The Synopsis

The Synopsis is the next step on from your Premise.

A Synopsis (Max 100 words) indicates the main story points and progression in 3 parts:

Beginning - Middle - End

You write the synopsis as 3 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1:        Establishment (Characters, Situation, Conflict - Establish)

Paragraph 2:        Development and Complexity (Develop and Complicate)

Paragraph 3:        Further Complexity and Resolution (Resolve)

Example - The Synopsis for 'Harder' (working title 'Gardens'):

Gardens (Working Title)

Newport, 2000. At school TOM (main character, 15) sleeps with his head in the lap of his friend, JENNY (15). At night he defends his mother, SIAN (25) against the brutality of her lover, DEAN (35). Later, unable to stomach their unguarded passion, TOM sneaks out.

TOM finds refuge in other peoples gardens, especially JENNY’S, where he absorbs the familial warmth spilling from their kitchen window.

DEAN leaves when SIAN announces she is pregnant. TOM is delighted but later returns home to find DEAN there; SIAN has a black-eye. TOM ‘snaps’, killing DEAN with an iron frying pan.

(98 words)

Don’t be ‘precious’ about your conclusion; tell people the whole story, so that they can give you effective feedback.

Share your story and gauge reactions; both your own, and that of others.

Don’t bother trying to justify why people don’t get it..if they don’t get it, they don't get it - make a note and re-work it. And thank them for their honesty and time; they have just saved you a lot of embarrassment, time and money (potentially).