I will be the first to say that I’m not that great at writing a synopsis.  It is a hard drawn out process for me before it is ready to sit along side my 1st three chapters in a submission.  However, I love having a synopsis and its one of the first things I do.

To me the synopsis is more like a guideline to keep me on track, and I don’t furrow my brow and stamp “Return to Sender…”

After writing my character sketches which you all saw last week,  I start to write the synopsis, but as I said it is a process.  Here’s how I do it:

1.  I think about how many chapters I want to write, what the length of my story will be.  Am I doing  a short story, a novella or a novel?  Notice that ‘about’ is in italics, the reason is because even after you plot every scene out and decide you want something around 90K words written in 30 chapters, you still need to be flexible.

2.  Under each chapter title, I write down what kind of scene I imagine happening.

Ex:

Chapter One:

They run into each other literally for the first time and sparks fly.  They meet again in his office when he realizes that he is interviewing her for the position.  Portia feels like he won’t hire her because of her blunder on the street, but in fact its the exact opposite.

Chapter Two:

Dinner at restaurant – kisses her hand

Chapter Three:

Next week at work – very flirtatious, takes her out to lunch a few times / Asks her to accompany him to a function – kisses her goodnight  Gives her expensive gifts – Portia refuses them, reminding him that she is with him because she enjoys his company not because of the gifts he can give her.

Chapter Four:

Takes her to the South of France for a convention, and a weekend retreat. – lots of little kisses, some touching.  Sends her shopping for clothes for the trip.

Etc…

3.  After I have each chapter plotted out, then I combine them all and write the synopsis.

The French Billionaire’s Secretary

Synopsis

Portia Kennedy is not your average twenty-three year old.  More studious than most, she spent her college years in university libraries and touring countries abroad.  Bent on graduating with honors and landing the perfect job, she never had much time for men. Now in Paris, instead of landing a managerial position, she’s finally landed the not so perfect job of secretary for Mr. Darcy Beauleux, billionaire CEO of Beauleux Enterprsies. 

Their first encounter leaves her drooling with lust yet utterly mortified as she runs into him on a busy Paris street dumping her café au lait all over him.  Ten minutes later she finds out he’s the man she is supposed to interview with.  Portia struggles internally with her attraction for Darcy and his obvious desire for her.  In college she was hurt a great deal when her boyfriend cheats on her, leaving her untrusting of men. 

Darcy hires Portia on the spot, completely enamored with her enthusiasm for France and the static heat they create when together is overwhelming.  It’s been a year since he last had a serious relationship, giving up all hope that women will see him for a man and not a wallet.  He’s had plenty of lascivious affairs, but Portia makes him want something more… The way she makes him feel is pushing Darcy to the limits of his control. 

After her first day on the job, Darcy invites her out to dinner to discuss an upcoming convention.  While there, things start to simmer, and Portia almost faints when he kisses her hand at the end of the evening.  Throughout the next week, they spend more and more time together.  Darcy is very flirtatious, even asking her when they are in private to call him by his first name.  He’s let his guard down when he’s with her, and she’s made it more than clear she likes him for him and not for his position.  When they go to their first formal function together, he kisses her.  Portia’s been kissed before, but they are forgettable compared to the silky, luscious kisses of Darcy.  She feels her heart completely melting and Darcy is starting to feel the same way, although a part of him is holding back.

The following week, the two of them go to the South of France for the convention they’ve been planning.  Darcy rents a bungalow for them to stay at – with separate bedrooms.  Portia wishes he will kiss her again while they are there, and she doesn’t have to wait long.  She starts to fear she is only a toy for the handsome playboy, and when their kisses get spicier she retreats a little.  Afraid she’ll only be crushed again, she tries to shield her heart.  But then Darcy confesses he’s grown fond of her, and feels like there could be something between them.  All of Portia’s reserves melt, and her desire for Darcy turns to boiling.  

She gives herself to him, and it is more than magical. Even though he’s only confessed of being fond of her, his treatment of her hints at deeper feelings.  Portia has totally fallen in love.

Over the next couple of months he continues to wine and dine her and they take several trips across Europe for conventions, charity events and even a trip to Italy to visit one of his vineyards.   When they return from Italy, Darcy has a moment of panic when he realizes he’s in love with Portia.  Will she abandon him now?  Will he find out she is a total fake and only after his money.  At the same time, Portia realizes that she’s missed her period by two weeks.  Taking a test, she finds out she is pregnant.  She fears that he will reject her, for he has yet to confess his love…A co-worker tells her he is only with her for sex, and that he’s been that way with all of his secretaries.  All of her confidence crashes as she looks back on their whirlwind relationship.   Now knowing that she is pregnant and he probably won’t want anything to do with her, she needs to escape.  Portia decides to put in her resignation, and arranges to move back to the States, where she can find a job and live with her parents and the baby.

When Darcy realizes he’s about to lose Portia, he is devastated, and realizes that his fears are meaningless, and that she does actually love him for him.  Darcy meets her at the airport and begs her not to go.  He confesses he’s fallen in love with her, and if she doesn’t want to work for him that is fine, but he wants her to stay, to be with him.  Portia tells him she is pregnant and he is elated, and proposes to her right then and there.  In fact he was going to propose to her anyway, and presents her with a huge diamond ring from his pocket.

~~~~~~~

I don’t edit my synopsis until I’m ready to submit.  For me its more of a guideline of how I’m going to write the story, and it changes throughout the writing process.

How do you write a synopsis?