Apr 10

Revealing a story’s skeleton

Category: Linux,Screenwriting   — Published by tengo on April 10, 2008 at 9:22 am

And How to Build Them After browsing through Ronald B. Tobias' 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them 

I am tempted to finally give Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces

a chance. As it seems, Tobias has written a helpful guide, complete with checklists (!), about the major themes of literature. An enlightening read. It's like putting on the X-Ray glasses. Like "The Method" for writers.

If you are into structure and universal themes like me, than this book, these books, are a must read. What you, me and everyone, including George Lucas, should keep in mind is that these guides shouldn't be a recipe. There are rules. And you should know them. But rules are there to be broken, in literature and screenwriting. That's mastering structure.

2 Responses to “Revealing a story’s skeleton”

  1. I should be writing | Zen of Screenwriting says:

    [...] who’s latest post on using the rules is a good motivation to further meditate about structure and common plot schemes. I also like the blog’s mission: finding out “how it’s done by going out and [...]

  2. I should be writing | Zen of Screenwriting says:

    [...] who’s latest post on using the rules is a good motivation to further meditate about structure and common plot schemes. I also like the blog’s mission: finding out “how it’s done by going out and [...]