Synopsis

Since making my logline, the next task is to write up my synopsis. 

A synopsis needs to include:

• Outline of the plot
• The protagonist (their wants and weaknesses)
• Something which raises the stakes
• Indiction of the genre
• Another character
• Present tense

My logline is: 

When lonely village postman Ted starts receiving anonymous love letters he goes on a clumsy adventure to find his secret admirer

I have worked out the plot (here) and the characters (here), from this I can create the synopsis:

65-year-old Ted has been a postman for as long as he can remember and since the death of his wife, the repetitive days consist of his rounds, waving to his neighbour Patricia, and feeding his pet parrot Lazarus. He's lonely, and yet his clumsy heart and anxious mind keep him from breaking out of his routine. It seems as though this is all he has left. Until, one day on his post round he finds an anonymous love letter, addressed to him and complete with a clue. Following the encrypted note, he is taken to Lizzy, the lemon-drizzle loving shop keeper, a personality of bubbles and smiles. But a trip off-course is not possible without busybody Colin demanding to know the details of Ted's unusual whereabouts. After a tiresome and insufferable conversation, Ted works through a stumble of anxious words in an attempt to ask Lizzy if she is the secret admirer, only to be met with another clue. Deciphering the words, he is taken to the village hall, where he finds it's cleaner Mary. Although Mary attempts to be welcoming, her weak hearing gets the better of her and they engage in a frustrating back-and-forth for Ted to discover she doesn't have another clue at all, and the adventure seemingly comes to an end. Deflated he walks home, parcel bag still full, and hopes dropping. Amongst the lost, he is once again met with an enraged Colin, threatening to report his uncompleted duties. From all the buzz and blows of the day, steam flows out of Ted's ears as he puts Colin in his place and quiets the nagging voice once and for all. It is here, Ted finds another clue by his front door. With Lazarus' help, he wonders over to Cluedo-loving Patricia's house and is met with a smile and bag of toffees. Suddenly, the village seems slightly less lonely, and the voices slightly less loud. 

After writing the synopsis, I had a few concerns:

• That the story is too long and won't fit within the ten minutes
• That the character will not be developed enough
• That there isn't enough challenge for Ted

Following on, these are issues I will keep in mind.