A logline generator turns the core of your story into the one-sentence summary used to pitch a film or series. Fill in who the story is about, what happens to start it, what they must do, what stands in the way and what they lose if they fail, and this tool writes three loglines from proven formulas so you can compare them.
How to use the logline generator
- Describe the protagonist in a few words, without a name: "a burned-out ferry captain" says more than "Mara".
- Add a flaw if it shapes the story: "who hasn't left the island in ten years".
- Fill in the inciting incident, the goal, the obstacle and the stakes.
- Compare the three versions, copy the strongest, and rewrite it in your own voice.
The three formulas
| Formula | Shape | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| When-must-but | When [incident], [protagonist] must [goal], but [obstacle], or [stakes]. | The classic: cause, goal, conflict, cost |
| Must-after | [Protagonist] must [goal] after [incident]; if they fail, [stakes]. | Leads with who and what they must do |
| Sets out but | [Protagonist] sets out to [goal], but [obstacle], and if they fail, [stakes]. | Puts the conflict at the center |
What the checks look for
- Length. Most strong loglines run 25 to 50 words. Shorter often leaves out the conflict; longer starts telling the plot.
- A description, not a name. A name means nothing to a reader yet; an adjective and a role do.
- An obstacle. Without opposition there's no story, only a task.
- Stakes. The reader should know what's lost if the protagonist fails.
Example
Protagonist: a burned-out ferry captain who hasn't left the island in ten years. Incident: a stranger leaves a baby on the night ferry. Goal: get the baby to its mother before dawn. Obstacle: the only person who knows the mother wants the child for himself. The first formula gives: "When a stranger leaves a baby on the night ferry, a burned-out ferry captain who hasn't left the island in ten years must get the baby to its mother before dawn, but the only person who knows the mother wants the child for himself."
Read the logline guide for more examples and common mistakes, and use the plot generator if you don't have a premise yet.
Keep the logline next to the script
In Scenaloom the logline lives in your project's story bible, where the AI assistant reads it when you ask for notes, so suggestions stay on your story. Start a project free.
Questions
How long should a logline be?
One sentence, usually 25 to 50 words. It should name the protagonist by description, the inciting incident, the goal, the obstacle and the stakes, and stop before the ending.
Should a logline include the character's name?
Usually not. A short description such as "a disgraced paramedic" tells the reader who the person is; a name tells them nothing until they meet the character.
Does a logline give away the ending?
No. A logline sells the setup and the conflict. A synopsis or treatment tells the ending.
Is this an AI logline generator?
No. It assembles your own answers into three proven sentence patterns in your browser, so the logline is built from your story and nothing is sent anywhere.