Prepare Your Submission
Synopsis and Proposals
How to prepare a clear fiction synopsis, a persuasive non-fiction proposal and the supporting material publishers use to evaluate a book.
A synopsis explains the book. A proposal explains why the book should be published.
These documents serve different purposes. A synopsis presents the complete narrative or argument in compressed form. A proposal presents the publishing case, including readership, structure, author authority and market position.
Both documents should be accurate, disciplined and consistent with the manuscript.
What is a synopsis?
A synopsis is a concise account of the complete work. In fiction, it identifies the central characters, conflict, major turning points, climax and ending. In memoir and narrative non-fiction, it explains the full narrative movement and the resolution of the central journey.
A synopsis is not promotional copy. It is written for publishers, agents and editors who need to understand the complete work before deciding whether to read further.
A synopsis should reveal the complete outcome. Its purpose is evaluation, not suspense.
How long should a synopsis be?
Always follow the recipient’s stated requirements. Where no length is given, one to two pages is common for a standard submission synopsis. Longer works or complex narratives may require a more detailed version.
| Synopsis Type | Typical Length | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| One-paragraph synopsis | 100 to 200 words | Forms, preliminary pitches and brief introductions |
| One-page synopsis | Approximately 300 to 600 words | Standard fiction and memoir submissions |
| Two-page synopsis | Approximately 600 to 1,000 words | Complex plots, multiple viewpoints or longer narratives |
| Extended synopsis | As requested | Detailed editorial review or development submissions |
How to write a fiction synopsis
A fiction synopsis should follow the principal narrative line from beginning to end. It should be written in clear prose and should avoid unnecessary detail.
Introduce the protagonist
Identify the central character, setting and starting situation.
State the central conflict
Explain what the protagonist wants and what stands in the way.
Follow the main plot
Include major decisions, reversals and turning points.
Show rising stakes
Explain how the conflict intensifies and changes the protagonist.
Describe the climax
State the decisive confrontation or turning point clearly.
Reveal the resolution
Explain how the story ends and what changes as a result.
What to leave out of a fiction synopsis
- Minor characters who do not affect the central plot.
- Every scene, conversation or subplot.
- Lengthy descriptions of setting.
- Promotional claims about how gripping or unique the book is.
- Questions designed to create suspense.
- Unexplained character names introduced only once.
Example fiction synopsis opening
Illustrative example
When journalist Ananya Mehra returns to her family home after her father’s sudden death, she discovers that the police file contains a missing witness statement. Her attempt to locate the witness draws her into an old political scandal that her father had spent years concealing.
This opening identifies the protagonist, the inciting event, the central mystery and the direction of the conflict without using promotional language.
Memoir synopsis
A memoir synopsis should present the complete emotional and narrative arc. It should not merely list life events. The document must show the central experience, the struggle it created, the key turning points and the insight or transformation reached by the end.
Where the memoir deals with living people, allegations, private correspondence or sensitive records, the author should be prepared to identify material that may require verification, consent, anonymisation or legal review.
Children’s book synopsis
A children’s synopsis should identify the intended age group and explain the complete story in language appropriate to the publishing category. A picture-book synopsis may be very brief, while middle-grade and young-adult manuscripts usually require a fuller account of plot and character development.
Poetry and short-story collections
A conventional plot synopsis may not suit a poetry or short-story collection. Instead, explain the collection’s central theme, organisation, tone, recurring concerns and the logic behind the sequence.
For a linked collection, describe the relationship between the pieces and any continuing characters, setting or narrative progression.
Academic and scholarly synopsis
Academic submissions often require an abstract or project summary rather than a narrative synopsis. This should state the research question, argument, method, evidence, contribution and intended scholarly readership.
What is a book proposal?
A book proposal is a structured document that explains the project to a publisher. It is most commonly used for non-fiction, academic books, professional books, business books, self-help, history, biography and some memoirs.
The proposal should show that the book has a clear purpose, a definable readership, a coherent structure and an author capable of completing and supporting it.
Core components of a non-fiction proposal
Working title and subtitle
State the current title clearly and indicate whether it remains provisional.
One-sentence hook
Summarise the central promise or argument in one clear sentence.
Book overview
Explain what the book is about, why it matters and what it offers.
Target readership
Identify the primary reader precisely rather than claiming universal appeal.
Reader benefit
Explain what the reader will understand, experience or be able to do.
Why this book now?
Show the present relevance of the subject without overstating urgency.
Author qualifications
Explain the experience, expertise, access or perspective behind the work.
Comparable titles
Position the book within the existing market and explain its distinction.
Chapter outline
Summarise each chapter and show the progression of the argument.
Sample chapters
Provide chapters that demonstrate the book’s real voice, quality and method.
Author platform
Describe relevant professional, institutional, media or community reach.
Project status
State current word count, completion stage and estimated delivery date.
