What industry pros look for

The notes the community's most respected reviewers give most often — with real examples of each. Fix these before you post.

1 Active protagonist

They pursue something — things don't just happen to them.

A logline must show what the protagonist does, not just what happens to them. Audiences follow protagonists who want something and take action to get it — the most common note by far is that the lead is passive.

Test: Distinguish setup (what happens) from plot (what the character does about it).

Seen in 316 real reviews

Real reviews where the community's most respected reviewers raised this exact note — quoted so you can see what it looks like in practice.

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2 Named antagonist

If it isn't implied, name the opposing force in 2–3 words.

Without a clear obstacle there is no story. The antagonist — a person, a force, a deadline — is what makes the goal difficult. "Everything" or "society" is never specific enough.

Test: Name the specific force opposing the protagonist.

Seen in 663 real reviews

Real reviews where the community's most respected reviewers raised this exact note — quoted so you can see what it looks like in practice.

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3 Cause & effect

A clear major event forces a specific goal.

A logline traces a causal chain: event → goal → obstacle → stakes. If the inciting incident has no bearing on what the character must do, the story feels random.

Test: Ask: why does this event force the protagonist to pursue this goal?

Seen in 228 real reviews

Real reviews where the community's most respected reviewers raised this exact note — quoted so you can see what it looks like in practice.

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