VIKLIT Co-Hosts |
LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse
This week my small celebrations are:
finishing line edits ahead of schedule on Double Negative.
writing one short story for Heroes of Phenomena Book Launch.
composing a fairly decent logline and tagline for Double Negative. (See below.)
composing a fairly decent logline and tagline for Double Negative. (See below.)
staying cool during our 102 degree day. Yuck!
Oh, and not succumbing to my triskaidekaphobia today.
Oh, and not succumbing to my triskaidekaphobia today.
Oh no! Not Friday the Thirteenth. |
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I’m visiting another UNCOMMONYA author this week, MELISSA WRAY. It would be great if you’d stop by. You can read me in my verbose, writer mode. It happens sometimes.
MELISSA WRAY, AUTHOR OF DESTINY ROAD |
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Are you good at writing LOGLINES or TAGLINES? It takes some practice, I can tell. You. And are you clear on how these two are different? If not, here’s what I know about them.
LOGLINES tell you in a single sentence what the story is about.
TAGLINES are intended to catch your interest.
SOURCE |
An example: Jaws
Logline: A sheriff must find and kill a man-eating and frighteningly intelligent shark before it murders again and scares away all the tourists who support his beach-front community.
Tag Line: Don’t go into the water.
Tell me what you think about mine. I could use some help if you see where these could be better, please tell me.
Double Negative
Logline: Shackled by near illiteracy, a teenage boy decides escape from his alcoholic mother and absentee father will give him a better life, but his bad choices trap him in even a worse place.
Tagline: Going to juvie wasn’t part of his escape plan. (I’m still fiddling with this one. I may be back with another version next week.)
Are you celebrating anything this week? Are you good at loglines and taglines? Triskaidekaphobia much?
DMS says
Great post! Sorry you recently had 102 degree weather. UGH! HOT!
Awesome news about the edits being ahead of schedule. That is always a nice thing. I think the log line and tag line sound good. I put two versions below that I did a little tweaking too- but please feel free to ignore- these are just thoughts and I thought the ones you wrote sounded excellent!
Logline: Shackled by functional illiteracy, a teenage boy decides escape from his alcoholic single mother will give him a better life, but his bad choices trap him in an even worse place.
Tagline: Getting trapped wasn't part of his escape plan. (not sure if trapped works for being put in juvie- since I haven't read the book).
Best of luck!
~Jess
klahanie says
Log lines, tag lines, headlines, I can do it all. Still, this was well cool.
Glad your edits are ahead of schedule. I have no idea about editing. First time written is always good. Well, first time written by Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar is always good.
102 degrees? You had better meant in Fahrenheit. Or that really was a Friday the 13th to remember and forget because it's all over….
I shall now go and get sorted in a darkened room…………..
Gary………………………..!
KAT Writer says
I was left with very little understanding of the story. After just reading the logline I know there is an illiterate teenage boy with crappy parents who is in trouble. I don't know what he has to overcome or why I would want to read about a kid in trouble.
I think I would leave out absentee father because you don't have to escape from him and start with his Desire to escape from her but shackled (I like that term a lot) by his illiteracy he chooses the only option available to him and too late realizes it was the wrong choice. or now he is shackled by the law.
I needed to hear more so bringing in the juvie from the tagline helped me understand how terribly wrong his choice was.
I am concerned about him being in juvie seeming like the end of the story. So maybe something about new escape plan or could it be worse than living with alcoholic mother? I need a little more information to see where the story is going. Or does this bring absentee dad into the picture?
Okay that may be more confusing than help; but I hope not.
http://katloveswriting.blogspot.com
Heather Holden says
Congrats on finishing your line edits and writing a story! 🙂
Congrats on coming up with a logline and tagline, as well. I'm never good at writing those sorts of things!
Medeia Sharif says
I like the sound of Double Negative. I look forward to reading it.
I'll check out the link.
Shah Wharton says
I'm a tragic sales person and I think it takes a great one to write great log line/tag lines. Yours makes me ask questions. To me, that ticks boxes. 🙂
shahwharton.com
D Biswas says
I have to do the Logline- Tagline exercise for my book– thanks for this!
Lynda R Young says
Loglines and taglines are not my forte. I take ages deliberating over them.
Reviews from a Bookworm says
I really like the tagline, it definitely catches your interest! 🙂
Diane Jortner says
It is so hard to sum up a story in just a few sentences. My question is does getting into juvie represent the beginning or the
end of the action?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Good question.
