Month: May 2023

The purpose of a synopsis is to provide a crisp overview of the novel, the characters, and the themes and alluring the reader to read the whole novel. Though it is a daunting staff to pen down a synopsis, it cannot be avoided also as it is an important station in the journey of publication.  One can increase the chances of the synopsis been noticed and novel getting published by putting in the effort and time keeping in mind the steps that are required to build a successful synopsis.

The opening sentence is important as that has to draw the attention of the reader and build an urge in them to continue the reading. Starting with a hook to pull the customer helps in making them curious about your story. Summarizing the main plot points of the story in a few sentences helps in this regard where the sentences should consist of beginning, middle, and end of the story along with the major turning points or plot twists.

Mention a brief description of the main characters and do not forget to include their names, ages, and personalities. Ensure their motivations and goals are also mentioned along with the conflicts or challenges they face. The main themes of your novel like love, betrayal, loss, or redemption are to be highlighted in the synopsis explaining how these themes are woven into the story and how they are resolved. It is very important to keep the synopsis brief and to the point, typically between 1-3 pages in length- hence stick to the most important details avoiding the minor details or subplots. Once the synopsis is written, it is to be read minutely and incorporate all necessary revisions. Spelling errors and grammar to be checked ensuring the synopsis is articulate in reflecting the tone and style of your novel. Solicit the help from a trusted friend, writing group, or professional editor for reviewing the synopsis and getting genuine feedback. Based on this feedback, final revisions are to be made before submitting the synopsis to publishers.

How to write a novel summary

A good novel summary captures the essence of the story and conveys it in a concise and engaging manner- and is brief and engaging capturing the key elements and themes leaving the reader enticed to learn more. To write a good novel summary, one needs to read it carefully, taking note of key characters, plot points, and themes before summarizing the novel. The main characters, the setting, and the central conflict is to be investigated considering what the author has tried to convey with the story. The summary should start with a brief rundown of the main events of the story in a few sentences, highlighting the most important moments. Description of main characters and the setting of the story is important when building the summary as that must provide enough detail to readers and a feeling of the world in which the story takes place. The summary must capture the theme and message and the plot and characters are to be woven neatly. Read the summary again and again and keep revising whenever necessary until it is concise, clear, and engaging.

Synopsis of Famous Novels

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel set in the 1930s in the deep South follows the story of a young girl named Scout who when growing up, learns about racism and injustice in her community. When her father, a lawyer, takes on the case of a black man accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Scout begins to see the world in a new way.

“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel telling the story of a mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby who threw extravagant parties in the hopes of winning back his lost love, Daisy. Set in the 1920s, the novel explores themes of love, wealth, and the corrupting influence of the American Dream.

“1984” by George Orwell is a dystopian novel set in a future society where the government has complete control over every aspect of people’s lives. The story follows Winston Smith, a man who begins to rebel against the oppressive regime, but soon finds himself caught up in a dangerous game of deception and betrayal.

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger is a classic novel following the story of a teenage boy Holden Caulfield who WAS expelled from his prep school and struggled to find his place in the world. Through his adventures and encounters with various characters, Holden begins to question the hypocrisy and phoniness of the adult world.

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen is a novel set in early 19th-century England that  tells the story of the Bennet family and their five daughters, particularly Elizabeth and her relationship with the wealthy Mr. Darcy. Along the way, the novel explores themes of social class, marriage, and the roles of women in society

Creating a summary for a novel

To build up the summary of a novel, ideally one should first read the novel thoroughly with full attention to the plot, setting, themes, characters etc. and keep taking relevant notes while reading. While reading, identify the main conflict that the protagonist faces in the novel. Write a brief overview of the setting which shall mention the historical and cultural contexts as well. The main characters are to be introduced along with their relationships highlighting the character traits that are important. Thereafter summarize the plot in few sentences ensuring the inclusion of major events that role the story and response of protagonist to the events. Mention the main theme of the novel with a focus on the message of the author in the novel. Thereafter conclude the novel with personal observation and recommendation. The thumb rule of writing summary is it must be concise and without any spoiler.

Synopsis tips for writers

Keep the synopsis brief – it must be a summary of the story. Ideally it should be between one to three pages depending on the complexity and length of the story. Sticking to the main plot is mandatory with minimum deviation from the main plot. To ensure that, it is advisable to avoid subplots and too many details as well. However, in the process, the main characters and their motivations should not be missed. Synopsis should always be written in an active voice and unnecessary phrases and words are to be avoided. A synopsis should always be written in the third person, even if the story is told from the first-person point of view. Once the synopsis is written, make sure to read it over carefully multiple times incorporating necessary edits or revisions as it is a well-written synopsis that makes all the difference in getting your story noticed by publishers.

