NMott and Jess - Are you saying One Page Double Spaced is max to sumbit to an agent?
Double spaced, mine is coming out a a page and a half - is that really too long to send to an agent?

Dafydd, synopses are single spaced.

Becky, yes, it's awkward, isn't it. But signposts help, or just make sure you start each new para with the name can work. One the one hand you want to make it clear, on the other agents and editors are pretty sophisticated readers, even when they are in a hurry.

Emma

Like Emma says, I'd single space it.

It's just what I think and have heard though! Don't take it as gospel, if you think yours is the right length for your story then that's what matters.

Cheers Emma & Jess, have just single spaced it and it now fits on one page.

Hi Becky,
Just wanted to let you know that it CAN work I'm thrilled to say I've finally finished my synopsis and yes, it basically uses signposts such as 'at this point we return to -- childhood' or 'meanwhile in 'name of place'etc... Good luck. Always get someone else to read through it before you send it out.
Re the length of synopses, I don't think it is quite as clear cut as always one page, but if you provide what is asked for on submission pages you can't go wrong in theory.... (Yes, I've just learned how to do smileys

Thanks for the encouragement Antarctic! Glad you have sorted yours out.

Emma, I do have faith that agents will "get it". To be honest it's more the length issue I'm struggling with. I started trying to draft one last night and I had almost filled up a page just writing about the first three sections! (There are ten. Oh dear.)

Glad you've finished it Antarctic. And you're quite right, it's not always that clear cut. but as a very general 'rule' I do think it's a good benchmark.

I had almost filled up a page just writing about the first three sections!

I know, I know. It's the ultimate case of murdering your darlings.

Without wanting to sound sententious, though, it is actually a very valuable excercise, trying cut your novel down to the bare bones. I know I've been alerted to structural things that needed work by writing synopses, and been grateful, however much I swore and grumped about it at the time! I think anyone who's got a parallel narrative can find it particularly valuable in seeing how the two do and don't fit.

Emma

Absolutely Emma. In fact I'm thinking of writing a synopsis for my second novel, prior to writing the novel itself.

Some people swear by writing the synopsis in tandem to the novel, Antarctic. That way the main points (& threads) you are trying to get across in each chapter are highlighted.

- NaomiM

Just a shameless plug, I've just put up my first attempt in Synopsis and Outline (viewable by all). It's about 250 words too long to fit on a page, and I'm having trouble condensing it. Any help gratefully received!

Have just sent mine off along with first fifty pages for a lit crit. which somehow seems far more nerve-racking than sending it to an agent, possibly because she'll tell me it has no commercial viability whatsoever Will use up my now!!

Oooh good luck Antarctic! I've never used that sort of service, but wouldn't rule it out. Hope you get some useful insights.

Thanks Becky. I meant to say good luck with your synopsis, but it doesn't seem to be there. If my baby ever falls asleep- sometime around midnight at this rate- I'll try and take a look.

Antarctic, can you tell us where you’ve sent it?

Dee