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Wikipedia says:
A log line or logline is a brief summary of a television program or film, often providing both a synopsis of the program’s plot, and an emotional “hook” to stimulate interest.
But for many of us, that isn’t enough info to get started on writing one.
I love this quote about it from TheScriptLab:
The thing is, in Hollywood, nobody reads. Scripts live and die everyday from “the pitch”. And there’s a big difference between a logline used to explain your storyand the one used to “sell” your script. So you must think of your logline as a “marketing tool” and follow these three fundamental tricks of the logline trade:
(1) Be brief, under 25 words if possible, (2) Stay simple, yet incredibly enticing, and (3) Be direct, no hinting allowed.
Looking for more tips and examples? I’ve got a 3 more great tutorials for you below.
- The Logline: What It Is, Why You Need It, How To Write It.
- THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LOGLINE
- How to Write a Great Screenplay Script Logline
What tip would you offer someone whose never written a logline before? Please share it with us below.
Hillary DePiano is a playwright, fiction and non-fiction writer who loves writing of all kinds except for writing bios like this.
The logline can be your best friend and your worst nightmare. If you make one before you write your script it can keep you focused as you write it. If you make one after you write your script, it can be the best damn summery of your story ever, and the best pitch you’ll ever have.
Me personally? I’d do what my Screenwriting teacher did and use Blake Snyder’s template. It got me an A on that assignment in class.