Most writers would rather revise their whole manuscript again than write a one-page synopsis. They open a blank document, stare at it, and end up with one of two things: a list of scenes in the order they happen, or something that sounds like jacket copy and leaves out the ending.
Agents read a synopsis to determine if the book’s plot holds. In other words, they’re reading to answer whether or not each big event causes the next one. Does the main character want something, and does that want change what happens? Does the ending pay off what the opening set up? A good synopsis answers those questions in a few hundred words, which is why it can show you problems the full manuscript hides.
As a literary agent, Jesscia Berg reads synopses every week, and each week, she sees the same issues. Writers aren’t clear on what to include, where to begin, and what to leave out. This live webinar teaches writers how to write the first draft of their synopsis and how to read that draft the way an agent does, so you can find the places where your plot stalls, skips a step, or leans on coincidence.
This live webinar will be interactive, with time for questions and answers.
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Meet the instructor
Jessica Berg
Jessica Berg is the Agency Director and founder of Rosecliff Literary. She holds an MFA from Spalding University. Jessica teaches workshops and classes for writers at every stage, from first draft to submission, and shares what really happens inside the agent inbox with more than 50,000 writers on Instagram at @jessica__berg. Learn more at www.jessicaberg.me.
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