I'm trying to write the synopsis of my novel but I'm having a bit of a problem. There are no names at all in the book so I'm wondering how I actually describe the main character in the synopsis. I don't just want to call him 'the protagonist' or 'the main character'. Especially as I'm trying to write it in the style of the book rather than a dry technical format.

Any suggestions?

Geoff

Geoff, thinking about some of your chapters, could you write the synopsis in second person, present tense and, in that way, skirt round the need for a name? I just had a skim through Love is Suicide to refresh my memory of your style and, while I realise the whole novel isn’t in POV2, I think the style of it is vibrant enough to carry a synopsis. It’s unusual, but it grabs attention, so why not? Yours is an unusual piece of work and if the synopsis grabs an agent they’ll definitely want to read your ms.

Good luck

Dee

Hi Dee,

That's an idea that seems so simple but I hadn't actually thought of it! I shall have a bash and see how it goes.

Geoff

I know it's frustrating when the voice of the narrative is particularly unusual and important, and agents do vary, but I have to say that most agents I've heard express a view would rather have the synopsis as a plain-vanilla, neutral, 3rd person description of what happens. They then turn (or already have turned) to the sample to get the flavour of the voice.

Would this be something that David Smith would have a view on?

As far as being nameless goes. Would it work if you just said 'the narrator' or 'the main character' at the beginning, and then as rarely as you can get away with, and otherwise 'he'? It's probably an easier read if it's the other characters who you have to keep naming to keep things straight.

Good luck. Synopses are hell.
Emma