Summarizing a novel

Summarizing a novel is the process of condensing the events and main plot points of the story into a crisp and informative summary. One can build up a concise and informative summary of a novel that captures its main themes and events following these steps. The process followed for this begins with reading the novel carefully taking necessary notes on main characters, setting, and major events while reading only. While reading, the main plot points are to be identified as they are the key events that move the story forward and create tension and conflict. For this, identification of the main characters in the novel is important which shall include their names, roles, and relationships to each other. While writing the summary, one should keep in mind the protagonist and the key supporting characters, as well as any antagonists or villains. Central conflict or problem that the protagonist must overcome is to be identified and this may involve an internal struggle or an external obstacle, such as a villain or natural disaster. Write a summary of the novel that includes the main plot points, characters, and conflict with the help of the notes. While doing so, ensure focusing on the most important details and avoid getting bogged down in minor subplots or details. Once the summary is written, revise and edit it multiple times to ensure that it is clear, concise, and accurate and no essential details are left out- the summary should accurately reflect the overall tone and style of the novel.

Publishers can have a profound impact on authors and can have a lot of power when it comes to authors which also means that traditional publishers can hurt authors and their careers. They can deny authors promising book deals and they can even make sure that the author is never successful in the literary world.

 

We are going to find out how bad publishers hurt authors. We are also going to answer questions such as, have publishers failed authors etc and we are going to talk about the ways in which publishers can exert power and control over authors and can even damage their work through low-quality editing and low-quality designing.

 

Basically, if the author is not a big name in the industry, then they virtually have no power in front of publishers because publishers hold all the cards when it comes to publishing. By the end of this blog, we are also going to talk about a solution that is slowly but surely transforming the publishing industry and giving more power to authors. However, we are not going to talk about book publishers to avoid or mention any specific book publisher.

 

So, here are the ways in which publishers have hurt authors in the past.

 

WAYS IN WHICH PUBLISHERS HURT AUTHORS

 

· BAD ROYALTY AGREEMENT

 

Royalties are the bread and butter of every author and royalties are the difference between choosing a permanent career as an author and doing something on the side just to pay the bills.  That is where the royalty agreement comes in where the author agrees to a certain percentage of the profits or the sales so that they can get a cut of the money from the profits or sales that the book makes.

 

But think of this situation, you are a new author who is just starting out and you have no prior work to show how successful of an author you can be and that is why the publisher has all the power in the world to decide on the royalty percentage. Since you are new, they can give you examples such as, they are taking a risk with a newcomer etc and set a percentage that is far less than what you desire.

 

This is one of the primary ways by which an author can get hurt by the actions of the publisher.

 

· NEVERENDING WAIT TIMES

 

The thing about traditional publishing is that there is so much demand for it and there are so many writers willing to be authors that manuscripts can pile up into huge bundles making it physically impossible for the publisher to go through them in a short time in order to find out the correct or the perfect manuscript.

 

There are definitely ways to get around this through recommendations etc but if you are new to the industry with no connections then it is virtually impossible for you to skip the line and get your manuscript read by the publisher without having to wait a long time. This can hurt your career badly as you would have to wait for them just to go through your manuscript and after that will come the time when they will say if you have been accepted or rejected.

 

In the meantime, there will be no publishing and no royalties which means you will have to resort to balancing between being a writer and doing some other kind of job just to sustain yourself.

 

· LACK OF CREATIVE CONTROL

 

Creative control is important and sometimes it can hurt the ego of the authors because sometimes publishers might want the authors to make critical changes to the manuscript which authors might not like.

 

Sometimes this is nothing because authors do not mind making changes asked by the publishers but sometimes authors might not really want any other person to tell them what changes they have to make to their own creation and this can actually become an issue and a deciding factor whether they will publish or not.

 

Even if the author is a bestseller, then again, no author can have complete creative control when it comes to traditional publishing and this is also one of the primary cons of traditional publishing.

 

· CONTRACTS

 

Authors are not people of the law and they are definitely not lawyers who understand legal language. That is when publishers can deliberately create complex agreements and contracts that are beyond the understanding of regular authors as they can be made to sign things that they have not intended.

 

These contracts can be very rigid and can actually limit the authors from working with any other publisher for a certain time period without the author even understanding it when they are signing it. This is not only wrong but this is something that gives the publishing world a very bad reputation as the publishers try to control authors.

 

SO, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

 

While we can think of a lot of solutions and sometimes even activism but the one true solution to this is to take matters into your own hands and become the publisher yourself. Yes, we are talking about self-publishing because self-publishing is when you become the publisher yourself as the author and you get to have the higher ground when it comes to everything right from the royalties to the terms of the contract.

 

We are Orange Publishers and we are the leading self-publishing company in India and we love supporting new and upcoming authors and we love giving them power that they can never have with traditional publishing. Our authors get to decide everything from creative control to contract terms as well as the percentage of royalties.

