How to Write a Logline (don't skip this important pitching tool!)

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How to Write a Logline (don't skip this important pitching tool!)

Рет қаралды 4,652

Reedsy

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 30

@TiagoCavalcanti-ji6hu 2 ай бұрын

You're really good at it. Cheers !!!

@t0dd000 Жыл бұрын

I'm great at pitching, not so great at finishing the damn book. ;)

@durona Жыл бұрын

Wonderful advice!

@katharinecollins6575 7 ай бұрын

Excellent video! Looking at all your resources makes me love you more! Thank you!

@leosunger Жыл бұрын

This will be very helpful.

@randykarraker1210 Жыл бұрын

Nicely presented!

@michaelbjrklund9304 10 ай бұрын

Your videos are excellent, thanks.

@deadeaded Жыл бұрын

Any tips for writing a logline when you have multiple POVs that only converge at the end of the book?

@adroitws1367 Жыл бұрын

*Im leaving a mark here cuz Ive used that structure too and confused how to make logline without spoiling the conclusion

@sea4851 Жыл бұрын

Totally agree!!

@moso299 Жыл бұрын

If I had to guess, you might have to pick the most critical of your multiple POV characters (the one who owns the make-or-break moment of the story), and let the others be secondary POVs who feed in...? 😶

@mikeg8028 Жыл бұрын

Focus on the primary character/protagonist. There will generally be one who stands out from the rest as the driving force for the story. Use that as your main logline. Then, create loglines from the POV of each of the other main characters you have. Those other ones should support and run parallel to the primary protagonist's logline.

@debdfw7720 Жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@LiteRAT681 Жыл бұрын

My book is about a school principal who gets murdered and how different students react to that murder and the truth behind it. Is it OK as a logline?

@flatdude4667 Жыл бұрын

I think you have all the elements there of a great logline. However, I would replace the word Murder with Death. Reason being Murder is a definitive outcome, and since the students react to the truth behind the death of their 'beloved and respected principle..?' the impact could come from the fact it 'was' a Murder? Throw some suspense in the logline itself. Just a thought, hope that helps.

@leolightfellow Жыл бұрын

Who is the main character? And what is that character's goal?

@rebeccamaracle2878 Жыл бұрын

In a world where humanity has become deeply nostalgic due to a near-fatal brush with environmental extinction, a woman has been trained to be the perfect Historian Spy by the Mata Hari Society, an organization of time-travelers who employ seduction to gain information. She must travel back in time as Mata Hari herself, the exotic-dancer turned WWI traitor, who historical accounts all show was executed by the French for her espionage. Can she find a way to change her destiny before it's too late?

@foxyfables_bookish Жыл бұрын

Do you include log lines in a query letter ?

@mikeg8028 Жыл бұрын

No, but the logline will help you focus the query letter.

@Exayevie Жыл бұрын

Question: is it okay in a logline to bend the truth for clarity’s sake? *Example:* My story hinges on my main character conspiring with his rival’s little sister - or at least that’s what it says in the logline. She’s actually the rival’s _girlfriend’s_ little sister - but rival and girlfriend were childhood sweethearts, and rival says in the book he _sees_ this character as a little sister. Would it be okay to say “rival’s little sister,” which is technically false, if it cuts out distracting details and also gets the dynamic across better than the actual truth?? (I know I’m late, but an answer really would make my day and be SO helpful!)

@Margo_key Жыл бұрын

* Sight* trying to write it again since youtube just didn't send my reply. I am not an expert in any way, but as a reader I would say yes, very much so. It does not only simplify things, but also leaves a room for some "aha" moment when you learn that things are just a little more complicated and interesting. It's not like you were lying in the pitch, you just didn't tell all the details - which is a goal in a sense. I think it is a good decision to catch a readers' interest at least, not sure about query. And the premise itself sounds very interesting! Wish you good luck and success in your work :)

@u_t_d_s_h-1_a Жыл бұрын

Just ensure your literary work is pitched only to the right people in the publishing industry. A lot of phonies do exist whose only contribution to authors' careers is to help waste time -- even when they know from moment of pitching the work---they'd be rejecting it: some agents or publishers prohibit multiple submissions yet keep manuscripts for months on end---then relish the time they'd wasted holding onto a book before eventually rejecting it. It is what actually makes a lit if then feel publishers: disappointing authors after wasting valuable time. Give your work to real publishers, not shysters out to look good with status. That title 'publisher' does pack some really big status. Some od then use their imprints and presumed publishing firms as front for some other activities -- not advisable for disclosure in polite conversation.

@johnfogarty91 Жыл бұрын

"It is what actually makes a lit if then feel publishers: disappointing authors after wasting valuable time."....I think you wrote this in haste. Can you make sense of it for clarity?

@BooksForever Жыл бұрын

A log line is so brief, how much time is wasted even if you share it with everyone you meet?

@u_t_d_s_h-1_a Жыл бұрын

@@johnfogarty91 Your first line isn't cohesive ---Wasting upto many months -- in some cases ten months of more before replying an author -- isn't what make them publishers -- especially if projected policies inbue hope into struggling authors by prohibiting submissions --then one there's letter in the mail : "we do not find your work publishable" ---in all that whuke, prevented you from giving another copy of your work to potentially accepting publishers... Haven't you heard? Bob Coach sent 'Shenanigans of Sillily' to publishers unaccepting of multiple submission, wasted his time for months, then rejected it, he self published it -- it sold over one hundred million copies, publisher thought he found a legal ground for free cash in court in his argument -- 'he hadn't really rejected the book, he was only testing to find out if Bob Coach was serious as an author to pressure him to publish it' ---whoa!! Wouldn't you just laugh a little, mm?