Fitting a Swimming Pool in a Coffee Mug

It can't be done, right? Physics simply won't allow it. And yet, the synopsis requires that you do just that. Your novel (the swimming pool) has to be condensed to 1-2 pages: in fact, the lowest synopsis amount I've seen on an agent submission page is 3 paragraphs: which can often feel even less like a mug and more like an eye dropper.

So how do you accomplish fitting your entire, brilliant masterpiece into such a tiny space?

First, forget about subplot. Have an interesting father-daughter scene that unfolds under the main current of the novel's plot? Great! Don't include it in the synopsis. Tangents don't show you're a good writer, they show you don't know how to edit.

Second, limit your characters. Does your protagonist's brother perpetuate her loneliness by socially isolating her at school? Awesome! Don't name him in the synopsis. Providing every character's proper name from the novel doesn't provide depth, it confuses the reader because instead of focusing on one or two names, the reader has to remember six or seven who may only be mentioned once or twice.

Finally, remember cadence. As a rule of thumb, keep sentences short and to the point. Don't try and show off in your synopsis. It is less a showcase of writing talent (though you do want to put time into writing it well) and more of a showcase to agents that you know how to plot and you know where you're going with this story before they read the whole thing. Need help? For your first draft keep all sentences 10 words and shorter. Then, later, combine sentence for clarity and cadence.

Still intimidated by the synopsis? Try this technique---

Boil your novel's plot down to ten sentences. I repeat, TEN. No more. Only include what's important because you can't add more space - just like your one page synopsis. Then, expand upon these ten sentences enough so your plot has causality and makes sense, but not enough so it's cluttered.

Think you're up for the challenge? I think you are. If you keep in mind that simplicity is best, you will do infinitely better.