DEZMOND says
just put some bars on the cover…… I hear bars, knifes, guns, and words blood, death, kill on the covers sell books better than anything…. it's the saddest truth ever…. People nowadays are sick…
C. Lee McKenzie says
Bar? Now I'm worried. I haven't seen the cover yet.
Suzanne Furness says
It can be hard summing up a story in a few lines but I think you have done a good job here. I don't have a problem with the number 13 I actually quite like it – one of my children was born on the 13th! Enjoying the sun here although not quite as hot as you there. Have a cool weekend 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have every reason to embrace the 13th!
Yvonne Ventresca says
I like the tagline.
Yvonne
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, YV. It only took a few months to make it. 🙂
writerlysam.com says
Just think of 13 chocolate chip cookies, or 13 cups of coffee, or 13 bottles of wine:) Yay for crossing the finish "line edits" and double YAY for joining my Hollywood Heroes circus!!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I was delighted to hop on board. Thanks.
Sherry Ellis says
I guess I'm not sure what "juvie" means. You may want a different word,so clueless people like me know what you're talking about. 🙂
Good luck!
C. Lee McKenzie says
That' because you're a good person, Sherry. Juvenile Hall is often referred to as Juvie.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Loglines and taglines petrify me. My mind goes blank. Well, that's not so unusual. 🙂
Congratulations on your forthcoming book. That's so exciting.
Going to check out the interview. Have a lovely weekend.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'll be over there today. Thanks for the visit as always.
Cherie Reich says
Find a way to stay cool! Love your tagline!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Cherie. You're one busy author this month!
Lexa Cain says
I was all set to comment on the post, but scrolled down too far and got distracted by J.E.McLeod's post on the sidebar. My eyes bugged out. I may be scarred for life. I'll let you know…
OK, back to the post. I loved the interview, and yay for finishing line edits. (I HATE line edits…) Loglines and taglines are killers. I go through lots and let my CPs bat them down. Good luck on yours!
C. Lee McKenzie says
What is that girl thinking? I'd missed it, but since you didn't. . .I had to see what caught your eye. Yikes.
Mere Joyce says
I haven't practiced loglines or taglines much, but they definitely seem tricky. Hope you have a good day…I love Friday the 13th, so I never complain when one comes around!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have a healthy attitude. Mine is steeped in age old superstitious gobble gook!
L.G. Keltner says
It sounds like you've had a productive week! Have a fantastic weekend!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Back with the same to you!
Caffe Maggieato says
I'm no good with log lines but I love your tag lines. Sounds like you've had a very productive week. Way to go!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks. I may still have some tweaking to do.
Misha Gericke says
I suck at summarizing my stories. Period.
Your logline sounds good. Tagline needs work, though. I might be wrong, but I think a tagline can actually be a few short sentences. (Can't think of examples, though.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
From what I've read a tagline is a single, emotional sentence. The log line can be a couple of short sentences.
Chrys Fey says
I'm a new author, but I've found that I'm pretty good with loglines and taglines.I personally think they are fun to come up with. 🙂
Good for you for finishing your sentence edits ahead of schedule. That is definitely something to celebrate.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're lucky to have that talent.
shelly says
Actually, I love your tagline. I think its great.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm putting you down on the Yay side of the vote.
Southpaw says
What fun! No, not the 102 degree weather. Sorry about that! Loglines and taglines. I have no idea if I'm any good or not.
The logline tripped me up at the end "but his bad choices trap him in even a worse place." Try removing 'even'. I think that might be what was messing with me.
The tagline is fun.Like—whoopsies.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think taking even out is a good idea.
Tyrean Martinson says
Yikes – that is hot!!! I would struggle. And, I can't say that word – but I can try. 🙂
I really like the tagline although it might be fun to take out the to like Alex did – Going juvie wasn't part of his escape plan . . . definitely like that.
And I like your logline too. Nice example and description of loglines and taglines. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Very reasonable weather here today.
Angela Brown says
You've got some hot weather happening. And no, don't succomb to that readlly difficult word I didn't know how to properly read or say (lol!!) Friday is just another day and it just happens to be the 13th day of the month. There.
I like your logline. That was clear and concise. The tagline is pretty good. The only thing is the use of the word juvie. I would like to think that pretty much anyone would know what that refers to but that could be something to think on.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That was brought up below, Angela. Guess Juvie isn't as well known as I thought.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Going juvie – funny phrase. I like it.
That is really, really hot. Don't blame you for saying yuck.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Guess you know what Juvie is, Alex. Hmmm. Wondering about that.