We’re thrilled to welcome TJ Stecker to Rosecliff Literary! TJ’s life reads like a novel: from Naval Flight Officer &history-making amputee to lawyer & world traveler. His novels, THE MOTH & DISHONORED, have earned him 2 #ClaymoreAward finalist nods & a spot on the Murder and Mayhem Award Long List.

🚨 Big news! 🚨 I’ve officially signed with literary agent Jessica Berg of @roseclifflit.bsky.social . Years of writing, rewriting, and perseverance have led to this milestone—and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorNews #LiteraryAgent #WritersOfBluesky

Y'all know Jess always wants gothic vibes. Old houses, eerie landscapes, creeping dread. Horror? Mystery? Literary? Doesn’t matter. If your book feels like a haunted house you can’t leave, send it. #MSWL

I know your book is good. Your synopsis doesn’t have to prove that! It just has to clearly show what happens. Editors and agents can fill in the blanks. Just give them something worth filling in.

“But my book has twists! If I put them in the synopsis, they won’t be surprising anymore!” Right. But if you don’t put them in the synopsis, then your story won’t make sense. And that’s a bigger problem.

If your synopsis is bloated, try the “AND THEN” test. Read your draft out loud. Every time you naturally want to say and then..., stop. That’s where you’re stuffing too much in. Cut where needed.

If you struggle with synopses, write one badly on purpose. Seriously. Write the worst, most boring summary possible. Then go back and make it sharper, clearer, and less painful. This works better than trying to get it “perfect” from the start.

Synopses are built for speed, not scenic detours. I promise your book’s side quests, emotional beats, and cool worldbuilding still exist. Just... not here.

Synopses are built for speed, not scenic detours. I promise your book’s side quests, emotional beats, and cool worldbuilding still exist. Just... not here.

If you struggle with synopses, write one badly on purpose. Seriously. Write the worst, most boring summary possible. Then go back and make it sharper, clearer, and less painful. This works better than trying to get it “perfect” from the start.

If your synopsis is bloated, try the “AND THEN” test. Read your draft out loud. Every time you naturally want to say and then..., stop. That’s where you’re stuffing too much in. Cut where needed.

Plus, synopses aren’t for readers. They’re for the people who need to know the spoilers, because they’re helping you refine the story! Editors, agents, critique partners, long-suffering writer friends who are tired of hearing you complain about POVs and timelines— Ahem. People like that!

This. Your query letter is where you can be a little mysterious. Your synopsis has to spill it all.

“But my book has twists! If I put them in the synopsis, they won’t be surprising anymore!” Right. But if you don’t put them in the synopsis, then your story won’t make sense. And that’s a bigger problem.

If your synopsis reads like a dry book report, congratulations! You have written an extremely skippable document. Your goal isn’t to summarize your book. It’s to sell the story in a clear, compelling way.

I know your book is good. Your synopsis doesn’t have to prove that! It just has to clearly show what happens. Editors and agents can fill in the blanks. Just give them something worth filling in.

Biggest synopsis mistake? Too many names. If I need a seating chart to understand who’s who, I’m out. Keep it simple: main character, main antagonist, key supporting roles. Everyone else is “his friend,” “her brother,” or “the rival.”

A synopsis is not a vibe check. “I want to show the feeling of my book.” No. That’s the job of your pages. A synopsis is what happens, and why it matters. If your book is emotional, the plot should still convey that.

Your synopsis should pass the “personally attacked” test. Would a reader who loves your genre feel seen by the way you describe your book? Or would they squint at the page like, why does this sound like a Wikipedia summary?

A synopsis is a movie trailer in plain text. You’re not cutting to black every two seconds for DRAMATIC EFFECT. But you are giving us the highlights in a way that makes us want to watch the full thing.

Your book is not too complex for a one-page synopsis. You just don’t want to make decisions.

A synopsis is a movie trailer in plain text. You’re not cutting to black every two seconds for DRAMATIC EFFECT. But you are giving us the highlights in a way that makes us want to watch the full thing.

Writing a synopsis is just translating 90K words into 500. While keeping voice, stakes, and clarity. While not panicking. Anyway, how’s your day going?

‘Just summarize your book in one page!’ Babe, I haven’t even summarized my life in therapy yet.

Our featured essay collection at the @barrelhouse.bsky.social conference: IT ALL FELT IMPOSSIBLE by @tmcallister.bsky.social! Join us 4/12/25 in DC and you can leave with a copy of this awesome book (plus lots of other stuff)! Just $85. Hope to see you there! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference

New column is up at @crimereads.bsky.social! This time I looked at @wmboyle4.bsky.social’s Saint of the Narrows Street (@sohopress.bsky.social), TJ Klune’s The Bones Beneath My Skin (@torbooks.bsky.social), and Ricardo Silva Romero’s Río Muerto (World Editions). crimereads.com/gabino-igles...