The one-sentence hook
The hook should express the book’s central promise in plain language. It is not a slogan and should not depend on exaggerated claims.
Illustrative example
A practical guide for first-time authors who need to understand how publishing contracts, editorial stages and book distribution actually work.
The book overview
The overview is the central section of the proposal. It should explain the subject, argument, structure, distinctiveness and value of the book. It should also show why the work is suited to the publisher’s list.
Target readership
Avoid saying that the book is for everyone. Identify a primary audience and, where relevant, a secondary audience.
Weak readership statement
This book is for readers of all ages everywhere.
Stronger readership statement
The primary readership is first-time authors in India and the wider South Asian market who are comparing traditional, hybrid and self-publishing routes.
Comparable titles
Comparable titles help the publisher understand audience, positioning and competition. Choose books that are genuinely relevant in subject, readership, structure or tone.
Explain both the similarity and the distinction. Do not use famous bestsellers merely to imply equivalent commercial success.
Comparable-title format
Title A addresses the same readership and practical problem, while the proposed book differs by focusing specifically on Indian publishing contracts and distribution.
Author biography and authority
The proposal should explain why the author is qualified to write the book. Relevant qualifications may include professional experience, research, lived experience, institutional access, previous publication, public speaking or specialist knowledge.
The biography should remain factual. Avoid inflated claims, irrelevant personal history and unsupported descriptions such as “world-renowned” or “leading expert.”
Author platform
Platform refers to the author’s realistic ability to reach readers. It may include professional networks, teaching, speaking, media work, newsletters, organisations, social media, institutional affiliations or community participation.
Publishers generally prefer accurate figures and relevant reach over vague claims.
Marketing statement
The author may explain practical ways to support the book, but should not promise guaranteed sales. Useful information may include speaking opportunities, professional associations, schools, universities, specialist communities, media access or events.
Chapter outline
A chapter outline should show the complete architecture of the book. Each entry should explain what the chapter covers and how it advances the argument or reader journey.
Illustrative chapter-outline entry
Chapter 4: Understanding Publishing Contracts
Explains rights grants, territories, formats, duration, royalties, accounting,
termination and the clauses authors should examine before signing.
Sample chapters
Where the publisher does not specify which chapters to send, choose samples that represent the book honestly and demonstrate its strongest sustained quality.
- For fiction, opening chapters are generally safest.
- For non-fiction, select chapters that demonstrate authority and readability.
- Do not submit one highly polished chapter if the remaining manuscript is unfinished.
- Ensure all sample chapters match the chapter outline.
Proposal formatting
Use a clean, readable document with clear section headings. Keep the title, author name, contact details and project status easy to locate. Follow the publisher’s preferred file type and length.
Previous publication and rights
Disclose whether any part of the work has appeared previously in print, online, in a thesis, newsletter, journal, anthology or self-published edition. Explain what rights remain available.
Permissions and AI-use disclosure
Identify substantial quotations, lyrics, photographs, illustrations, tables, letters or other third-party material that may require permission.
Where the publisher requires it, disclose material use of artificial intelligence or automated content-generation tools. The author remains responsible for originality, accuracy, legality and source verification.
Common synopsis mistakes
- Writing promotional copy instead of a complete summary.
- Hiding the climax or ending.
- Introducing too many minor characters.
- Using rhetorical questions to create suspense.
- Explaining themes without explaining what happens.
- Submitting a synopsis that no longer matches the manuscript.
Common proposal mistakes
- Claiming the audience is everyone.
- Using global bestsellers as the only comparable titles.
- Failing to explain the book’s distinction.
- Providing a weak or incomplete chapter outline.
- Inflating the author’s platform or influence.
- Ignoring rights, permissions or previous publication.
- Submitting sample chapters that do not match the proposal.
Final submission checklist
Frequently asked questions
Is a synopsis the same as a blurb?
No. A blurb is promotional and usually avoids spoilers. A synopsis is evaluative and should explain the complete story, including the ending.
Does every fiction submission need a proposal?
Usually not. Fiction submissions commonly require a query letter, synopsis and sample chapters or full manuscript. Follow the recipient’s requirements.
Can a memoir be submitted with a proposal?
Yes. Some memoirs are acquired from a proposal and sample chapters, especially where the author has strong credentials, access or public interest.
How many comparable titles should I include?
Two to four carefully chosen titles are often sufficient unless the publisher requests a fuller market analysis.
Should I include sales projections?
Avoid unsupported forecasts. Provide realistic audience and reach information instead of guaranteeing sales.
Should I send sample chapters from the middle of the book?
Only where requested or where those chapters best demonstrate the project. Fiction submissions generally benefit from beginning with the opening chapters.
Once the synopsis or proposal is complete, prepare a concise query letter that introduces the manuscript and explains why you are approaching that recipient.
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