Hi

I'm ready to start the torturous process of submitting again with something new, and I'm after a bit of advice. I'm about to write the synopsis, query letter etc, and I wondered - if the story is (supposedly) humorous, is it still advisable to write the synopsis 'straight', rather than try to use a similar style? And also, should you mention it in the letter, or rely solely on the opening chapters? I remember a response to something I posted here for comment from, I think, 'old friend', who said they didn't realise it was supposed to be funny, which got me thinking - if you're told something is a comedy before you read it, does that alter the way you read it?

Cheers

J

I have heard advice to write the synopsis 'in the style of' the novel, but I have rarely found that works, with the possible exception of chick-lit, which has a light, humorous, style - ie. writing 'blurb-like' synopsis.
So, yes, if your story is humorous I think you should try to convey that in the synopsis.
You could go for a 'blurb-like' one, eg, by sketching your main characters, and/or their situation in a humorous way; alternatively you could include short and witty snatches of prose taken from the body of the work.

You are welcome to load it up in the Synopsis & Outline Group.


- NaomiM

<Added>

if you're told something is a comedy before you read it, does that alter the way you read it?

Yes. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell so I would certainly be up front about it from the start. You also need to decide which genre your novel comes under, so if it falls under Humour then it's important to state that from the outset in the covering letter. Also mention some published novels that fall in a similar vein - preferably by authors on the Agent's list, as that helps to personalise the covering letter and shows them you've done your homework with regard to what's currently on the market.

Thanks Naomi

It's essentially a detective novel, and now I come to write the synopsis it sounds quite serious, so I think I'll make the synopsis just a straightforward explanation of the plot and maybe mention something in the cover letter. Trouble is, I don't really know how to describe it - light humour? Dark humour? I've yet again picked a genre that's notoriously hard to sell according to one agent (who wants to see this manuscript on the strength of the even more unsaleable one that I sent him last time).
I'll load it up to the Synopsis group as you suggest - do I need to join the group?

Cheers

J

do I need to join the group?

Yes - there are spaces available.
Looking forward to reading it.


- NaomiM

<Added>

Is the humour essential to the plot? - like Jasper Fforde's books with Thursday Next and The Nursury Crimes Division. Or, is it more black humour? - your character(s) coping mechanism, as they deal with the crime scene, etc, which is secondary to the plot.

<Added>

Ah, is it Shadows of the Evening? I remember that chapter. It does have shades of Jasper Fforde. With regard to the humour, I think you have to come down on one side of the fence or the other:-
It's a serious crime novel and the characters are using humour as a coping mechanism, but underneath they take the job seriously. In which case, it would not come under the Humour genre.
Or, it is a satire of the standard crime novel. In which case you should make that plain from the start.

Naomi

Yes, that's the one. Never read Jasper Fforde, I'll have to have a look. I think in the end I'll have to pitch it as humour because althought it's not an inherently funny story, it's fairly obviously not a hard-boiled crime thriller. More sort of soft-boiled. Or maybe an omlette.

I'll put up the synopsis, anyway.

Cheers

J

More sort of soft-boiled. Or maybe an omlette.

Maybe as well as his Thursday Next books you also need to look at Fforde's The Big Over-easy, which is all about the murder of Humpty Dumpty.

Emma