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The Writer's Forge

152 members • $5/month

33 contributions to The Writer's Forge
Loglines and Coffee - Changed to Friday 1 p.m. PST
Edit: Got pulled into a meeting. I'll be available at 1! Not 11:30. See ya'll then. I want to talk about these loglines you've been developing and how they make you think about your story. And give you some important tweaks on how to think about them. I'm developing material for the Emotional Authorship seminar next week and it got me to thinking about you folks and your logs of line. Let's talk! ps. these Zoom guest and workshop events are going to be more frequent and more scheduled in the coming year. The last two months have just been figuring out what people need and actual want! Def starting to get a feel for that, thanks to you all for showing up!
Loglines and Coffee - Changed to Friday 1 p.m. PST
0 likes • 18h
I’d love feedback on my logline attempt and further general instruction/wisdom on the topic, but probably can’t make this call today. Is this something you might record and share after?
Let's talk loglines... drop yours below
I’ve been thinking a lot about my mission with this community. At its core, I want to help you write visceral, primal characters — people with real human needs, real internal fractures, and stories that hit the audience in the gut. But before we dive into wounds, meaning, and transformation, every writer needs one simple tool to ground the work: The logline. This is where the path from good scripts to holy shit scripts start. Most people think of a logline as something you need at the END of the process, for a pitch. But a precise logline can be invaluable during the writing. And while I’ll critique the formulaic nature of Save The Cat now and then, STC has a pretty clean definition of a logline. We’ll go deeper in future posts, but let’s steelman this one first. According to Save the Cat, a strong logline needs four things: 1. A clear protagonist 2. A clear goal 3. A clear obstacle or antagonist 4. The irony — the hook That last piece is the part most writers skip — and it’s the reason many loglines fall flat. Example: Groundhog Day Protagonist: Phil Connors (cynical weatherman) Goal: Escape the time loop Obstacle: Himself — his selfishness keeps him in prison Irony: A man who never appreciates the moment is forced to relive the same one forever Logline: “A man who can’t appreciate the moment is forced to live the same day over and over until he learns that meaning isn’t found in the next thing, but in showing up fully for what’s right in front of him.” Three More Famous Examples 1. Toy Story 2 Protagonist: Woody Goal: Get back to Andy Obstacle: A collector who offers eternal preservation in a museum Irony: To return home, he must choose a love that will eventually break his heart Logline: “A cowboy doll must escape a toy collector and return to his owner, even though it means choosing a love he knows will one day leave him behind.” 2. Signs Protagonist: A grieving former priest Goal: Protect his children Obstacle: A global alien invasion
3 likes • 2d
I've already adjusted it once: A young, pregnant mother and wife who yearns for peace and love must wage all-out war to defend her family and their fledgling farm from corrupt local forces in the remote hills of West Virginia.
0 likes • 1d
Hi Lena, I hope you are cool with me commenting this below — I’m never sure how much workshopping people want in a community like this. Please know the following comes from a place of wanting to be helpful. What is she a survivor of? What kind of being does she care for? What action would she be taking if she trusts her instincts? Or if she places her faith in others, what is she letting them do? I’m asking because I only have a vague sense of what the story might involve. Is the being extra-terrestrial? A pet? Is she a survivor of attempted murder, or SA, or a natural disaster, etc? I believe you have room to add a few key details.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the Phil Stark Zoom!
That was the first of many industry pros I'll be interviewing over the coming year. Thanks for a great showing. Pick up a copy of his book. Highly recommend, very practical steps on screenwriting and building a career. How to be a Screenwriter And here's Phil's Linktree with all the good links to his socials and such.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the Phil Stark Zoom!
0 likes • 1d
I ordered his book while still on the zoom! Really great opportunity, David. Thank you for setting it up. 🙏🏻
Formatting
Sunday Blessings fellow writers So its like ugh writing my scripts in Google Docs...am I the only one?? What screenwriting software do you use(if any)?? Is it free or paid??
0 likes • 2d
I've been using Scrivener's screenwriting template.
OMG people have I been preaching this exact thing or what??
This Reddit post could literally be an ad for my message in this community! Read this and drop your thoughts below!
OMG people have I been preaching this exact thing or what??
2 likes • 3d
This is timely, as I'm about to put my script away for a few days and then re-read it start to finish and try to find the Holy Shit in it. It felt like it was there as I wrote it, but that is probably my signature optimistic delusion.
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Tasha Kelly
4
66points to level up
@tasha-kelly-5427
Fledgling writer finding her voice; determined to become good.

Active 4h ago
Joined Oct 20, 2025
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