Delivering a Powerful Theme
The most powerful and persuasive stories don’t simply entertain or enlighten – they challenge their readers and audiences to transform.
Make Your Characters Distinct
In the outstanding film HIDDEN FIGURES, screenwriters Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi faced the formidable task of immediately…
Embracing Extreme Heroes
To add depth to the hero of your screenplay, novel, speech or marketing tool you must give that hero some fear to be confronted and overcome.
Changing Your Hero’s Goal
I’m sometimes challenged when I proclaim that the hero of a story must decide on his or her Outer Motivation during the New Situation…
Q&A: What Are My Chances?
I’m two months away from getting my BA in Creative Writing for Entertainment. Throughout the two and half years in this program…
Don’t Summarize!
A common weakness among all storytellers – screenwriters and novelists as well as marketers and presenters – is the tendency to summarize.
Q&A: Structure by the Numbers
Q: I have a structure question that pertains to my notes from your Story Mastery seminar, and from your video with Chris Vogler, The Hero’s Two Journeys.
Q&A: How Do I Even Begin?
This is a letter from a 15-year old who wants to become a screenwriter, but who wonders how – or even if – she should begin pursuing this dream.
Q&A: Low Budget Blockbusters
Q: I’m from India, and I want to know why we don’t see low budget Indian movies where the protagonist has a CLEAR & VISIBLE goal.
Q&A: Hero Needs and Wants
Q: I really enjoy your seminars and writings on story, but I’m still wrestling with this issue: Should the needs and wants of my protagonist arise from the circumstances of the story?