Whats the difference between synopsis and a prologue?
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It should be said that agents may not actually read the synopsis at all - even after you've sweated over it for weeks! If they like the chapters and the letter, they may well pass; similarly if they hate either, they won't bother (no sense in checking out your plot if you can't write the first three chapters). The problem is that you won't know what they want so you have to write it anyway, and to the best of your ability.
As Lorraine says, a prologue is an introduction to the whole work.
Most writers, myself included, and like Jonathan, hate writing a synopsis. I found one method which helps. Look on the back cover of other books to see how those books are described. The blurb is there to catch customers to buy and read the book. A synopsis is to try and catch an agent or publisher to read your book. Now, what blurb would you put on the back cover of your own book? Use that as a basis for the synopsis.
It should be said that agents may not actually read the synopsis at all - even after you've sweated over it for weeks! If they like the chapters and the letter, they may well pass; similarly if they hate either, they won't bother (no sense in checking out your plot if you can't write the first three chapters). The problem is that you won't know what they want so you have to write it anyway, and to the best of your ability.
As Lorraine says, a prologue is an introduction to the whole work.
Most writers, myself included, and like Jonathan, hate writing a synopsis. I found one method which helps. Look on the back cover of other books to see how those books are described. The blurb is there to catch customers to buy and read the book. A synopsis is to try and catch an agent or publisher to read your book. Now, what blurb would you put on the back cover of your own book? Use that as a basis for the synopsis.
Thats really helpful thanks