind

Straightening his shoulders up and stretching, Fatheriam called out, “You know what guys, instead of talking about it. Let’s act it out instead, all of this idle chatter is getting boring.”

“Wait what,” they all cried in unison. Not believing what they heard.

Fatheriam was not about to explain himself again. If these idiots didn’t understand what he had said or what he was intending to do, then they soon would.’ Grabbing the podium in front of him, Fatheriam threw it at them

Still not believing what he had heard, but seeing the podium fly at him, Jocren quickly fly backwards, letting the podium splinter into pieces at his feet. “Um guys I think he’s serious,” Jocren called out to the rest of them.

“What was your first clue,” John snapped, as he whipped out his blaster and began firing rapidly at Fatheriam. The blaster bolts bounced harmlessly off Fatheriam’s outstretched hand.

“Fools, he hissed. “Your puny blasters are no match for me. Now despair and die.” Throwing his arms back, Fatheriam’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he let out a mournful cry as his body grew three times his original size. Flames enwrapped his arms. Laughing, Fatheriam screamed, “Run, run as fast as you can little pigs, Squeal and squeal and squeal. Soon you will be my munchy little ham.”

“What? What does that even mean?” Jocren replied as he easily dodged a fire ball that was thrown at his head,”

“Who cares,” Sassy replied. “We need to come up with a plan to defeat him and fast, or we are all going to die

“We can always attack you with our blasters,” John replied.

“True,” Fatheriam replied. “But where would the fun in that be. Blasters are so dull and boring. We need something to that entertaining to the reader, something that would provide you guys with a challenge. This is afterall a team building exercise.”

“Okay then, what do you suggest?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Fatheriam replied. “Something with acrobats… and knives.

“Knives you say.” Ava replied. “I have a couple of throwing knives at my disposal”

“Well, you’re going to need them.” Fatheriam replied. “But still, there should be something more.”

“Like what?” John asked. “Where already going to attack you after you apparently attack us. So, our motive is purely survival. What else is there to know?”

“There should be something deeper, something that will draw the readers in. something exciting, something dangerous…”

“Attacking you with knives is pretty dangerous,” Jocren replied. “Someone could get cut.”

“Nah, really,” Sassy replied. “Here I thought that this was supposed to be a safe, fun family activity.”

Fatheriam, who was getting tired of this discussion, looked down at the manuscript and noticed that it had been completed. Quickly flipping through the pages, he read through what was going to happen. On the last page of the manuscript an inscription caught his eye

Your job is done here now Fatheriam. Wrap this session up and return with the others from whence you came. First though, ensure that my loyal follower has a means of escape.

Narrator.

Fatheriam smiled wickedly, “This is going to be fun.” He murmured to himself.

“Ouch, Jocren and John replied as their heads ricocheted off each other.

“Okay, now that you have that out of your system,” Fatheriam said, “Can we please get back to figuring all this out. I feel that our time is short and Narrators patience is even shorter.”

“Sure thing,” Ava grinned as she went to her seat. “it’s best to not to keep the almighty Narator waiting”

“Watch your tone, Ava,” Fatheriam warned. “Openly mocking Narrator has its consequences.”

“Why should I fear something or someone that may or may not exist. But still, you’re right, We need to get back to the topic at hand. What were we talking about.”

“Well, no thanks to you, we lost where we were.” John replied. “To top it all off, my head hurts.”

“Oh, quick your belly aching,” Fatheriam remarked, as he began flipping through the pages of the manuscript. “Ah yes, it seems that we’re now in a field that is in the middle of the labyrinth and you guys, having found out that there is no escape are forced to fight me. Now you guys need to find a way to successfully beat me.”

“Where are you in the manuscript,” Jocren asked. “I can’t seem to find this anywhere.”

“It is on page 179,” Fatheriam replied. “But seriously, flip to the last page in the manuscript. That will guarantee that you are caught up with the rest of us.”

“Okay, found it.” Jocren replied.

“I’m glad,” Fatheriam replied dryly. “Now moving on, what ae you guys thinking of doing.”

As Jake was thinking these things, the conversation on the other side of the glass continued.

“Now that Click has been taken care of, we enter the maze, and the wall catch on fire, thus prompting us to pull out our gas masks and then, after walking down a dead end corridor, I get possessed,” Fatheriam muttered as he flipped through the pages. “How interesting.”

“Wait, the walls of the Labyrinth catch on fire,” John asked.

“And we pull out our gas masks,” Jocren added.

“That would make sense if there is a fire,” Sassy replied. “My question is about you being possessed. Mostly on the how and why, and finally, what are we going to do about it.”

“Well, as far as I can ascertain,” Fatheriam replied. “The whole motive of me being possessed was to ensure that you guys are driven towards the center of the maze. Now as to how, that part is rather foggy and this manuscript has yet to offer and insight to that question. Now as to what is going to be done about it. That is something that will need to be discussed. We could start here, if you would like”

“I think that it would be a good idea if one of us runs interference, while the rest of us make our way quicky towards the exit” Ava replied.

“That’s exactly what happened.” Fatheriam replied. “Sassy runs interference, while the three of you run towards the center of the maze.”

“Wait, why does Sassy get to run interference,” Ava whined.

