Can You Summarize That?

Today let’s talk about one of the things that writers very often find difficult: a book summary.

You’d think it woud be easy. After all, you’ve written the book. But when someone asks you the inevitable question: “what’s your book about?” what do you say? How do you summarize it in a way that makes it something they want to read, that leaves them wanting more, that intrigues, but doesn’t give them the wrong impression?

Summarize It

Back cover, 'Why Shoot the Butler?'. Photo by author

Called the back copy, jacket flap, book description, or book summary, this is the 2-3 paragraph description on the back of the book (or online) that’s going to do the heavy lifting of convincing a new reader to buy your book. So if you’re going to write it, what should you be thinking about?

Paragraph 1:

Here’s your setup. It should reinforce what the cover told your potential reader: what genre this book is. If they just randomly picked your book up off a table, the cover and this paragraph are promising them this is an urban fantasy, a military sci-fi, or a historical romance. Then this paragraph is introducing them to the main character. A wallflower in her third season? A rebel leader? A politician who can’t lie?

Paragraph 2: What are our characters off to do?

Paragraph 3: What dark times will be faced?  Hints and cliffhangers to tease and tempt your reader are excellent here.

Remember that you want to leave hints for your readers, but not give away any spoilers! Draw the reader in, have them asking questions, but don’t give them the answers! They need to read the book to find out!

Sample:

Here’s an example synopsis from my friend Karen Odden’s first book, A Lady in the Smoke:

Following a humiliating fourth Season in London, Lady Elizabeth Fraser is on her way back to her ancestral country estate when her train careens off the rails and bursts into flames. Though she is injured, she manages to drag herself and her unconscious mother out of the wreckage, and amid the chaos that ensues, a brilliant young railway surgeon saves her mother’s life. Elizabeth feels an immediate connection with Paul Wilcox—though society would never deem a medical man eligible for the daughter of an earl.

After Paul reveals that the train wreck was no accident, and the inspector who tried to prevent it dies under mysterious circumstances, Elizabeth undertakes a dangerous investigation of her own that leads back to her family’s buried secrets. The more she learns, the more she must risk. Not only are her dowry and her reputation at stake; Paul’s very life hangs in the balance when he is arrested for manslaughter. As the trial draws near, and Parliament prepares for a vote that will change the course of the nation, Elizabeth uncovers a conspiracy that has been years in the making. But time is running out for her to see justice done.

Paragraph 1 introduces our main character, Elizabeth, and the train accident that has suddenly changed everything for her. It allows her to meet Paul Wilcox, someone she wouldn’t meet under normal circumstances. This book isn’t going to be about normal circumstances.

Paragraph 2 emphasizes that: the train wreck isn’t an accident and there’s been a murder. Elizabeth puts herself in danger (at least socially, maybe physically?) and Paul is definitely in physical danger. Time is running out. Elizabeth is finding conspiracies she may not be equipped to handle. What will she do and will it be in time?

In these two paragraphs, this book synopsis has made readers understand :

• It’s a mystery

• The amateur detective is an unusual woman for her time

• There’s a ticking clock on the case

• There are several layers of danger for both main characters

The reader feels the tension and danger increase as the synopsis keeps going. In this case, a third paragraph wasn’t needed. In other cases, you might find that you do need one.

But make sure you ask yourself: am I giving too much away? Remember that you don’t want to lose your reader’s interest any more than you want to give away something important!

One exercise to try practicing could be to write a synopsis for some of your favorite books or movies. Can you get it down to 2-3 paragraphs? Then can you slim those paragraphs down even more?

Are you looking for a writing, marketing coach or a developmental editor? Contact me and let’s talk about your project!