How to write a synopsis

When you hate writing a synopsis

Aug 07, 2025

Writing a synopsis can sometimes be the bane of a writer’s career. I know people who love writing the synopsis and I think those people are a little bit weird (just kidding, I love you.)

But if you’re not that kind of person, I get it - I don’t like writing a synopsis either. In fact, I used to really struggle with them. I’ve just spent months of my life writing a 70,000 word novel, and now you want me to write the whole thing again but in 500 words? No thanks.

But lately I’ve developed a bit of a hack that helps me a lot, and I’m going to share it with you. This might not work for you, but hopefully at least some of you find something helpful in this.

We’re going to do one together, as I recently finished writing the synopsis for Hero Heart.

Step 1

Write down everything that happens in each chapter. It can be as detailed as you like, don’t overthink it too much (that will come later, naturally). I’ve actually started doing this as I write, to both help myself with writing the synopsis later, but also as a way to keep track of the story as I write it, as I like having a birds-eye view of the novel. So if you’re a plotter, you probably already have a chapter-by-chapter outline. If you’re a pantser, you can do this now.

Here’s mine:

Chapter 1

Wren is in Harnsey, completing a mission of killing a Harbour Ranges boar. He receives his next assignment: an invitation from an Orsen Riggs in Sharsey. Wren arrives there and is attacked by someone – a test to see if Wren is loyal to the Scion.

Chapter 2

Wren is introduced to the town of Sharsey, which was burned down by the Scion for its rebellious activity years ago. The rebellion is still alive and well, hidden in abandoned buildings. Orsen wants to hire Wren to investigate the rumours of the Hartling heir being alive, and find them if he can.

Chapter 3

Wren stays the night, learning more about the people of Sharsey. He’s given a chore to help but he doesn’t complete it. In the morning, he heads off. Adash is currently in lockdown due to a territorial kavon which is terrorising the town. Wren offers to kill it in exchange for the information. After killing the kavon, Wren discovers a corrupted taren vein.

Step 2

Now, go through each chapter and take out what isn’t relevant to the main plot. Remember, you only have a very limited word count with a synopsis so every word has to count. Here’s what mine looks like now:

Chapter 1

Wren receives his next assignment: an invitation from an Orsen Riggs in Sharsey.

Chapter 2

Orsen wants to hire Wren to investigate the rumours of the Hartling heir being alive, and find them if he can.

Chapter 3

In the morning, he heads off. Adash is currently in lockdown due to a territorial kavon which is terrorising the town. Wren offers to kill it in exchange for the information. After killing the kavon, Wren discovers a corrupted taren vein.

Step 3

It’s pretty stilted, so now I’m going to work around what I have to make it flow better:

Wren is a sixteen-year-old Roamer, working contract to contract. He receives his next assignment via letter, asked to travel to Sharsey, a town supposedly burned down. It’s still going, however, and now houses a rebellion group. The leader, Orsen, wants Wren to investigate rumours of the Hartling heir being alive, and to find them. Wren’s first stop is the next town of Adash, currently in lockdown due to a monster, which Wren offers to kill in exchange for information. But as he does so, he discovers something far more terrible: a corrupted taren vein.

Step 4

Once the synopsis is written, it needs a round or two of editing to make sure the writing is as well as it can be. Treat it the same way as your manuscript - it might make all the difference.

And that’s it! How did you find that? Do you have any other tips for writing a synopsis that work for you? Share them below!