 

We are also the publishing house that does everything in-house right from the editing to the cover art designing and illustrations as well as printing and publishing and much more including marketing and promotion and copyright. We welcome you with open arms to the world of freedom and power and self-publishing as we welcome you to check out all our self-publishing services at Orange Publishers.

When we plan on how to describe a character in a children’s book, the foremost thing that is to be considered is using language that is appropriate for their age and reading level. While describing characters in a way that children can understand, ensure making sure the use of complex words or phrases that children might not understand to be avoided. It shall be wise to stick to words that are easy to read and comprehend. Description of the character’s physical features, such as hair color, eye color, and height help the children in better understanding- they tend to be very observant of people’s physical traits and easily relate to these descriptions. Description of the character’s behavior, actions, and thoughts help children in understanding the character’s personality and how they interact with other characters in the story. Compare the character to things that children are familiar with, such as animals or other characters from other books they may have read. Allow the character to speak for themselves thereby helping children in understanding the character’s personality and how they communicate with others. Include illustrations of the character to the extent possible in order to help children visualizing them and thereby helping in connecting with the character on a deeper level. It is important to be descriptive and concise simultaneously using language that is age-appropriate and engaging for children- as by doing that, one shall help children to better understand and connect with the characters in the book.

 

On deciding on how to describe characters in a story, it is important to keep in mind that describing characters in a story is the most important part of creating a detailed and engaging narrative. Description of the character’s physical features such as their height, weight, hair color, eye color, facial features, clothing style, and any distinguishing marks or scars is important for a children book. Like, “David was a tall, muscular man with short blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and a scar above his left eyebrow. He wore a black leather jacket and dark jeans.” The writer also need to use words to describe the character’s personality, including their strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and habits-like “Veronica was a kind-hearted person who always put others’ needs before her own. She was known for her unwavering loyalty to her friends and her infectious laugh.” Using dialogue to reveal a character’s personality and mannerisms in the way a character speaks can give the reader insights into their background, education, social status, and emotions. Like-‘”I’m sorry,” said Ruth softly, twirling a strand of her curly hair around her finger. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”’ Giving the reader information about the character’s past, including their family history, childhood, education, and experiences that have shaped who they are today is also important to keep the young reader glued to writing- like “Growing up, Harry was always fascinated by airplanes. His father was a pilot in the Air Force, and Tom spent countless hours tinkering with model planes in his bedroom. When he graduated high school, he enrolled in flight school and earned his pilot’s license.”

Description of characters in a story is a process of using details to bring them to life and make them feel real to the reader. Remember to use a combination of physical description, personality traits, dialogue, and backstory to create well-rounded, dynamic characters.

When it comes to character traits of a children’s book, few of them stand out in engaging young readers and helping them learn valuable lessons. Children’s book characters should be relatable to their audience, whether that means depicting the everyday struggles of childhood or highlighting unique perspectives and experiences. Characters displaying empathy and compassion helps children learning how to understand and respect the feelings of others. Characters that exhibit bravery and courage inspires children in overcoming their own fears and take risks. Characters that are curious and eager to learn can helps in instilling a love of learning and exploration in young readers. Kindness of characters who are kind and considerate model positive behavior and encourage children to be compassionate and caring towards others. Characters who face challenges and setbacks but find ways to persevere helps children in developing resilience and a growth mindset. Honest and truthful characters help teaching children the importance of integrity and trustworthiness. Characters who have vivid imaginations and creative problem-solving skills inspire children in thinking outside the box and exploring their own creativity.

Relationships in children’s books take many forms serving many purposes. Many children’s books focus on parent and child relationship. Positive or negative, these relationships teach children on love, trust, and respect. A common theme in children’s book is relationships- often giving lessons on overcoming differences and learning to appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The complexity of siblings relationship is often explored is children’s book. These books help children learning how to navigate conflict and build strong relationships with their brothers and sisters. Romantic relationships are less common in children’s books- however stories do explore these relationships helping children in learning about love and respect in relationships. Many children’s books talk about animals as characters, and these relationships are as meaningful as human relationships. From these books, children get to learn about empathy and compassion. Irrespective of the relationship type, these books help children learning important lessons about communication, respect, and empathy and providing them a sense of connection and belonging, which is important for their emotional development.

The interests and hobbies of characters in children’s books can vary widely depending on the story and the intended audience. Like the main character of J.K. Rowling Harry Potter enjoys playing a magical sport played on flying broomsticks apart from reading and studying magic. Matilda, the protagonist of Roald Dah is a voracious has a passion for learning and a thirst for knowledge and is a reader spending time at the library. Charlie Bucket, the main character of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory loves chocolate to the extent of dreaming that one day he shall own his own candy factory. There are countless other children’s book characters with similar unique and interesting hobbies and interests. And these interests and hobbies plays a major impact in the growth and changes in storyline , role in the story and development of their skills and abilities that flourishes with the flow of the story.