How to Write a Short Book Summary

Feeling stuck? A freewrite can get the ideas flowing.

Summarizing an entire book in just a few paragraphs can feel intimidating, but breaking the process down into easy steps will make it swift, painless and maybe even fun. The key to writing a good book summary is to include all of the key characters and plot points from the story without dwelling on less significant details or events, and then package those elements into a concise and well-written finished product.

Instructions

1. Write down the essential elements of the story: when and where the story takes place, the main characters, what problems the characters face and how those problems are resolved.

2. Determine which characters are essential to the story. If your story has one main hero and one main enemy, focus your summary only on these two characters.

3. Decide which parts of the plot to include in your summary. Describe what the main character is trying to accomplish, the primary struggle he faces and how that struggle is eventually resolved.

4. Summarize the book in a single sentence to determine if you've selected the right characters and events from the story to include in your summary. If you were summarizing "The Odyssey," for example, you might write, "Odysseus is a Greek king whose return home from the Trojan War is delayed for 10 years by monsters, nymphs and the wrath of the gods."

5. Write a rough draft. Don't worry about producing the perfect summary yet--just get the basic outline of the book down on paper.

6. Read your rough draft and ask yourself if it includes all the essential elements of the story: setting, main characters and plot.

7. Write a second draft, making any necessary changes. Check that your summary is the right length and has a logical beginning, middle and end.

8. Write your final draft, proofread it for spelling and punctuation errors and make any last changes.

Tips & Warnings

• Introduce side characters and subplots into your summary only if the story wouldn't make sense without them.

• If your summary is too short, describe the main characters and plot points in more detail or incorporate more characters or events into your summary.

• If your summary is too long, make sure that you aren't describing the story in too much detail. For example, rather than saying that a character "fights a dragon, captures a troll and defeats an evil wizard before he saves the princess," consider writing instead that he "has many adventures before saving the princess."

• If you get really stuck, try a freewrite. Write down whatever comes to mind as fast as you can for a few minutes, even if it's just "I hate writing book summaries. I hate writing book summaries ..." over and over on the page. The process of writing will get your ideas flowing and make the project easier.

• If you're not sure whether a character or plot point should be included in your summary, try reading one of your drafts aloud to friends or family members. You'll know you've done a good job if your summary gives them a good idea of what the book is about.

References

• "How to Write Successfully in High School and College"; Barbara Lenmark Ellis; 2005

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish