According to the Oxford dictionary, the synopsis definition speaks about a general view, a short outline of a written work or of a subject. In other dictionaries, the synopsis definition includes a compilation of phrases arranged in a specific order, to underline a broad analysis of a whole, a conspectus or a summarized discourse. The word synopsis comes from the Greeks, synopsesthai, meaning to see as a whole, a unity, to see together. In general, a synopsis reduces a novel, transforming it into a lifeless structure, without action, plot, and the detailed description of characters and the small, succulent details of a book. Some say that a synopsis is even hard to write than a novel, due to the difficult process of distillation of a heavy book.

In general, a synopsis must be only a few pages long, so the author of the synopsis must know how to extract the most important parts and to combine them in order to have meaning and to reflect the reality from the book. Another synopsis definition says that this is the key and the main feature of a specialist. He must be able to polish the synopsis several times and to sweat over, as he is writing his own book.

General steps for a synopsis

The first step is to underline a few topics, guidelines, in order to know what you are going to write in the synopsis. Then, start reading the book – the main key of the synopsis. It is best to do this thing with a pen and a couple of shits next to you. After each chapter it is wise to note some of the best ideas and to write a couple of main paragraphs about each chapter. In short, you will have to undersize the story, the characters and to focus on the plot. In general, pay attention to the key points of the book. Then, the hard part is coming. The best recommendation is to start describing the most important character and the actions where he or she is the main key. Across the paper, you should incorporate several quotes or dialogues. The synopsis should include the motivations, the emotions of the characters, explanations, settings, key point and background information. But all of these should be short, useful and understandable. The last part is one of the hardest from all: the editing. The synopsis definition must be reviewed and corrected again and again until is ready to see the day light.