Today we're talking about a story basic, something that is hard to master and an important sales and storytelling tool.
The logline.
A logline is a single sentence that tells who the story is about, what the protagonist wants, what is standing in their way, and what is at stake if they fail.
Loglines are a staple of Hollywood. They sell the movie in a sentence. Loglines work for books too.
What a Logline Is Not
- Not the whole story.
- Not the backstory.
- Not a theme.
Think of your logline as the answer to the question: “What is this?” Your logline answers that question so clearly and compellingly that the next question is always, “And what happens next?”
The Formula
The logline formula looks simple. It is not. Writing a good logline is hard. You will probably write twenty drafts before you land on the right one. That is completely normal.
When [something happens to] [your protagonist], they must [goal] before [stakes / ticking clock] — or [consequence].
Let’s break that down.
• Your protagonist. Who is this story about? Be specific. Not “a woman” — “a disgraced FBI agent” or “a retired Vermont baker.” The more specific you are, the more vivid your character feels.
• The inciting incident. What happens that sets the story in motion? This is the moment everything changes for your protagonist. Something is discovered, lost, threatened, or overturned.
• The goal. What does your protagonist need to do as a result? The goal must be external and active — something they are visibly doing, not just feeling. “Must prove her innocence” is a goal. “Must come to terms with her past” is a theme.
• The stakes. What happens if they fail? The stakes are what create urgency. They can be physical (death, imprisonment), emotional (losing the person they love), or social (losing everything they have built). The clearer and higher the stakes, the more compelling the logline.
Good Loglines and Why They Work
The best way to understand a great logline is to read some. Here are examples from well-known films, followed by a few original examples.
From well-known films
The Hunger Games: A teenage girl volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in a televised fight to the death, and inspires a revolution.
Gone Girl: When his wife vanishes on their anniversary, a man becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance, but the more the truth emerges, the less certain anyone is of who the real villain is.
Legally Blonde: A bubbly sorority girl follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School to win him back, and ends up discovering she is a better lawyer than anyone thinks.
Cozy mystery
When a murder spoils her opening day celebration, retired food critic turned tearoom owner has seventy-two hours to find the killer, or the sheriff will close her down and take her fresh start with it.
Romance
When a workaholic event planner is forced to spend Christmas organizing a small-town festival with the charming local mayor she publicly humiliated five years ago, she has two weeks to pull off the event of the year and avoid falling in love all over again.
The Most Common Logline Mistakes
Here are the mistakes almost everyone makes on the first try.
• Too vague. “A woman must face her past and find the courage to move forward” could describe ten thousand books. Make it specific to your story. The details are what make it memorable.
• Too long. If your logline is three sentences, it is not a logline. Keep it to one sentence. Two at the absolute maximum. If you are struggling to cut it down, it is a sign that you have not yet found the core of your story.
• Too much plot. A logline is not a synopsis. You do not need to mention the subplot, the twist, the secondary love interest, or the ending. Focus on the central conflict only.
• No stakes. If nothing bad can happen, there is no story. Make sure your logline answers the question: what does your protagonist lose if they fail?
• Passive protagonist. “A woman is forced to confront her past” is weak. “A woman returns to the town she fled twenty years ago” is stronger. Your protagonist should be doing something, not having something done to them.
How to Write Yours
Here is a simple exercise that will help you crack your logline. Answer each of these questions in one phrase, then string them together.
• Who is your protagonist, in the most specific and interesting way possible?
• What happens at the start of the story that changes everything for them?
• What do they have to do because of that?
• What is the ticking clock or the stakes if they fail?
Now write one sentence using those four answers. It will be rough. Revise it until it is tight, vivid, and impossible to forget.
💡 Read your logline to someone. If they immediately ask, “what happens?” — you’ve nailed it. If they nod politely and change the subject, go back and try again.
Your Logline Is Your North Star
Once you have your logline, everything else gets easier. Your cocktail pitch builds from it. Your synopsis expands it. Your logline is the seed that the whole pitch grows from. Spend the time to get it right.
Next week: Loglines and Taglines: What’s the Difference?
