Last week I posted one way to start crafting our LOGLINES. Well, there’s more. Isn’t that always the case? Just when you think, “Ah ha! I’ve got it, by golly,” some smarty says, “But. . .” And you know you’re in for more to deal with.
One thing you don’t want is a blah protagonist. No. Those MC’s have to take the bits in their teeth and run. If you recall, I left my three fascinating MC’s here. (Well, one of these *characters isn’t mine, but he was so great, I wanted to create a logline in his honor.)
Here’s my next step in making my MC’s more proactive and my story more exciting. I’ve underlined the parts I’ve worked on.
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| My Talented Zombie |
- A talented zombie must elude his sister, a zealous zombie hunter, so he can perform Hamlet before she destroys him.
- A talented zombie sets a trap to capture his sister, a zealous zombie hunter, so he can perform Hamlet before she destroys him.
- A *heroic lizard must escape life threatening enemies to save his community from a Cat.
- A *heroic lizard outwits life threatening enemies to save his community from a Cat.
- A clairvoyant gas station attendant must track down his killer to prevent his own murder.
- A clairvoyant gas station attendant sets up a sting to capture his killer and prevent his own murder.
- A talented zombie sets a trap to capture his sister, a zealous zombie hunter out to destroy him before opening night.
- A *heroic lizard outwits life threatening enemies to save his community before a Cat attacks.
- A clairvoyant gas station attendant has one week to set up a sting and capture the man hired to kill him.
What I’m Celebrating This Week
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| VIKLIT |
Halloween is big on Small Things List.
Hat’s Off Corner
Sin City Collectors Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning urban fantasy for Orbit Books. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter @Kristen_Painter, Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor where she loves to interact with readers and her blog: http://kristenpainter.com/blog/
I love this post! I'm bookmarking it. 😀
It is nice to read a hook! It makes me want to know more, keep reading, etc.
LOVE halloween.
Your logline examples have great hooks for readers.
I want to see this talented zombie perform Hamlet!!!
(Although the bit about whether or not to kill himself loses a bit of significance when he's already dead.) Ooh, this reminds me there's a new Walking Dead episode tonight!
Halloween is definitely something to celebrate! Have a great weekend!
I am just getting to the point when I am beginning to think of loglines and querys and all that jazz. This was very interesting… and timely!
Some more great advice and so deftly written to click it into my head. I must see your costume:) I believe I will go a Goo from Gumby:)
Cheryl! Wow, you're good at these loglines. Wouldn't want to write mine, eh??? LOL. Honestly, you should hire yourself out and make mega bucks.
Ooh, that party sounds like heaps of fun. Hope you have a fantastic time! 🙂
I love yur logline examples!
Yvonne
That should be "your." 🙂
Now that I've stopped laughing, I need to wipe my eyes. I'm saving all the logline coaching. 1. It's good, 2. it'll be useful, and 3. It's funny as all getoutl
Lovin' the luscious logline lesson!
My stories always involve real people, and I've never thought about how it would be to write with zombies as main characters. Thinking of motivations and such would certainly be interesting in that case!
Ever since you started mentioning the logline advice, I've been mulling over one for an MG story I've got ready to share if I can kidnap – erm – snag the right editor to pick it up 🙂
Oh yeah, I love this ticking clock one!!!!! You rock! 😀
Thanks for the side by side comparisons. That is very helpful. This is a skill I need all the help with I can get.
I'm loving the "must" in the loglines. And I recognize Bish's great new story! The ticking clock is a great addition to any logline. So many things to remember… Say hi to your clever zombie for me! 🙂
I'm saving these for when I write my log lines. Yours are so good.
I love log lines. And that's very true about the ticking clock!
That zombie looks a little like the actor Hugh Laurie….I suck at blurbs and log lines… I love Halloween because it's fun for children and adults. Have fun this weekend!
Log lines are the bane of my existence. Yours, however, are stellar.
Another great log line post! You rock.
I love ticking clock plots too. Sounds great.
Wow! I agree with Melissa. You are the logline queen. I have a logline post planned for NaNo prep, but I think I might just post links to your posts because they are awesome!
I'm working a "ticking clock" into my current WIP and into the logline for the next one because without that I seem to meander.
Lovely celebrations!
You're the logline queen. 🙂
Ooo, ticking clock. Okay, you've given me more to think about when crafting log lines. =)
My process is only one way, but I like to use it while I practice. And it gets my juices flowing.
I like the "ticking clock" tip. Hooray, fall is here. I love fall.
Of course, in any cookbook you're always up against the ticking clock. Timing is all for those recipes.
You need to post a photo of your costume then.
So many different ways to do a logline. You could have a lot of fun playing with it.
I was hoping my narwhale get up would be enough. 🙂