Logline Workshop & Tester
Fill-in-the-blanks logline builder · Test your pitch
The logline is the hardest exercise for a writer. Many look for formulas to make sure every element is there.
Use the four slots below: Protagonist, Trigger incident, Goal, and Antagonist/Stakes. The tool assembles the sentence, counts words (alerts if over 35), and checks that all conflict elements are present.
How it works
The template is: "When [protagonist] [trigger], they must [goal] before [stakes]." The tool concatenates your inputs, counts words with a simple split on spaces, and flags if any of the four slots are empty so you can ensure conflict and clarity. Everything runs in your browser,no data is sent to any server.
What is a logline?
A logline is a one-sentence summary of your story that presents the protagonist, the triggering incident, what they want, and what’s at stake if they fail. It’s the version of your idea that fits in an email subject line or on a tracking board.
Readers, reps, and executives use loglines to decide whether to read the script. A clear, conflict-driven logline makes the genre, engine, and emotional promise obvious in under 35 words.
Logline examples
Here are a few sample loglines built with this formula. Use them as inspiration, not templates to copy word-for-word.
- FEATURE · MYSTERY / HORROR
When a 1920s detective discovers the dark designs of an unspeakable cult, they must solve the case before losing their mind for good.
- FEATURE · CHARACTER DRAMA
When a burnt-out ER doctor is forced to supervise the intern who reported her for malpractice, she must salvage her career and conscience before one more mistake destroys them both.
- SERIES · CRIME THRILLER
When a rookie cop is assigned to an elite anti-corruption unit, they must expose their own mentor’s criminal network before it swallows their family and career.
Logline generator FAQ
These answers cover the most common questions writers have about writing and testing loglines.
Most working writers aim for 20–30 words. Our tool flags anything over 35 words so you can trim modifiers and subplots. If you can’t express the core conflict in one tight sentence, the concept may still be too vague.
At minimum: a specific protagonist, a clear trigger (what changes their world), a concrete goal, and real stakes or opposition if they fail. Genre and tone are a bonus when they appear naturally in the wording. If any of those pieces are missing, the idea usually feels flat.
Yes. For features, focus on the single spine of the story from inciting incident to climax. For pilots or series, frame the engine: what happens every week, what the protagonist does, and what tension keeps the episodes going.
The formula is there to make sure you don’t forget story essentials,not to sand off what makes your idea unique. Once all four pieces are present, rewrite for voice, specificity, and surprise. The tool gives you a clear, conflict-driven draft you can then polish.
Want help turning that logline into a script?
ScreenWeaver gives you a living map of your story so you can see structure, beats, and pacing while you write. Use this logline as the spine of a project, then develop sequences and scenes without losing the big picture.
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