Feed on
Posts
Comments

Guest Cindy Carroll on Loglines

June 25th, 2009 by Edie Ramer

So, what’s your story about?

As a writer, I’m sure you get asked this often. But do you know the answer? I mean really know? When most people ask what your story is about they don’t want to know your plot, all the little details, great scenes, interesting dialogue that happens. They want to know, at the most basic level, what your concept is. What is the spine that will hold the entire book together? Now do you know what your book is about? A lot of writers don’t.

When you’ve finished writing the book it’s actually a lot harder to figure out what that spine is. Boiling it down to a succinct logline is hard. You want to put in everything you think makes the story great. But you have to pick out the basics, just enough to catch someone’s interest and get them asking questions. The general consensus is the logline should be twenty-five words or less. If you go over by a few words that’s fine. But the twenty-five word limit forces you to be as precise as possible. Trim the excess words and get right to the point.

So why the heck would you need a logline? The first reason that comes to mind is the editor/agent pitch. To put in your query letter. To try out your idea on others. To help you stay focused. I actually come up with my logline first before writing the story.

What do you need in the logline and how can it help you stay focused? There are many answers to what you need in the logline but they all have three things in common. The logline should tell us WHO the story is about, WHAT he wants (Goal), and WHY he can’t have it (Conflict). A good logline will have the GMC. I like to start my loglines with the inciting incident or character motivation. Why does the protagonist need to go through this story? What prompted him to take action?

Loglines should have generic characters. By that I mean no names. Your story is about a sexy librarian, a by-the-book undercover cop. Sure, I’ve seen some loglines on some of the logline contests that contain character names. Some of those even made the cut to the next round. It’s all the preference of the agent and/or editor. The reason for the descriptor and then noun for the character is impact. It tells you more about the character then just the name.

To stop a murder, a sexy librarian must deliver a rare first edition from the library to the man holding her sister hostage, but the library burns down.

That tells me more then: To stop a murder, Lexa Tome must deliver a rare first edition from the library to the man holding her sister hostage, but the library burns down.

How does all this keep you focused? Think of all those essays you wrote in school. You had to have a thesis statement at the beginning that you would prove in the rest of your essay. The same goes for your logline and book. If you refer back to your logline every once in a while as you’re writing it can help you stay on track. By using sexy librarian I’m constantly reminded of at least one trait my heroine needs to show in every scene. By chapter four have you veered off in some other direction that has nothing to do with the core of your story? If you have that logline and know what the spine of the story is you can use that to make sure every scene, every chapter builds on that spine. Then when you’re done you don’t have to try to come up with a pitch. You already have one ready.

Anyone want to try out their loglines? National is coming up fast. Post your logline for a chance to win a copy of my loglines workshop.

Cindy Carroll

http://www.cindycarroll.com

Posted in Guest Posts | 16 Comments »

16 Responses to “Guest Cindy Carroll on Loglines”

  1. on 25 Jun 2009 at 6:28 am   Edie Ramer

    Cindy, thanks so much for your awesome blog! I got so much out of your loglines class. I recommend it to everyone! I used the logline you helped me put together at the WisRWA conference earlier this month. In addition to saying it to an editor (and getting a request), I also used it in reply to other writers who asked me what my book is about. Usually, that’s when I start rambling. :shock:

    Here’s my logline:

    A tea shop-owning alien protects herself and her family from a sexy FBI agent-turned-alien hunter with her most potent weapon — pheromones.

  2. on 25 Jun 2009 at 6:53 am   Michelle

    Edie, I LOVE your logline! Mine needs work before its made public :) .

  3. on 25 Jun 2009 at 6:54 am   Michelle

    And sorry, Cindy, thanks so much for a great blog. Lovely to have you on MM.

  4. on 25 Jun 2009 at 7:01 am   Edie Ramer

    Thanks, Michelle! Some published writers took the class, too. I think we all need that logline.

    I counted the words, and they came to 24. So I just made it!

  5. on 25 Jun 2009 at 7:24 am   Cindy

    Hi Edie! Thanks for having me here at MM. I do love that logline.

    Thanks Michelle. It’s great to be here.

  6. on 25 Jun 2009 at 8:21 am   LaDonna

    Cindy, great having you at MM! I loved your logline, and Edie’s too. Just finished a first draft, so I’m not at the logline stage yet. Your class sounds fabulous btw. :smile:

  7. on 25 Jun 2009 at 8:27 am   Mary Jo

    Now I know what I can do when I’m frustrated at a point in a scene. Work on the best logline ever. That should jump-start the process once again.

    Thanks for such a great topic.

  8. on 25 Jun 2009 at 10:13 am   Liz Kreger

    I know I’m gonna have to work on a logline … and soon since I’ll be querying within the next week or so. I just don’t have a clue as to how to do it. Perhaps your class is one I should take, Cindy.

    Thanx for joinin gus here at MM.

  9. on 25 Jun 2009 at 10:15 am   Liz Kreger

    Doh! Obviously I have a hard time previewing my posts. It should be “Thanx for joining us here …” :lol:

  10. on 25 Jun 2009 at 10:58 am   ArkansasCyndi

    great blog Cindy. Loglines are tough! You taught a wonderful class on loglines.

  11. on 25 Jun 2009 at 1:21 pm   Lori Brighton

    This is too funny. Yesterday I went to a book signing for another author and I had like five people ask me what my book was about. Of course I stammered like an idiot. lol. You think you’ve sold a book and don’t need a logline! I’ll def. be working on one this week!

  12. on 25 Jun 2009 at 6:04 pm   Mary Marvella

    Great blog, Cindy! Writing a log line isn’t easy but you made it easy to understand.

  13. on 25 Jun 2009 at 9:06 pm   Cindy

    Thanks LaDonna!

    Hi MaryJo. Working on the logline is a good idea to help jump start things.

    Hi Liz. Thanks for having me. It was fun.

    Hi Cyndi. Thanks.

    LOL Lori. I started having one ready just in case someone asked me that.

    Thanks Mary. I’m glad it’s easier to understand.

  14. on 26 Jun 2009 at 8:09 am   Sylvia Rochester

    You are fantastic in teaching others how to create a knock-out log line. I really enjoyed your class and this blog.

  15. on 28 Jun 2009 at 1:47 pm   Carol B.

    Wow, awesome post! Really made me think more about my logline (which I now realise needs a bit of work). :)

    Thanks for sharing!

    ~Carol

  16. on 28 Jun 2009 at 1:49 pm   Carol B.

    Wow, awesome post! Really made me think more about my logline (which I now realize needs a bit of work).

    Thanks for sharing!

    ~Carol