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Need Help Writing Your Book’s Logline?
Here’s a step-by-step how-to
Even if you’ve never heard the word logline, you’ve read and used them a bazillion times. Loglines are short descriptions that state the central plot conflict as well as a story’s emotional hook. The term comes from old Hollywood, where studios kept hundreds of scripts, each logged in a book by a single descriptive sentence, the logline.
Before you object to writing one for your book, know that this information is just as important for readers as moviegoers. It’s how most people will decide, “Is this something I want to spend time with?”
When you have a book to share with the world, you don’t want to just tell people about it. You want them enthusiastic. Having a tight description can make or break their excitement. Why not give yourself the best possible shot? After all, it’s just a formula.
The logline formula
In a (SETTING) a (PROTAGONIST) [has/undergoes/experiences] a (PROBLEM/INCITING INCIDENT) (caused by ANTAGONIST) and (faces CONFLICT/OBSTACLE) as [they] try to (achieve a GOAL).
The exact order is less important than the ingredients. The end result will be one or two sentences describing the protagonist, their goal, and the major source of conflict. But perhaps most importantly, you…
