The most challenging, hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing piece of work you create as a writer is also your most single most important selling tool. If you haven't taken the time yet to sit down and apply all your creative talents to crafting a killer synopsis, grab a chair and start right now.

A synopsis is nothing more than a book report for adults. No wonder we all hate writing one! It brings back memories of cringing at our desks when a teacher would say, "And over the vacation I expect you to read these eighteen tomes and write a detailed report on each."

When an agent or an editor requests a synopsis, our minds revert to those days and we freeze. Well, I believe you can satisfy the teacher and the editor by answering ten basic questions. Trust me. Once you've answered them for your own work, the Ghost of Book Reports Past will no longer darken your door. You'll find writing a synopsis isn't so bad after all.