I've read some conflicting advice online about what to include in a novel synopsis for a literary agent. Some say you should concisely give all plot points, and place importance on telling the agent the ending of the novel. Others say it should have the general 'feel' of what happens in the novel but not give away the ending. Any thoughts? Many thanks!
Most of the courses I've done over the years suggest the ending should be in the synopsis - the agent must know all the details in order to make a decision and in order to sell your work to publishers.
Think of it like getting planning permission to build a new house - no council would agree to it if they don't know what the end result would look like! Actually, judging by some of the houses that go up around here maybe that's not such a good analogy!
Anyway, I've always found writing a synopsis the hardest part of novel-writing. How to break your whole novel down to a page or less is truly daunting!
I've always understood for agent/publisher submissions the ending should be included in the synopsis.
I don't have an agent, though, so maybe that's where I'm going wrong! :)