Screenwriting : Mommy, I need logline help! by Phillip E. Hardy, "The Pro From Dover"

Loglines and I have a love-hate relationship. Sometimes I wish they were a person so that I could murder them and bury them under my house. Other times I just want to smack them and not talk to them for a few days. Thanks for the great article as always Phil!

Gabriel: Thanks and don't be afraid to modify loglines and change them around. I usually write several versions and play with specific words to get them to flow better.

For sure, loglines, and book synopsis' (the latter I am much more experienced in) always take several re-writes. Sometimes even more than the manuscript or screenplay.

I am writing about them at the moment, very timely post. I tend to love them. They help me get a real understanding of my story in my head.

I have heard that people obsess over loglines. I must be naive. I wasn't even sure what a logline was ...but I noticed that there was an area on my profile page to include them. So, last Thursday, I knew nothing so I started 'googling', found out what they were, looked at good and bad examples (according to the respective websites) and created first drafts for my three WIP Screenplays. After various drafts and feedback from my family and my FaceBook followers, I now have three loglines on my profile. They may not be perfect but there is an Edit Button if I think of an improvement. It wasn't difficult. In fact, as a Writer, I enjoyed the process of research and creation. Don't obsess people! Just do. :-)

Wayne:

Good job and sounds like time well spent. Writing good loglines is an essential part of the process.

Dan, I really like that idea! It's a good way to stay focused.

Haha- could not help myself: "Spielberg’s and Tarantino’s internet bet: be the first that writes a killer logline under twenty words that gets Uwe Boll’s approval, or star in his next disaster(es) movie. -- Oops mum, I Buried the Lead!

Dude, Phil... Because of this post -- I've now submitted a logline for April.

Stephen ;

Good job.

Any other suggestions that I might follow?

Stephen:

Keep an eye peeled and read trade magazines.

The third log line in that article was my favorite.

They are hard to write, and I have yet to write one that I'm thrilled with.

I've had a writing guru insist that a log line must be (under penalty of death?) be precisely 37 words long (I flunked his class!) so obviously the winning 34 word log line must be inferior. Right?

Spielberg says a good logline needs to be under 23 words. Some even say it must be 20 words or less. Of course the thought behind this idea is to cut every word you do no really need, and/or rephrase. If your logline is a max. of 40 words and it is solid- why not. I'm still learning the trait on www.logline.it

Rutgers I still go there every now and then, review a few loglines and leave. There seems to be a few reviewers over there are start critiquing the story and not the logline.

... yes, could be Craig. Difficult to say, because the logline is also a short description of the story. They should focus on all the standard elements the logline officially needs to have.

Logline, Hogline...Who cares! Just tell me your whole damn story in one breath; then shut up. If I'm interested, I'll ask some questions; if not, I'll just walk away (don't follow).