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A STUDY OF THE SYNOPSIS 55 hopeful, perhaps, but it will be with no assurance that he turns the pages over. He is apt to argue that the person who cannot write a good synopsis cannot write a good plot of action. This may not be the fact, but it is so generally true that the exceptions do not count. A man may be able to cut a tremendous gash in a tree with a single stroke of the axe and yet have his strength fail him before the tree is felled or lack the skill to properly direct his strokes, but as a rule the man who makes the best single cut is the one most likely to be able to chop down the tree with the greatest skill and in the shortest time. So it is with the synopsis. The Editor is apt to argue that if the synopsis is good the story must be good, but that the dull synopsis advertises the poor story. The fact that the story must be held to 250 words seems to cause beginners much trouble and it sometimes happens that in worrying about the length they fail to do their best in telling the story. It is better to overwrite and then cut down than to try and write to the limit the first time. Later on you will catch the trick and be able to get two or three reels into '250 words, but until you reach this point, do not be afraid to waste several sheets of trial paper getting the synopsis just right. To study the work of making the synopsis, suppose we take the Lubin story of From Ignorance to Light. Here is the manu- script of the story as it was written with the original title. FOR THE WRONG MAN'S SAKE. Action. 1- Atmospheric picture- characteristic spot- Mary, with bare feet, in a skimpy calico gown, leans against a tree- Paul and a couple of other men pass- Paul raises his hat with exaggerated courtesy- make it plain that he does not know the girl- he passes on- Mary looks after him- Jack comes from the direction in which Paul and the others made exit he speaks courteously- Mary responds, hut her interest is in Paul, and as she speaks she glances after him- Jack passes on- Mary does not look after him, but turns her back on direction he took to watch Paul. Leader- A few days later. The visitor decides to amuse himself with the country girl. 2- Location- Mary on- loafing in the sun- she sits up as Paul and others approach- Paul stops- she is embarrassed but eager to gain his attention- Paul stops- chats a moment- the others urge him to come on- he tells them to