What are the best ways to hook readers with your synopsis?

It is always good to communicate your views to your readers by relating it to real world situation or experience. Readers want something special to relate with, something to always carry along and something that adds value.

In my experience, the most basic way to hook readers with your synopsis is to write something then can easily share on social media. I tell reporters that, unless there is a cracking anecdote or a shocking fact that doesn't work for the headline, write the synopsis with a nutgraf in your mind. The nutgraf is what makes the reader understand why he's looking at this story. Do it in a way they can share on social media, and you're golden!

- Understand the preferences and expectations of your target audience. Tailor your synopsis to appeal to their interests and genre preferences. - For a young adult fantasy novel, the synopsis could highlight themes of adventure, friendship, and coming-of-age, appealing to readers who enjoy those elements.

Knowing your audience becomes crucial while writing a synopsis. This is because, you as a writer only have a few words to attract and engage the reader. Therefore, if you know what the reader is interested in, then there's a high chance that you will be able to persuade them to spend longer on your book. Secondly, think from the reader's perspective and create a hook that will pull attention. For example, if you are writing the synopsis of a fantasy novel, then you need to give the reader a glimpse of the world through your synopsis. So, be very intentional and selective about the words that you choose.

Start with a compelling hook or question, provide a concise summary of the main plot or idea, create intrigue by highlighting key conflicts or twists, use engaging language, and maintain brevity. Capture readers' attention quickly and leave them curious to delve deeper into the content.

It’s not required for LinkedIn but I always title my writing with something thought provoking. I usually phrase it in an incomplete sentence so the reader has an idea of what the article or post is about but needs to read on to fully understand. The titles also help on my end keep all of the posts organized. Happy Writing!

- Grab the reader's attention from the very beginning with a compelling and intriguing opening sentence that sets the tone for the story. - "In a world where dreams become reality and nightmares lurk in every shadow, one young girl holds the key to saving humanity."

In my experience performing and writing comedy my first words would catch the audience’s attention as I took them on a comedic adventure. That first sentence definitely needs to be compelling. It’s what will draw your audience to read further as they get a quick peek into your content.

The first line must be provoking and/or titillating enough for not just your avid readers, but new ones in the same demographic to check out the main body of your work. It could be a problem statement, a shocking statistic, a sensational claim or an unknown fact, among other hooks.

Usually, the first lines in a synopsis are used to briefly explain the past, adding the context before the author delves into the main plot. You can make a single-lined synopsis with a catchy phrase or you can opt for a more traditional larger synopsis format, explaining the past, the present, and the future. That depends on your book and your story. The most important aspect of a synopsis is defining your character’s goal and leaving out too many unnecessary details that do not need to be explained in a synopsis.

- Provide a concise and engaging summary of the main plot points, highlighting the conflict, stakes, and key turning points of the story. - "When a mysterious artifact is stolen from a secret society of ancient guardians, a reluctant but determined teenager must embark on a dangerous quest to recover it before the world is plunged into chaos."

There are a few methods to try when writing a synopsis: Method 1 - Summarise your novel in one sentence. - Expand it to a few sentences – no more than 50 words. - Expand it again to 250 words. Ask yourself if that is enough or if it needs more detail, expand it again to 500 words. Method 2 - Write out your story in 10 bullet points. - Next, expand each bullet point into a few sentences. Method 3 Write out a few sentences covering each of the following: - Inciting incident – What sets off the conflict of your story? - Rising action – How does the tension build and how does the character go from the initial exciting incident to the climax. - Climax – This should be the most exciting part of the novel. - Resolution – Reveal the ending.

After hooking the reader with the hook, reel them in by detailing the main points of your work and most importantly, why they should invest time in reading it.

-You need to summarize the main plot points of your book in a clear and concise way: After surviving the turbulent voyage to America, Mick discovers the rumors of plenty aren't exactly true. His limp keeps him stranded in the squalid tenements. However, dreams born from fervent hope endure intense trials. At last, Mick works a farm in Iowa. After his dreams are finally fulfilled, they’re cruelly shattered as single fatherhood befalls him. Can he save his family from destruction this time?

I agree that conveying a very brief glimpse into your story, in your voice, can be a bit of an obstacle. Keep in mind this is a must. Your genre may not necessarily be unique, however your voice is. With a background in stand-up comedy and writing, I had the challenge of writing a synopsis for the 1-hour dramedy pilot I created. It was several sentences and I needed to condense it into an extremely short synopsis with my comedic twist. It took quite awhile until I achieved that goal. Just write and you’ll get it right:)

-You want to showcase your voice and genre in your synopsis by using words, phrases, and sentences that match the mood and atmosphere of your book. As an historical fiction book, I'm choosing words used in the 1800s, and with an Irish main character, I'm using the cadence and sentence structure in his speech. I first wrote his dialogue difficult to read. (I was raised with many Irish speakers around me, and I could hear it in my mind). Thankfully, my critique group and I found ways to lighten it without loosing all of the Gaelic inflections. It took a lot of persistence. I appreciate you addressing the "voice" issue/encouragement.

There is an individual article on common mistakes in fiction. Analyzing and reading that would be very beneficial for brainstorming.

Here are a few points to avoid some common mistakes: - Write your synopsis in the present tense, in the third person voice. - Don't use dialogue, poetic prose, metaphors or adverbs. Treat it like a piece of technical writing. - Tell don't show - Opposite to what you are told when writing the book. - Just give the facts. This happens, then this happens. - Focus on the main plot and briefly mention any subplots. If it is a dual narrative, mention each in the order they happen. - Give the highlights of the book only. No need to go into great detail about the setting. - Concentrate on the main antagonist, protagonist and a few key players. Don't mention every character. - Include the spoilers. The agent wants to know the ending.

Invest as much time as required in your synopsis otherwise your main body of work will be rendered useless in attracting more readers. Draft, draft and draft again till you see the perfect hook and mix of details that accurately and most interestingly captures the gist of your work.

Brevity is the key word. When I write I pour all my ideas onto the page. Then I go back several times to reread, edit, change, and proofread for grammar until I get my best iteration.

Once you are done writing your synopsis, you should proofread and edit it. This is to avoid making simple common mistakes. If your synopsis has mistakes, the audience would be so unimpressed with your novel. You want to impress your audience. Editing is also necessary so that your synopsis is as complete as it can get. This is so that your synopsis can attract the audience without revealing too much.

Address a reader’s “felt need” and offer solutions and understanding. The books description is key, certainly. But what it describes is what matters.