In writing a one page synopsis for an editor/agent how would you deal with a very surprising and shocking twist at the end of a novel? Revealing the twist in the plot synopsis (which I presume you must?) will change the perception of all that came before it for the prospective editor/agent. Does it matter?
Thanks to you - Louise, Adrian and Lorraine - for your replies. To Adrian for pointing out the importance of the covering letter. There is some difference in Louise's and Lorraine's advice: emotionally I would want to go with what you write Louise about not giving away the ending, but I suspect Lorraine's advice is the better.
I'm that little bit clearer about the process now. Thanks again.
You sweat over the synopsis more than anything, when it's the letter that matters most. However, you've still got to get it right, and that means giving away the ending.
An agent is a professional reader, and giving away the plot twist is something they're used to. When they then read the novel, they are looking at it not as the ordinary reader would, but with an eye to structure, story, grammar, and all the other things that go into making it a good or bad book. The fact that they know the ending means they will study the way you hide or reveal it; is the ending right/satisfactory/flagged up too early/impossible to predict/superimposed for no logical reason?
Give what the agent/publisher asks for in their guidelines, Robin.
Robin, an editor will read the covering letter first. Although, shorter that a one or two page synoposis it must be of the highest standard. A poor covering letter will doom the would-be author.