tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7688951611084175846..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Loglines are from hellJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38848526863140261052017-12-20T07:46:10.222-05:002017-12-20T07:46:10.222-05:00Joseph Snow
Unsolicited suggestions always gratef...Joseph Snow<br /><br />Unsolicited suggestions always gratefully accepted! Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23307489181982974192017-12-19T20:45:40.001-05:002017-12-19T20:45:40.001-05:00mickibrowning
Unsolicited suggestion:
A marine ...<b>mickibrowning</b> <br /><br />Unsolicited suggestion:<br /><br />A marine scientist struggles to debunk paranormal explanations after the leader of a ghost-hunting documentary crew vanishes during a dive to a Florida Keys shipwreck.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41281488698483008642017-12-19T10:01:50.511-05:002017-12-19T10:01:50.511-05:00Here is my 27 word line for Adrift:
A marine scien...Here is my 27 word line for Adrift:<br />A marine scientist struggles to debunk paranormal explanations after the leader of a ghost-hunting documentary crew vanishes during a dive she’s leading on a Florida Keys shipwreck. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75349619298737577422017-12-18T19:03:01.774-05:002017-12-18T19:03:01.774-05:00I had hoped to leave this to the professionals. Yo...I had hoped to leave this to the professionals. You know, like hire the USA today person. This post has piqued my interest.<br /><br />So here is an attempt of mine:<br /><br />Knowing that her abductor is loose, Justin Thomas wants to make sure his employee is safe, then he steps into the sale of biologic weapons.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18007487988155732952017-12-18T18:49:36.393-05:002017-12-18T18:49:36.393-05:00New York Literary Agent on the run when her disdai...New York Literary Agent on the run when her disdain for log lines goes viral. It's <i>fin</i> for The Shark when her chums turn predator, unless she can salvage her reputation with a few pithy lines...<br /><br />Yeah, it's hard. Let's stick with queries, can we? :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33223430190392439382017-12-18T18:25:56.093-05:002017-12-18T18:25:56.093-05:00That is a helpful article, Roadkills-r-us.
Thanks....That is a helpful article, Roadkills-r-us.<br />Thanks.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86687718968142035772017-12-18T18:17:50.704-05:002017-12-18T18:17:50.704-05:00And following up on Joseph Snoe's follow-up :-...And following up on Joseph Snoe's follow-up :-), I find the USA Today bestsellers have much better descriptions than the NYTimes. Not great, by any stretch, but better. Referring to (I think) the same books in USA Today:<br /><br />Year One: Chronicles of the One, Book 1<br />byNora Roberts<br />Magic, both good and bad, rises up after a devastating plague causes society to collapse; first in trilogy<br /><br />Origin<br />by Dan Brown<br />Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is on the hunt (and run) again as he searches for a cryptic password in Spain<br /><br />The Rooster Bar<br />byJohn Grisham<br />Three law school students, drowning in debt, decide to expose the hedge-fund operator behind a chain of shady, third-tier law schools — including their own<br /><br />The People vs. Alex Cross<br />byJames Patterson<br />Alex Cross works on a case despite his suspension after shooting his nemesis, Gary Soneji; 25th in series<br /><br />The Midnight Line<br />byLee Child<br />The discovery of a West Point 2005 ring in a pawn shop leads Jack Reacher on a hunt for the female cadet who left it and onto a larger conspiracy<br /><br />(The Fifty Shades one is bad on both)Jennifer S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12763991175668718419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11519956309542411152017-12-18T14:52:40.199-05:002017-12-18T14:52:40.199-05:00I was never quite sure what a logline was (tagline...I was never quite sure what a logline was (taglines I got). This site helped me.<br /><br />https://rwasd.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/loglines-and-taglines-are-different-and-you-need-both-for-your-novel-by-r-ann-siracusa/<br /><br />I feel like I understand now, but would still as soon not have to write a log line.<br /><br />(Yes, my period is where it belongs, which is NOT where the long-revered US rules of grammar claims it belongs. 8^)roadkills-r-ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029861300358380117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78143808852004449052017-12-18T14:51:28.631-05:002017-12-18T14:51:28.631-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.roadkills-r-ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029861300358380117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19797396930618864062017-12-18T14:20:22.570-05:002017-12-18T14:20:22.570-05:00Following up on Jennifer Brown’s idea to check bes...Following up on Jennifer Brown’s idea to check best sellers lists and proving Janet Reid's assertion loglines are difficult, here are four of the first seven from the New York Times Best Sellers list:<br /><br />When a pandemic strikes and the world spins into chaos, several travelers head west to find a new life.<br /><br />A symbology professor goes on a perilous quest with a beautiful museum director. <br /><br />Christian Grey's tormented and difficult pursuit of Anastasia Steele is told from his perspective.<br /><br />Jessica Reel and Will Robie fight a dangerous adversary in Colorado.<br /><br />None of the above is a substitute for coffee. The other three would be just as effective if they read<br /><br />This is John Grisham’s latest novel.<br />This is a Jack Reacher book.<br />Alex Cross is on trial for murder.<br /><br />(ooh - I need to get the Alex Cross is on trial for murder one. I like my quickie log line better than the actual one of "Detective Cross takes on a case even though he has been suspended from the department and taken to federal court to stand trial on murder charges." - and PS - Why is he in FEDERAL court on a murder charge?)<br /><br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35738289800274642852017-12-18T14:13:36.770-05:002017-12-18T14:13:36.770-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82229278570165814052017-12-18T12:41:03.924-05:002017-12-18T12:41:03.924-05:00Bethany - sending prayers & thoughts your way....<b>Bethany</b> - sending prayers & thoughts your way. There are no cliches in real life. Glad you are OK.<br /><br />Thanks for the post, Janet. