Writing a great logline is perhaps the most important and underrated skill a screenwriter can have. The ability to convey a compelling story in a single sentence can seem almost magical, for both the writer and the reader. A great logline can get managers, agents, and producers to read a script. It can inspire actors to sign on to a project. It will motivate potential investors. And, most importantly, with a well-constructed logline, everyone on a project will be on the same page - at least as far as the story goes.
However, as anyone who has attempted to craft a logline knows, it can be exasperating to encapsulate an entire story in one brief sentence. A logline, it would seem, simply cannot condense an entire plot and characters into about 35 words. For the writer, it can be excruciating to leave out a story’s important details. This can frustrate the reader, too, trying to comprehend a confusing logline, one devoid of conflict, one that is formulaic or overwrought. Some loglines are instantly forgettable, and some can be, well, downright painful to read.
But it doesn’t have to be.
A logline is much more than a one or two-sentence summary of the writer’s story. At the same time, it is not a description of the whole story. Without knowing the elements of a logline, without knowing what to include — and what to leave out — it’s no wonder writers often struggle with the logline.
A story is more than just a compelling main character in an interesting plot; it is composed of many elements that weave together into a tapestry of conflict. The promise of conflict is the very reason we watch movies or read books. The logline is meant to describe the story’s central conflict as clearly and concisely as possible. If the conflict isn’t clear in the story, it can never be clear in the logline.
Understanding the individual elements of the story is key to defining conflict in both the story and the logline.
Logline templates available online can be a great starting point. But they are temporary relief. Unfortunately, by their very nature, most templates assume a one-size-fits-all story. They are the equivalent of giving the writer a frozen fish, instead of teaching them how to fish.
What if the story doesn’t fit the typical three act structure or the protagonist/antagonist mold? The unknowing writer is stuck fishing without bait. The resulting logline will leave the reader confused.
The world needs bold, innovative visual artists. Let’s be clear — a logline may not be possible for the experimental art film, or for one lacking traditional cinematic structure. Instead of a logline, they will need a premise line.
However, for anyone who desires to work within the well-established walls of traditional storytelling, the need to convey a clear and concise story in a single sentence is paramount.
The goal is more than just to compel people to read the story. While a well-constructed logline may not be enough to get the story read, a poorly written one will ensure that it won’t.
Rest assured, if the writer can craft a solid script, then they will absolutely be able to forge logline gold. In Mastering the Logline, we will break down each element so that the reader will have a full and complete understanding of each. Then we will bring the elements together into a single sentence, creating a compelling logline.
Reasoning from first principles may lead to unintended consequences. Sometimes struggling to construct a logline can reveal that the story itself has problems. This is great news! This book may help the writer identify the elements of the story that aren’t working. This means the humble logline also serves as a tremendous tool in crafting the rewrite. As every writer knows, writing is rewriting!
Now imagine if the writer could identify the elements of the story before committing to actual pages!
To be clear, the elements of a story are not a formula for creating a story. They are the building blocks of narrative storytelling from which the writer builds their story. Understanding the story’s elements prior to the first draft would prevent many darlings from being killed and make writing the logline even easier. There would be no unnecessary details to cloud the writer’s brain. The logline could then serve as guardrails for the story, guiding the writer towards a solid first draft, making the inevitable rewrite easier.
The logline is a powerful tool. With fluency, the logline may even become one of the writer’s favorite tools, not just for developing a new script or rewriting a completed draft, but for analyzing potential problems in ANY story. This is because the ability to write a clear logline will improve all the writer’s skills. Mastering the logline requires a mastery of conflict.
By the end of this book, the writer will be able to identify the elements of their story that define their central conflict, the same elements necessary to craft a brilliant logline. Whether that happens after their script is written, or before, that’s up to the writer. With deliberate practice, writing loglines will become second nature.
Go to Next Episode: MTL Ep 03 - That's No Logline!
Peace,
James "Doc" Mason