“Because I’m smaller and more agile.” Sassy replied. “Besides, us women need to make sure these idiots keep on track. And I believe that you would get personal satisfaction out of clanking their skulls together.”

Sassy smiled wickedly as she stood up and moved in between John and Jocren. Grabbing each other’s head in her massive hands, she said, “Guess what boys, it’s head bashing time.”

Jake who had been following along with the conversation, through more boredom than anything. He knew that Crow had wanted him listening and possibly leaning something from all of this, but all he had heard up to know, seemed to be complete rubbish. But this new information about this Click character, seemed for some reason to catch his attention. Jack didn’t know much about Click, except that he was some kind of technology- most likely akin to the tablets that he knew of, though there was something that he was unsure of. It would appear though, that Click had some kind of barrier, a defense shield of sorts. There were a few other things, that Jack had noticed. First, that this tablet had means of transportation and the ability to act on its own. This most likely meant that the tablet had flight and possibly teleoperation. It also went without saying the Click was autonomous, if not even possessing conscious thought. Though is would appear that he also had some flaws. Or at least one in particular, Click could be injured. From what Jack gathered, was that John had some kind of beef with Click and had been trying to destroy him for a while. But had been unable to land even one hit on him, until he had caught Click unaware…. if Jack knew anything about computers, is that they rarely made mistakes of any kind. So, this meant one of two possibilities, either Click wanted to be destroyed or he was ordered to turn off his shield.

“What was that…” Ava asked. “Why were they transported back to the beginning?”

“I don’t know.” Fatheriam admitted.

“Let’s see if we can try again,” Sassy suggested.

Once again, the two characters ascended. This time however, they were knocked back down and a light greyish haze blanketed the outer perimeter of the labyrinth.

“Okay, so it looks like we won’t be able to fly over to the middle.” John said. “It looks like the only way for us to get to the middle is to enter the labyrinth.”

“Now, it would seem to me that our characters will naturally face challenges in the maze.” Sassy replied, “Because of course, nothing is ever that easy.”

“It says here that they will encounter Click.” Fatheriam replied, his finger scanning the lines of the manuscript.

“Man, I hate that guy,” John exclaimed. “He always seems to find my last nerve. What does he want this time.”

“You know his usual speal of following the rules he laid down and how there are consequences of the actions that we do etc.…

“You see, this is why I really hate that stupid tablet.” John replied. “I really wish that I could land a few shots on him every once in a while.”

“Well, it says here that you did land a few hits on him,” Jocren replied, reading from the manuscript. “Lucky, I wanted to hit him first.”

“Sweet, I landed a hit on him.” John replied. “But wait, this is the first time this has ever happened. What was different this time, compared to all the other times?”

“I believe that we somehow caught him unaware, so that he didn’t have time to throw up his defenses,” Sassy replied. “We can definitely use this knowledge in the future.”

The sound of flipping pages filled the air, as all the character turned to the required page. Quickly reading through the passage, Fatheriam said, Okay, it seems that we have already been here, since the next chapter talks about you guys exiting and I know for a fact that Sassy and John decided to spy on the rest of us.”

“I can explain…” Sassy began. But Fatheriam cut her off. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. That is not why we are here. Let me be clear on one thing guys. Whatever happened in the storyline, has no bearing here. That is, no one and I mean no one is to be held accountable for their actions over there. Now where were we,” here Fatheriam paused for a moment, then replied, “Ah yes, “the five of us had decided to take a gander around the temple grounds to see where the next big scene is supposed to take place.  There we find a labyrinth of bushes; how do you guys feel we should proceed?”

“First, lets see of we can fly over the labyrinth,” Jocren replied. “It would be a great advantage if we had an eagles view of what is at the heart of this maze.”

“Not a bad idea, Jocren.” Fatheriam called out. “Let’s see how this plays out.”

A hologram image appeared before them, showing a map of the labyrinth, Iin the center, they saw a round stone platform, that glowed a bright hot white, amidst the green imagery. However, as the hologram characters moved closer to the stone platform, there was a flash and instantly, the characters were transported back to the beginning of the maze.

Instantly all the heads turned and stared in the direction that John was pointing. Ava, who was tall and muscular, grinded her right fist in the palm of her left hand. “Do you want me take care of him, like I took care of that blonde who was reading us those prophecies?”

“No, I don’t believe that that is necessary,” Fatheriam replied. “I believe that there is a glass wall separate him from us, so even if you wanted to do anything, I don’t think you could.”

“Well then what do you want to do about him?”

“Ignore him.  For some unknown reason, the Narrator has placed him in this location. I suggest that we pretend that he is not even there and continue with what we are here to do. Afterall, I figure that we all want to get this minor annoyance taken care of, so that we can go back to what we were doing before we were dragged into this insanity. Am I correct in saying this?”

The rest of the group murmured their consent.

“Okay then, let’s get started, “Where did the Narrator last leave off.”

The room fell dead silent as the other characters looked up at Fatheriam with blank looks on their faces.

“Okay, I take if from your blank expressions that no one knows where he just left off?”

“I believe, though I’m not certain, that the Narrator may have left off with John  and I getting the answers we need from Ego’s.” Sassy replied with some hesitation

“Okay, well that’s at least a start.” Fatheriam replied. “Now, will everyone please pull out your manuscripts of the Second Novel of Crow (working Title) and see if we can help move this story along.