How to Write a Logline [Video and Screenshots Included]

As a writer, you spend countless hours crafting the perfect story. But when it comes to  pitching your project you only have a few seconds to grab your audience’s attention.  

That’s why one of the most crucial skills you need to master is crafting a logline. But what is  a logline and why is it so important? 

In a nutshell, it’s an elevator pitch for your story. A good one can make your project, and a  bad one can break it.

So let’s talk about how you write a successful one.  

The Basics of a Logline 

A logline is a one- or two-line summary of your story that encapsulates your story’s core  elements, such as the protagonist, the goal, the conflict, and the stakes.  

However, be aware this isn’t the same as a tagline or a synopsis. Think of taglines as a  catchy phrase that goes on the poster and is used exclusively for marketing.

For example, the famous tagline from the movie Alien, “In space no one can hear you scream”.  

A synopsis however goes deeper into the story and allows you to showcase the strength of  your writing. A logline is more geared towards showing the strength of the idea itself. 

So, if you were pitching Alien to a producer, you would start with the logline which is: “A  space crew aboard a cargo ship investigates a distress signal, allowing a deadly alien  lifeform to stow aboard their ship, intent on killing them off one by one.” 

Analyzing Examples of Successful Loglines

Every great movie begins as an idea that transforms into a screenplay, and every compelling screenplay starts with a succinct, thought-provoking sentence known as a logline.

When you’re brimming with an idea but unsure how to mold it into a script, crafting a logline should be your first step. Consider it a distillation of your story that sparks interest in potential readers.

Loglines are pervasive; look no further than the descriptions of films on streaming platforms like Netflix. If crafted properly, a logline teases enough information to hook the reader.

For instance, examine these loglines from renowned films:

• Django Unchained: “With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife and wreak vengeance upon a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.”

• Silence of the Lambs: “A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help in catching another serial killer who skins his victims.”

• Star Wars: A New Hope: “A spirited farm boy joins a rebellion to save a princess from a sinister imperial enforcer – and the galaxy from a planet-destroying weapon.”

To write a compelling logline, study successful ones within the genre of your script. Does your logline reach the benchmark set by these examples?

Consider the following:

• 21 Jump Street: “Two rookie cops must bust a drug ring by going undercover as high school students.” This logline sets up a comedic premise and hints at the story’s genre.

• Rear Window: “A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.” Here, the stakes are apparent, and the protagonist’s disability is a crucial plot element.

• Jumanji: “When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades – and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.” The genre is established, anticipating a magical and unpredictable narrative.

• Shutter Island: “In 1954, a U.S. marshal’s troubling visions compromise his investigation into the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane.” This logline teases a mysterious, psychological storyline ripe with unexpected twists and turns.

• Moonlight: “A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.” This logline promises a coming-of-age drama addressing societal issues.

All of these loglines share common elements: they introduce the protagonist, establish the stakes and objectives, reveal the conflict, and provide clues about the genre and story type.

By breaking these down, you can understand and apply the formula to your loglines.

Steps to Writing an Effective Logline 

As mentioned, a logline is a concise, one or two-sentence summary of a television program, film, or book. It encapsulates the story’s central conflict, presents an overview of the plot, and provides an emotional “hook” to pique interest.

Constructing a logline requires distilling your story’s key components into their simplest form. These components include the setting, protagonist, problem, antagonist, goal, and the resulting conflict or action.

To illustrate, let’s dissect the logline from ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’:

• Setting – The Galaxy: A setting establishes the tone and genre. A story spanning galaxies clearly leans towards science fiction, carrying certain expectations. Ensure your setting is clear and helps build your narrative.
• Protagonist – A Spirited Farm Boy: While Luke Skywalker is more complex, a brief, potent description suffices for a logline. Use impactful adjectives for conveying a lot within limited space. Names are unnecessary unless your character is already famous.
• Problem – A Planet-Destroying Weapon: A problem introduces stakes. The Death Star, capable of annihilating planets, underlines the dire consequences if the hero fails. Your problem should be significant enough to compel your hero into action.
• Antagonist – A Sinister Imperial Enforcer: Often, a single figure or entity is the source of the hero’s problem. They present a formidable challenge, embodying everything the hero isn’t.
• Goal – Save a Princess (And The Galaxy!): Your protagonist needs a clear goal. Although Luke’s goal evolves, his initial objective shapes the broader narrative arc.
• Conflict/Action – Joins a Rebellion: Conflict arises when the protagonist’s goal is thwarted by the problem and antagonist. In response to this challenge, Luke joins the rebellion, demonstrating that the hero’s decisions must drive the plot.

Writing a compelling logline involves several steps. Start by identifying your story’s core elements: protagonist(s), goal, conflict, and stakes. If you’re dealing with an ensemble cast, remember to convey the primary focus of the story.

Condense these components into a succinct one or two-line pitch encapsulating your story’s essence, generally following the formula: protagonist + inciting incident + protagonist’s goal + central conflict.

Then, refine your logline, trimming down any non-essential elements until you’re left with an engaging elevator pitch. Don’t hesitate to test your logline on friends or family, as their reaction can indicate its effectiveness.

There are specific techniques to ensure your logline is memorable and engaging. Using active voice and vivid language helps paint a clear picture of your story. Highlighting the stakes and conflict generates intrigue, while maintaining simplicity and brevity makes your logline easier to remember and share.

More Analysis and Examples of Loglines 

We talked a bit about analyzing successful loglines above. Now we’re going to take a deep  dive into a logline that doesn’t work and see if we can fix it.  

Logline: “A young woman discovers that she has special powers and must use them to save  the world.” 

This logline could be about Wonder woman, Super girl or even Dora the explorer!

The  problem with this logline is that it is too vague. A young woman doesn’t provide any detail about the character. The special power could be flying or being a fast reader. Saving the  world could be defeating an alien invasion or it could be recycling.  

Let’s take another example: 

“A detective investigates a series of murders and must catch the killer before they strike  again.” 

This logline is a bit more specific. It has a protagonist, an inciting incident, a goal and even a  central conflict. However, it’s still isn’t specific enough. It covers the common tropes of a  detective genre film but doesn’t give the reader anything new.  

Let’s look at two better examples of these loglines. 

• This is the logline for Wonder Woman: “When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the  outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war,  discovering her full powers and true destiny.” 

As you can see this logline could only be about the movie Wonder Woman. The more  specific you can make your logline the more it will stand out.  

• This is the logline from Zodiac: “Between 1968 and 1983, a San Francisco cartoonist  becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer, an  unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.” 

This logline is extremely specific, it gives the setting, the protagonist, the goal and the  conflict.  

Commonly Asked Questions About Logline Writing