Professor, you have the middle paragraph for a mini synopsis after the opening graph and the closing graph. That's what I meant. But a detailed outline is one that's chapter-to-chapter, equally hard as a synopsis.

A query is not a mini-synopsis of any sort - there simply isn't room. it's an overview of the feel of the book meant to be an enticement for the agent so they will want to know more. And a synopsis is usually one page, two at most, but most agents prefer one page if at all possible. Again, think of a synopsis as the story told as if you were telling someone about you book - what you would say in a quick conversation that would tell them enough that they would know what your book is about - and not chapter-by-chapter.

In a query, you have room for a mini synopsis. They just want the bare bones of your story in the synopsis, usually at 2 pages. And that's hard to do. WriterElizabeth made a good point.

I disagree slightly.

The query is a tease of the story, just enough to hopefully have an agent want more. It's not actually a summary. It's more the enticing high points with a little dangling suspense.

The synopsis is not going to be a detailed chapter-by-chapter account of the story, but rather an overview of the feel of the story, its characters, and plot. That's what make is so hard for most people to do. You aren't telling the whole story but telling about the story.

And I do agree - they are most definately two different beasts.

Hi, @pink24 -

While the query *is* a summary, the synopsis is much more detailed. It unravels the plot, gives away the ending, and shows how you've developed your characters. The query doesn't do that. Some agents ask for a synopsis to make sure the story doesn't derail halfway through or just to get a sense of the story as a whole.

While both are summaries, the query and the synopsis are two very different beasts. :D I hope that helps.