This post, by Lynnette Labelle, originally appeared on her site on 11/13/12.
We’ve been talking a lot about synopses lately, but do you know how to format one? Here’s a cheat sheet for you.
Agents and editors typically follow the same guidelines as below, but it’s always a good idea to check their website or blog in case they have a personal preference.
-Double-space a synopsis, unless it’s one page single-spaced—ANYTHING over a page means double spacing the synopsis.
-Align left (don’t justify).
-Use one-inch margins all around.
-Check your font. It should be: Times New Roman or Courier, 12-point, black.
-If the synopsis is double-spaced, indent the first line of paragraphs ½ inch, but don’t add an extra line between paragraphs.
-If the synopsis is single-spaced, do NOT indent the paragraphs, but put an extra line between them.
-Your header should be on the left like this: author’s last name/title/synopsis. For any page beyond the first, use the same header format but add /page number after “synopsis”.
Note: Contests usually don’t want you to have your name on the entry, so check if you need to remove yours.
Page One Formatting
Read the rest of the post on Lynnette Labelle’s site.