Number the chapters that will or do appear in the novel. This will help in setting up each chapter in which a synopsis will be written. It will also detail how long the novel will be if it has not yet been completed.
Summarize what will happen in each chapter. Provide descriptions of characters, setting and action. Remember that these should only summarize what actually appears in the chapter; don't get bogged down with too many details.
Begin the first chapter in a way that is similar to the novel or how the novel commences once it is written. This can include the opening sentence or a description of the hook that will draw the reader in. The first chapter synopsis should set the style and tone of what will follow, both in the novel and the synopsis.
Write each summary from the point of view of the main character. While the synopsis can be written in third person, it is important to make certain it reveals the main character’s perspective.
Write each chapter synopsis in such a way that it flows from one to the next. The synopsis should follow in the same manner as the novel, picking up and leaving off where the last chapter begins and ends.
Write the conclusion to the synopsis. Each chapter should be represented in the synopsis, including the ending. If the synopsis is being written as part of a query package, then it is important that the editor have some indication of how the novel will end.