Protagonist · Goal · Obstacle · Stakes
Logline Generator
A logline pitches a story in one sentence: who wants what, what stands in the way and what happens if they fail. Tell the logline generator who the protagonist is, what sets the story in motion, what they want and do, what or who opposes them and what is at risk. You get several concise versions that put the protagonist, the conflict and the stakes in the sentence without giving away the ending.
How to Use the Logline Generator
Fill in the parts of the pitch
Enter the protagonist and the goal, which are required, then add the inciting incident, what the protagonist does, the obstacle or opponent and the risk, stakes or deadline. A specific role and a specific stake beat a general one, so a lighthouse keeper with one night is better than a woman with a problem.
Compare versions
Ask for three or five loglines. Each one is a single sentence of roughly 25 to 45 words. Check that it names or characterizes the protagonist, shows the goal and the obstacle, and makes the stakes clear. The versions differ in emphasis, so you can see which element your story leads with.
Adjust and rewrite
Copy the one you prefer, or choose Write this story to carry it into the story generator. If one part is weak, change the matching box, for example a sharper deadline, and generate again. More like this builds alternatives on the logline you pick.
Put the Conflict in the Sentence
A logline without an obstacle reads like a description. A lighthouse keeper searches for her brother is a premise. A lighthouse keeper must expose a smuggling route before a storm closes the harbor, or lose her brother, is a story. Look for the word that shows opposition, such as but, before or unless.
Keep the Ending Out
A logline invites a reader to ask what happens next, so it should stop before the answer. If a result reveals the resolution, change the stakes box to describe the risk rather than the outcome, or redo the result with a note that the ending must not appear.
Three Starting Pitches to Adapt
These are example inputs you can change before generating. The results will vary with your choices.
A mystery
Protagonist: a lighthouse keeper. Incident: she finds her missing brother's coat on an unmanned boat. Goal: find him before the storm closes the harbor. Obstacle: a harbor master who is part of it. Stakes: her brother and the island's only lamp.
A fantasy
Protagonist: a cartographer's apprentice. Incident: the last true map is stolen. Goal: recover it before the guild collapses. Stakes: her village disappears from every map.
A comedy
Protagonist: a retired superhero running a bookshop. Incident: a teenager asks to be trained. Goal: teach her in a week. Obstacle: his old enemy is in the shop.
Turn the Pitch Into a Plan
Plan the whole arc with the story outline generator, or find a title for the story with the story title generator.
Questions About the Logline Generator
What makes a good logline?
One sentence that names or characterizes the protagonist, shows their goal, identifies what opposes them and makes the stakes clear. It should not reveal the ending.
Do I need to fill in every box?
No. The protagonist and the goal are required. The other boxes are optional, but the more you provide, the closer the sentence is to your own story.
Can I use a logline for a query letter or pitch?
Yes, as a starting point. Read it aloud, check that it is accurate to your story and adjust the wording to match your voice before sending it anywhere.
How long is a logline?
The generator aims for one sentence of about 25 to 45 words. Longer versions tend to lose the stakes, so trim anything that does not help the reader see the conflict.
Is it free?
Yes. Logline generation uses no credits and shares the daily request limit with the other planning tools.
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Pitch Your Story in One Sentence
Fill in the protagonist, the goal and the stakes, then compare concise versions.