Storytelling Essentials: Perfecting Loglines, Synopses, and Treatments

How to Capture Your Story in a Single Sentence

A logline is your story’s first impression—a single sentence that hooks the reader and makes them want to know more. It’s like the opening act of your pitch, so it needs to be sharp, clear, and intriguing. Many writers, especially when starting out, fall into the trap of making their loglines too long, stuffing them with every detail. But the best loglines are those that capture the essence of the story in a way that’s both simple and compelling.

Think of your logline as a teaser that hints at the bigger picture without giving it all away. It should introduce your main character, the conflict they face, the world they’re in, and what’s at stake—while matching the tone of your series. For example, if your show is a thriller, your logline should feel tense and urgent. If it’s a comedy, it should have a light, humorous touch.

A great way to craft a logline is to use a simple formula: In a world where [setting], [protagonist] must [action], or else [stakes]. This helps you hit all the key points without overloading the reader. For instance, a logline for a comedy might be: “In a world where everything goes wrong, an optimistic underdog must turn his luck around before he loses everything.” This gives just enough to spark interest, leaving the reader eager to dive into the full story.

Expanding Your Story’s Core Elements

When it comes to writing a synopsis, think of it as an expanded version of your logline – a one-page document that captures the heart of your story. The synopsis should summarize your series, laying out the key elements: the title, genre, logline, and a brief rundown of the storyline, major plot points, and essential characters. This isn’t just a dry summary; it’s your chance to showcase the narrative arc and the stakes in a concise, compelling way.

Start with a header that includes your series title, your name, and contact information. Then, open with your logline to give a quick snapshot of the story. The main body of the synopsis is where you expand on the logline, following the three-act structure: setup, conflict, and resolution. Introduce the protagonist, set up the world and the initial situation, then dive into the conflicts and twists that drive the plot, and finally, wrap up with the climax and resolution, tying up loose ends.

Keep it brief and to the point – your goal is to give a clear and engaging overview of the story, not to get bogged down in details. Focus on the main plot and the key characters, and make sure the tone of your synopsis matches the tone of your script. By the end of it, the reader should have a solid understanding of what your series is about and be intrigued to learn more.

Building the Framework for Your Series

With your logline and synopsis in place, the next step is crafting the treatment or set-up, a document that takes your story from a simple idea to a fully realized narrative. The treatment serves as a detailed guide, breaking down your story scene by scene, and typically spans 10 or more pages.

Start with the basics: the title of your project, your name, and contact details, followed by the logline. Then, dive into the narrative. The treatment should cover the main plot points, character arcs, and key locations, all written in present tense to create a sense of immediacy.

While primarily text, a treatment benefits from being visually engaging. Consider adding a few images or design elements to help convey the tone and style of your project. Special touches, like detailed descriptions of the opening and closing scenes or snippets of dialogue, can further bring your vision to life. In essence, the treatment is your blueprint – a document that not only outlines your story but also conveys its emotional and thematic depth, setting the stage for production.

CME Content Academy, a project of TV Nova and TV Markiza, provides practical training alongside theoretical lectures at the Television Institute. The aim is to educate the next generation of TV professionals and enable them to work with these leading TV companies.

- Kristina Sverkunova