If you struggle with synopses, write one badly on purpose. Seriously. Write the worst, most boring summary possible. Then go back and make it sharper, clearer, and less painful. This works better than trying to get it “perfect” from the start.
🚨 Big news! 🚨
I’ve officially signed with literary agent Jessica Berg of @roseclifflit.bsky.social . Years of writing, rewriting, and perseverance have led to this milestone—and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorNews #LiteraryAgent #WritersOfBluesky
Synopses are built for speed, not scenic detours.
I promise your book’s side quests, emotional beats, and cool worldbuilding still exist. Just... not here.
If you struggle with synopses, write one badly on purpose. Seriously. Write the worst, most boring summary possible. Then go back and make it sharper, clearer, and less painful. This works better than trying to get it “perfect” from the start.
Synopses are built for speed, not scenic detours.
I promise your book’s side quests, emotional beats, and cool worldbuilding still exist. Just... not here.
If your synopsis is bloated, try the “AND THEN” test.
Read your draft out loud. Every time you naturally want to say and then..., stop. That’s where you’re stuffing too much in. Cut where needed.
Y'all know Jess always wants gothic vibes. Old houses, eerie landscapes, creeping dread. Horror? Mystery? Literary? Doesn’t matter. If your book feels like a haunted house you can’t leave, send it. #MSWL
I know your book is good. Your synopsis doesn’t have to prove that! It just has to clearly show what happens. Editors and agents can fill in the blanks. Just give them something worth filling in.
We’re thrilled to welcome TJ Stecker to Rosecliff Literary!
TJ’s life reads like a novel: from Naval Flight Officer &history-making amputee to lawyer & world traveler. His novels, THE MOTH & DISHONORED, have earned him 2 #ClaymoreAward finalist nods & a spot on the Murder and Mayhem Award Long List.
“But my book has twists! If I put them in the synopsis, they won’t be surprising anymore!”
Right. But if you don’t put them in the synopsis, then your story won’t make sense. And that’s a bigger problem.