I’m excited to announce a new venture with Toria Thompson. Inkpots Online presents a foundation writing course ‘From Spark to First Draft’ in May 2025!
I first met Toria over four years ago when she approached me about mentoring . Since then, we’ve worked together on Toria’s writing, supported each other through the drafting ups and downs, laughed a lot, occasionally shed a tear, and become good friends. It’s been wonderful to be part of Toria’s journey from newbie writer to the creator of ‘a community of writerly colleagues.’
In addition to the in-person events that Toria offers around Sevenoaks, Inkpots Online offers a range of services for writers at any stage of the journey, including writing sprint sessions, Scrivener workshops, and mini writing retreats. ‘From Spark to First Draft’ is our debut course, delivered by experienced authors for new writers or those who’d like to refresh their knowledge of the basics. It’s suitable for fiction writers for any age group and/or genre, and for memoirists.
Why is writing a single page of words more daunting than writing a 300-page novel?
Why do I need a synopsis?
The purpose of a synopsis is to show an agent, editor, or competition reader that you can tell a story from beginning to end. It is part of the submission package along with a cover/pitch letter and opening extract. The synopsis is a technical document containing the main plot points of your novel including twists, spoilers, and your main character’s arc. Another way to think of it is as a simple map of the book.
A synopsis is also helpful for YOU. It can help you spot plot holes, unbelievable coincidences, lack of motivation and whether your character has agency.
How to write a synopsis
The Basics
Word count:
A wordcount of 5-600 words is generally considered ideal – but make sure you follow the individual instructions of whoever you are submitting to – some allow up to 2k words, some want only 300 words.
Format:
Start your synopsis with:
the title in ALL CAPS
approximate word count (round to nearest 1,000)
genre, e.g. Rom Com, Fantasy, Horror
plus, age range if writing for young people, e.g. Magical Middle Grade Adventure, YA Fantasy
Use the spacing, font type and size detailed in the agent/competition guidelines.
Style:
The synopsis is written in third person omniscient narration, present tense. Use precise, specific and active language.
Names:
On first use of a character’s name use all caps or bold font. Limit the number of names to 3 or 4. Other minor characters can be referred to by their role e.g. the postman, teacher etc, or relationship to your main character e.g. her best friend, his mother etc. Keep names to a minimum for clarity of reading.
The Content:
Keep in mind what is driving your main character (and thus the plot) and what’s at stake for them.
One – Introduction
Who is your main character?
How does the story start?
What is the inciting incident?
What do they want and why?
What’s at stake?
Example:
Sixteen-year-old JENNY has been ill for five years – or so she’s been told. Manipulated by her mother, she’s had no access to the outside or online worlds. When Mum wakes screaming one night, Jenny calls an ambulance, saving her life, but also bringing unwanted attention from the authorities. Accused of fabricating Jenny’s illness and defrauding well-wishers, Mum is placed on remand amid a storm of social media and press outrage. Blaming herself, Jenny vows to prove Mum’s innocence and get their old life back.
In this brief paragraph we have:
the age, name and some background of the main character
the inciting incident – calling the ambulance
what she wants – to prove her mother’s innocence
why – because she feels responsible
stakes – her relationship with her mother
Two – Obstacles and conflict
Think about
what gets in the way of what your character wants – obstacle.
who tries to stop them and why – external conflict.
how these things affect your main character – internal conflict
what they do to overcome each obstacle and resolve conflict
how your character changes …
Three – Resolution
what happens at the climax/ all hope is lost moment?
how is it resolved?
an ending that ties back to the beginning – does your character get what they want? Or do they get what they really needed but didn’t know that they did?
Tips:
The Domino Effect
Imagine the plot as dominoes tipping over. Cause and effect. Show the connections between your plot points – the MC wants A, so they do B, which causes problem/obstacle/conflict C, and so they do D which causes E ….
Plotter or Pantser?
If you are a planner/plotter you may have your three act structure mapped out which will really help with distilling your plot for the synopsis.
If you are a pantser (like me) keep in mind the inciting incident, the midpoint, and the moment where all hope is lost – and make sure these points are there in the synopsis.
Share
Ask for feedback from those who have, and those who haven’t, read your novel. Get them to point out any bits that aren’t clear and to ask you questions about the story.
Adapt
Constantly review and adapt your synopsis taking into account who you are submitting to and what they are looking for.
My mentee Catherine Cawley and I are up on the #WriteMentor Blog with this Q & A about our mentoring experience.
One of Catherine’s short stories will feature in the new issue of Paperbound which is another awesome and inclusive member of the #KidLit community – providing opportunities for children’s writers and illustrators to publish their work.
Feedback. On your precious writing. Also known as critique, constructive criticism, edits, thoughts, comments, disemboweling, soul crushing … I’m talking here about those written reports, emails, notes, track changes etc, which might be given by relatives, friends, critique partners, tutors, mentors, competition readers, agents, and editors, to you, on your full or partial manuscript.
Never mind that you asked these lovely people to review your manuscript for free; or paid them for advice; or have a contract that shows they already love the story – giving your work to someone else to read can be heart-shakingly hard. You may have spent three years getting this story up to scratch, and then a person reads it in less than a day and tells you lots of things they think are wrong with it. HOW you respond to feedback may vary depending on the WHO, but trust me, it’s going to involve emotional turmoil of some kind.
This is a blog I wrote back in August for the #WriteMentor Spark Programme. Another of Stuart White’s wonderful inclusive and encouraging iniatives, Spark is a good affordable way to get help with your writing and engage with the children’s writing and publishing community.
How to keep writing when you have mental ill health – 6 practical tips
Alongside therapy, medication, and exercise, many people find writing can help to manage their mental health.
But there’s a catch: How do you write when depression means just getting out of bed is too hard? Or OCD has you stuck in a loop of some tedious behaviour? Or anxiety tells you that you’re not good enough, you’ll never be a writer, and sends your brain spiralling?
Having lived with chronic anxiety since childhood, plus depression and OCD on the side, in my experience life is always better when I’m writing. Any kind is good – non-fiction, journaling, memoir, poetry, therapeutic – but for me, fiction works best. Here, I offer some practical tips to help you keep writing on difficult days.
Sunday morning run on the cycle track through woods.
May is a month that weeps green. Cow parsley and nettles reach my shoulders in places along the path. The smell of wild garlic shouts life, joy, hope, and mingles with the sleazy scent of hawthorn flowers.
This is a path I run often, through all the seasons, and I love it.
The very first short story I had published was born here, about eight years ago. Little Red Running Hood. I entered an online competition run by the wonderful, but sadly now defunct, Inktears. The story was commended and published on their website. I look at the story now with a critical eye, of course. Certainly, I didn’t understand the concept of killing darlings back then. 😁