Only at #AWP25, if you purchase an early release limited edition copy of @lumchanmfa.bsky.social's upcoming collection, BITTER OVER SWEET, you'll be entered to win this beautiful ukulele! Find us at Booth #563 from March 26th-29th!

An #agentsguide to THE SIRENS CALL, mine & @d-and-a-authors.bsky.social ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART X DARK WATER DAUGHTER New Adult Pirate Romantasy that we #amquerying! We would love to put this in front of you so interact and I’ll message you! 🏴‍☠️ #WritingCommunity

Posting an #editorsguide for my international heist thriller going out on sub 😊 💎So many lies 💎Tight circle of suspects 💎Heists 💎Strong female protagonist 💎Love triangle #A #T #Heist @roseclifflit.bsky.social

LOL, am I the only one obsessively refreshing my inbox five minutes after sending out query letters? Yes, I know it’s the weekend. Yes, I know replies take weeks(if they reply even.) Yes, I'm still checking. 😁 #WritingCommunity #amquerying

just got my pictures back from my Marrakech film and ironically the picture I took of my wilted daffs to finish the roll has ended up being my favourite one of all

Y'all know Jess always wants gothic vibes. Old houses, eerie landscapes, creeping dread. Horror? Mystery? Literary? Doesn’t matter. If your book feels like a haunted house you can’t leave, send it. #MSWL

Not just office romance—Jessica wants workplace fiction with real stakes. Power struggles, high-pressure environments, complications that cut deep. Give her tension, drama, and narrative gold. #MSWL

Synopses are where writers break out their worst verbs. The story follows... the character journeys… events unfold… tensions rise… No. Make it specific. Make it sharp. The way you describe the plot should sound like your book.

Want to finally crack the code on writing synopses? 👀 Next Thurs 3/13 7pm, @jessicaberg.bsky.social is teaching a no-fluff, all-clarity class on how to write a synopsis that actually works—hosted by @thewriterscenter.bsky.social writer.org/event/40-pop...

I was reading a novel that was so beautifully written but had so much torture in it and then it occurred to me that I could just put it down and not finish it and this is personal growth.

RL's Query Inbox has started texting its ex. 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩 It just whispered, “Hey… you up?” to an old synopsis draft. It’s thinking about getting bangs. It’s one rejection away from posting vague song lyrics to its Instagram story. Please send your books before it spirals. #mswl #queryme

Since it's International Women's Day, and a bunch of white nationalist misogynists seem intent on making life miserable for the rest of us... can I interest anyone in Tradwife? Could be cathartic. It certainly was for me payhip.com/b/TDowG

I like to think of it as GOODFELLAS in a country club. 🥂🥂🥂

Dark romance? Like…real dark? Yes. Spicy sports romance? Extra points if it’s unhinged. If your book has tension that makes people feral, Jess wants it. #MSWL

🖤 Tommy’s always here for crime novels with anti-heroes. Give him leads who should walk away but don’t. The ones who know better but can’t help themselves. Morally gray, ethically messy, impossible to forget. #MSWL

Your synopsis is not a proof of concept. You don’t need to explain why the book works. You just need to show what happens in a way that makes sense. Treat it like an efficient post-game recap, not a TED Talk.

Jess, in an interview: Publishing is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to be patient, strategic, and trust the process. also Jess, watching an email refresh wheel spin for two full seconds: This is unacceptable. I am owed answers immediately. Anyway, watch here! www.youtube.com/watch?mc_cid...

“Should I include spoilers in my synopsis?” Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. The synopsis is not the query. It’s not a teaser. It is the full plot. If you’re writing “But will she survive?” at the end… guess what? You just failed the test. Tell us what happens.

🚨 Tommy Dean’s Spring #MSWL is here. 🚨 He’s looking for crime, mystery, suspense, and thrillers that pull him under and refuse to let go. High stakes. Big consequences. Characters with pasts that won’t stay buried.

@jessicaberg.bsky.social worked on queries today and UMMM these full requests are FLYING out of here like I’m she's running a literary Black Friday doorbuster sale (she's not … but imagine). 🚀📚

Very true 💯

@jessicaberg.bsky.social and I will discuss our experiences of being open to queries! Check us out on IG tomorrow! @roseclifflit.bsky.social

Spring wishlist: Jessica wants thrillers that wreck you. Domestic suspense where the walls are closing in. Social thrillers that cut deep. Psychological horror that lingers. If your story makes readers question everything, send it. #MSWL