How Scriptwriters Live or Die by Their Loglines!

I don’t get no pity!

I am so tired of scriptwriters sending me messages wanting me to produce their scripts. I’m a story consultant, not a film or television producer. Not anymore anyway.

But getting mistaken pitch letters isn’t really a problem. We all type and click too quickly. And I’m certainly guilty of messing up someone’s title and work. (Please, I don’t need to hear about it!)

But what often surprises and frustrates me about these pitch messages is that these writers send everything but a logline.

What Producers Want

If I were a producer that’s all I’d want to see. A logline. Not a full script. And not claims that your story is truly original and greatness itself, that you’re a visionary. And not your sob story. Etcetera, etcetera.

And please don’t send me (or a producer) a tagline. A logline and a tagline ain’t the same, sunshine. A screenwriter (or producer?!) not knowing the difference between a logline and tagline bangs the worst death knell drum: I don’t know what I’m doing.

But here’s the real reason why I’m kvetching about these messages I get:

Often, after some pitiful prompting by me, what these pitching screenwriters most often send me as a logline is, well, politely, terrible. And fatal.

Sorry.

I really am sorry because I know how long scriptwriters sweat over their stories and how much they bond with them. I’m the same. Failure hurts. But ignorance hurts worse and longer.

The Life and Death in a Logline

Yes, loglines are insanely hard to write, but why are you sending yours to someone in the industry without it being excellent? Most probably because you didn’t get it vetted by an expert who truly knows what is a killer logline. 

But I also fear that there is an even worse problem regarding these “loglines”:

A logline, at the very least, is a dramatic, seductive summary of a story’s central conflict and hook. If a writer can’t summarize the core conflict and hook of their story after writing the script, what do you think are the chances of the script being any good? A scriptwriter needs to have their story concept be a diamond clear stunner before he or she types any script pages.

Actionable Creative Takeaway

My number 1 career life or death advice to screenwriters is:

Know how to create and write a story concept/logline!  

And don’t ever start to write a script without having developed an excellent concept statement of an original, layered, and well hooked story idea. That is what pros do! That is how great stories start.

Okay, I don’t really want pity. I just want to read and support great stories and films. And see great concepts/loglines from ambitious writers and producers. Your concept/logline is the key to creating a great film! And to pitching your script.

Next for You?

If you find it intensely difficult to develop a concept/logline statement, as a story developer I can help you. There are known and productive ways of how to create a compelling story concept.

Work with me in a one-on-one 60-minute development session where we will dig together like Trojans to produce a story concept statement that is much stronger than the one you now have. After we have wrestled with your draft logline, you should have the basic DNA to help you truly grow a story. Never forget that everything you do re your story depends on this vital one-line idea called a story concept/logline.

If you want to learn more about how I can help you craft a better logline, reply “logline” to this email.

“I highly recommend Scott to identify your hidden story gold and refine it”.  Dr. James McCabe, the Story Doctor

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How Scriptwriters Live or Die by Their Loglines!