Hi, I should know this but I am querying US agents and they speak another language. Is a treatment the same as a synopsis? Or is it one of those Snarky exam type things that one could never really hope to get right. Any answers would be gratefully received. S

I always thought 'treatment' was film-speak (in all countries) for 'synopsis' - i.e. the synopsis of a film script.

I could well be wrong...

I agree, Luisa, I always took 'treatment' to mean synopsis. But I could be wrong - took me long enough to work out the difference between a 'covering letter' and a 'query', but lets not go there


- NaomiM

There isn't a huge difference between a covering letter and a query.... OK, I'm not going there!

Shika, I've looked it up and every definition of 'treatment' I can see in relation to writing is along the lines of:

"an outline of the characters, scenes and plot of a screenplay"

One of them said:

"a summary of a novel for use in a screenplay"

Or words to that effect. (I'm paraphrasing!)

Ok, I googled it and it's not really referring to novels, so it can't really be compared to a synopsis, unless you are submitting the book to a producer to be made into a film:

From: http://www.afc.gov.au/downloads/pubs/whatissynopsis.pdf

The treatment, as the term suggests, sets out the dramatic and cinematic way you intend to ‘treat’ the story in terms of style and unfolding narrative. It’s generally a 15-30 page document (although for a short drama it would be shorter). Its preparation should be greatly aided by the documents described above – including the ‘one-liner scene list’.
The treatment required for a drama project is, like the outline, a ’selling’ document, but not a hyped-up teaser. It should convince a reader that there is a cinematic story and that the writer has a firm grasp of the story and its telling. As a longer document, the treatment will also include any subplots, indicating how they integrate, and reverberate, with the main plot.



- NaomiM

<Added>

"...has a firm grasp of the story and its telling"

- actually that does pretty much sum up a synopsis.

Thanks guys. Think I'll pretend it means synopsis and hope for the best. S