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64662921135779052732017-12-18T12:35:00.857-05:002017-12-18T12:35:00.857-05:00Please, Ms. Reid, PLEASE NEVER remove this website...Please, Ms. Reid, PLEASE NEVER remove this website of yours!<br /><br />Like everyone else, I am a very busy person. To be able to come here, read, absorb and move on, helps me be a productive person. <br /><br />It's a wealth of information at our fingertips. THANK YOU!Janice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78499409190800646382017-12-18T12:34:58.492-05:002017-12-18T12:34:58.492-05:00'Tis true, writing a bad logline is hard. But ...'Tis true, writing a bad logline is hard. But writing a good one is easy.<br /><br />Don't remember the name of the movie, but I do remember the logline:<br /><br /> Like father,<br /> Like son,<br /> Like hell.<br /><br />Or this. from COMA:<br /><br /> Imagine your life hangs by a thread.<br /> Imagine your body hangs by a wire.<br /> Imagine you're not imagining.<br /><br />Brilliant, eh? What can you expect? Michael Crichton wrote the screenplay and directed.<br /><br />Notice the same structure in both loglines.<br /><br />Or this one from many years ago:<br /><br /> It's 25 years later,<br /> And Norman Bates is coming home.<br /> PSYCHO 2.<br /><br />That's all you need to know. I usually ignore that type of movie. But I went to see PSYCHO 2. And it was better than the original.<br /><br />There are three distinct parts. All three are succint. The last part punches a pack. Log lines do not work for me if they ramble on. And on. And on. And on. And on. And on.<br /><br />Finally the ultimate in brevity: I never go to see supernatural horror movies, but when I was a kid I saw an ad on TV that compelled me to make an exception. The video was a Victorian era baby carriage motionless atop a craggy cliff. There is a loud noise of wind blowing and a voice iover says,<br /><br /> Pray for Rosemary's Baby.<br /><br />After which we hear a baby crying.<br /><br />Whoa! Damn good movie. A masterpiece to tell the truth. The ad was irresistible.<br /><br />It's so easy, why doesn't anyone do it today?<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6205536839777065202017-12-18T12:26:59.276-05:002017-12-18T12:26:59.276-05:00When I need inspiration for writing a log line (an...When I need inspiration for writing a log line (and, hey, I'm doing that right now, though I think of it as my "elevator pitch"), I read the short descriptions on bestseller lists. USA Today always has a one-line summary of each book, and it gives me ideas for what works (to me) and what doesn't. But it's handy to have a single line or two you can toss out when someone says, "So, what's your book about?"Jennifer S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12763991175668718419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74333381339470572252017-12-18T12:15:40.855-05:002017-12-18T12:15:40.855-05:00This is OT, but I know we've got a lot of peop...This is OT, but I know we've got a lot of people here who send prayers and good thoughts - an Amtrak derailed over a busy highway near Seattle. It looks like at least 7 railcars derailed, one of which burned and flipped completely.<br /><br />This is my home. Cliché as it is, it just seems unreal that it happened <i>here</i>.Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73741215036335960762017-12-18T11:30:45.571-05:002017-12-18T11:30:45.571-05:002Ns, Sounds like a business to me!2Ns, Sounds like a business to me!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999175415765818941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90553151165870212432017-12-18T10:57:06.461-05:002017-12-18T10:57:06.461-05:00I LOVE to write log lines.
Here's my favorite...I LOVE to write log lines.<br /><br />Here's my favorite...<br /><br />I met my parents for the first time after they died.<br /><br />That line got me an interview on TV in NYC.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19121756835896456942017-12-18T10:28:07.525-05:002017-12-18T10:28:07.525-05:00I love this from The Last Mrs. Parrish
Some women...I love this from The Last Mrs. Parrish<br /><br />Some women get everything<br />Some women get everything they deserve<br /><br />Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24719536480773985482017-12-18T09:47:47.310-05:002017-12-18T09:47:47.310-05:00I feel like loglines also lend themselves to some ...I feel like loglines also lend themselves to some genres more easily than others. It could be a useful writing exercise, if nothing else. Also, a logline would give me something more to say than, 'Oh... hmm. Well, it's about this person.. hmm' when family asks what my book is about. Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47629672277453963682017-12-18T09:23:03.847-05:002017-12-18T09:23:03.847-05:00I don't even want to think about this, but rea...I don't even want to think about this, but really is it much different than an "elevator pitch"? Sum up your story in one or two lines.julieweathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10198357981793324007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59667718998421493552017-12-18T09:02:18.224-05:002017-12-18T09:02:18.224-05:00I would read the HELL out of a story about a 19th ...I would read the HELL out of a story about a 19th century Japanese mermaid in a gang. The Noise In Spacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13433798159445551782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82633250962735276562017-12-18T08:55:10.261-05:002017-12-18T08:55:10.261-05:00I was going to mention the same book, Micki Browni...I was going to mention the same book, Micki Browning. :)Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03365582623380288038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65186326544577840562017-12-18T08:16:33.221-05:002017-12-18T08:16:33.221-05:00A.k.a. bumper sticker it. A.k.a. bumper sticker it. Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09868642232827730189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66572402706464349732017-12-18T08:12:15.430-05:002017-12-18T08:12:15.430-05:00If I can make a recommendation: Lane Shefter Bisho...If I can make a recommendation: Lane Shefter Bishop wrote a book called Sell Your Story in a Single Sentence. While it specifically addresses loglines, I use it to clarify my story thoughts in my initial planning stage. It forces me to think about the story in a fresh way. At the completion of the story, I may tweak the sentence some, but then it acts as my elevator pitch or short blurb. It can be expanded into a query (and it's a heck of a lot easier to expand it). It's a brilliant exercise, even if you are never called upon to offer a logline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com