Synopsis

“An outline or summary of the story, including plot and character development, from the beginning to the end. Most Harlequin series request a 3-to-5-page synopsis with submission.”

Our Harlequin submission guidelines vary from series to series, but one thing that all our editors require with your submission is a full synopsis. What exactly does that mean? We’re going to help by doing a deep dive into what a synopsis really is, and what we want to see in the ones you send with your submission. Let’s jump in!

What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is essentially a short version of your entire story. It may seem daunting, but this is probably something you do all the time without realizing. When your partner asks you to tell them what happened in the movie they fell asleep watching? That’s a synopsis. If your friend asks you how your day was, and you give them the highlight reel? Synopsis. Although there are certainly tips and tricks to write effective synopses, it’s important to remember that we’re not looking for something fancy or stylized. In fact, the more straightforward the better!

What we need to see

• Set the scene: Where does your story take place? Some descriptive details here are helpful to get the editor to really situate themselves in your story, but don’t worry about going overboard.
• Your main characters: what are their goals? What motivates them? What conflict is stopping them from achieving their goals?
• How the characters interact: when and where do they first meet? What draws them together? What prevents them from building their relationship, or tests that relationship? How do they end up with their Happy Ever After (more on that HEA in a minute)?
• Plot points: What external forces and elements are in play? What internal forces are important? Again, we don’t need every detail here, but the main story points and character development need to be present so we can determine whether the story flows. We need to see that your narrative makes sense for the series you’re submitting to.

What to avoid

• We don’t need a recap of every single chapter, scene, or conversation. Typically, editors request a 3-5 page synopsis, so try not to get bogged down in minor details and focus on the big picture.
• While it’s nice to see that you write well, a synopsis that is too focused on trying to capture a strong author voice rather than clearly retelling the story makes it difficult for us to tell whether your project fits our series promise. Save your excellent prose for the manuscript!
• This happens all the time in our Submittable inbox, so it’s worth mentioning: Double check that you have actually included the synopsis with your submission. All too often, the synopsis is missing or it’s a repeat of the query letter, and that makes it very difficult for us to evaluate your submission in a timely manner.

Yes, Spoilers!

I said I’d come back to the HEA, didn’t I? I know it can be really tempting to keep your synopsis vague, but in this case, we really like spoilers. If you’ve participated in pitch events in the past, or if you’re used to talking about your writing on social media, you’re probably well versed in that marketing style of copy writing where you try to pique the reader’s interest without giving too much away.

But while a pitch is written for readers, your synopsis needs to be written for a different audience: your potential editor. It’s essential that we know right away that you understand our series promise of a Happy Ever After or a Happy For Now. Whether it’s a slow burn or a full-fledged four-alarm blaze, our readers want that romance, and our editors need to see that clearly. Don’t worry about ruining the story for us; if it’s something we love, we’ll be reading it and rereading it throughout the editing process, so there won’t be any surprises!

Stay tuned for more Deep Dives into our Write for Harlequin Glossary (like our Deep Dive into Query Letters) as well as a step-by-step guide to writing synopses on the blog!

You can find the entire Romance Glossary here: https://www.writeforharlequin.com/romance-glossary/