Writing Versions of a Novel

In his new blog, Guide to Literary Agents, Chuck Sambuchino explains why you might need several versions of your novel's synopsis. I've advocated having the pitch/log line, the elevator speech, and the synopsis. Sambuchino breaks it down to four versions and the manuscript, and he should know, being the editor of F+W publications' 2008 Guide to Literary Agents. Between a pitch and a full-blown synopsis, he advocates a "short synopsis" because:

Some agents will request a 1-page or 2-page synopsis. Now your challenge lies in taking your long synopsis and cutting it down as much as possible--just in case an overly particular agent wants a super-short plot summary of your work.

He says a synopsis (often more difficult to write than the book!) should be 2-12 pages in length, but "The average synopsis should be double-spaced and approximately 6-7 pages." You can read more on his ideas in the article One Story? You Need 5 Versions.