How many people do a complete outline or synopsis first?
Both my publishers require a synopsis for a sale. The synopsis doesn’t have to be complete, in terms of every story detail. Like any good synopsis, the editors want to know the gist of the story, have some ideas of motivations and goals within the characters and to learn some of the conflicts and perhaps the ultimate “black” moment, then the resolution. Editors want to see the growth in the character and in their spiritual lives. I leave much room in my synopsis for creativity, but I never sway from the main idea without contacting the editor for approval. It’s not that difficult for me to write a synopsis because the story has usually become a movie in my head that continues to grow. I can see the characters and some of the scenes. I can hear dialogue and see emotion so when I sit down to write the synopsis, it pretty much falls into place. Sometimes writers think they must tell the whole story — every detail — whether it was day or night when he kisses the heroine the first time or
