In the world of screenwriting and storytelling, premises and loglines are often considered similar. Both play a role in summarizing a story’s idea and serve as the foundation for its development. However, a deeper understanding of their differences can help writers craft stronger and more effective stories.
Premise: The Abstract Foundation of a Story
A premise is the thematic core of a story that determines the direction of conflict and character development. In his book The Art of Dramatic Writing (1942), Lajos Egri emphasized that a strong story must have a clear premise, which dictates how characters evolve and how conflicts unfold naturally. According to Egri, a premise is a statement that can be proven within the story, such as “Greed leads to destruction” or “True love overcomes all obstacles.”
Examples of premises based on Egri’s concept:
- Romeo and Juliet: Great love defies even death.
- Othello: Jealousy destroys both itself and its object of affection.
- Macbeth: Unchecked ambition leads to ruin.
A premise must have a strong cause-and-effect relationship, where the characters’ actions validate the truth of the statement.
Logline: Summarizing a Story in One Sentence
A logline is a concise summary of the story, packaged into a single concrete sentence. Typically containing 34–35 words, a logline includes key story elements such as the protagonist, antagonist, main conflict, and challenges faced. Loglines are essential in pitching stories to producers or studios, as they convey the essence of a narrative in a clear and compelling way.
Examples of loglines:
- A poor young man struggles to survive in the capital by stealing mosque donation boxes but repeatedly fails due to his own foolishness.
- A young girl searching for her mother in a big city gets lost after losing the paper with her mother’s home address.
While premises and loglines serve the same purpose of summarizing a story, they differ fundamentally in form and function. As explained by Lajos Egri, a premise is a thematic statement that forms the foundation of the story and must be proven through the narrative. In contrast, a logline is more concrete, focusing on a clear narrative summary. Understanding these differences helps writers develop structured stories that capture attention from the outset.
So, are you ready to write your own premise and logline?
