Or how to deliver a knock-out in the first paragraph:

 Today, I want to talk to you about the BIG BANG – or the one-two first paragraph punch of your synopsis.

Just like the first line of your book, you want the first paragraph of your synopsis to really grab your editor. You want to zero on the most important part of your book, the theme, or the plot and hook them good. Because, although you are going to try and make your synopsis as entertaining as possible, it is still a summary and you want to make sure you have them before things slow down.

What am I talking about? Well, when you move to the Query-letter stage, we’ll be working on 100 word blurbs. These are the story in nutshell, focusing on the highest points.

The Big Bang is a longer version of this. (Sometimes I use the very same blurb, sometimes I shorten it). The Big Bang boils down the most important aspects of your story, the biggest interest catcher, into a short paragraph. 

Remember your premise?  The Big Bang is your premise, with a little more umph added. Let’s dissect that Bang a little:  I like to start out with the highest stakes — that thing that makes us care about the characters or plot. I boil down the action to the most important — the climax, wind it together with their deepest fears or needs (revealing the Black Moment), and  then ask an emotion question that will propel the editor to further reading. (Some would call that the Story Question).

For example here’s a sample first sentences from Happily Ever After:

Mona Reynolds longs for two things – forgiveness and Jonah, the hero from her favorite book. But, getting either is about as likely as her father rising from the dead.

Tells you a lot, right? (I hope!) It tells you that Mona likes to read, that her father died, and that there’s no way she’s going to be forgiven. The theme of the book is forgiveness, and it is about her getting her dream man. (That’s a plug to read it, if you didn’t recognize it! *grin*) It tells the editor just what the conflicts are, and what the theme is in the book.

Here’s one from Tying the Knot: (If you aren’t familiar with these books, go to my web site, there are blurbs and first chapters there. www.susanmaywarren.com)

Noah Standing Bear has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.  He’s save the woman he loves once before…but when she is caught in a standoff, will he be fast enough to save himself, and her, again?

And here’s the one from The Perfect Match, a reissue out in January.  (I’m just full of shameless promotion today, aren’t I?)

Ellie Karlson just wants to prove she can be the best fire chief in town. But can she order into the flames the man she loves?  With an arsonist on the loose, someone is about to get burned.

This Big bang paragraph will spring board you later to the Query-letter hook sentence, so this stage is important.

Now, if you are thinking, Suz, we have boiled down greatest fears, desires, obstacles, needs and spiritual themes to a fine, tasteless nub! More boiling?

Yep.

When an editor is looking at a story they want to know that the author KNOWS what she/he is talking about. That you have it all “tied up.” Nothing speaks to this more than having Big Bang in the synopsis.

Monday I’ll give you a little trick to help you make sure you wind all those threads together, so sit down over the weekend, hone your hook, and keep fleshing out your story.  I give you permission to have a couple Christmas cookies while you work. 

Have a great weekend!