Story

Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting

By: Robert McKee

Narrated by: Robert McKee

For more than 15 years, Robert McKee's students have been taking Hollywood's top honors. His “Story Seminar” is the world's ultimate seminar for screenwriters, filmmakers, and novelists. Now, Robert McKee's Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting reveals the award-winning methods of the man universally regarded as the world's premier teacher on screenwriting and story. With Hollywood and publishing companies paying record sums for great stories, and audiences clamoring for originality, McKee's Story gives you the strategies you need to win the war on clichés.

Story is about form, not formula. McKee's insights cut to the hidden sources of storytelling, the decisive differences between mediocrity and excellence.

This audio goes well beyond the essential mechanics of screenwriting and is packed with examples from such film classics as “Casablanca” and “Chinatown.” Then, scene by sequence by act, he illuminates the principles of story design that take a writer's vision to brilliant realization. Story elevates the craft of screenwriting to an art form.

Take it from the pros; if you're serious about your writing, this is the audio that will help you to get your story from page to screen.

©1997 Robert McKee; (P)1997, 2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Updated version

My only wish is that the updated version of the book was on audible. I tried to read along and there was a large degree of difference. At the same time, this audiobook was essentially a spark notes version of the expanded version that I have and I still learned so much from it. Fantastic work.

Must read for anyone interested in screen writing.

The author explains screen writing concepts with clear examples. Now I know why Nollywood films bore me to death!

As good as it is popular.

I’ve been meaning to take a look at this book for about a year now as it keeps popping up everywhere I go to look for information on screenwriting. I’m really very glad to have had it read to me by the author himself. The book offers some really helpful insights not only into screenwriting but storytelling as a whole. Expect to be fascinated by all the nuts and bolts that go into the construct of a good story. My favourite part of the book is the final chapter as it, in a way, sums up what good storytelling is like, and I so absolutely digg! I give it 4/5 only because I haven’t read many of the stories (or seen the movies) mentioned in the book which are then deconstructed and analysed in order to give us an example of what good plots are like and that I could not relate much. Even then this book is a must-read for anybody who has been wanting to demystify good storytelling and I’m absolutely sure you will give it 5 stars when you do!

Wow! Can't imagine a better intro to the subject.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, and I have. You not only learn the concepts and many interesting examples that should help one to improve one's own writing, but the book also gives you the tools to better appreciate the films you see.

What other book might you compare Story to and why?

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Which character – as performed by Robert McKee – was your favorite?

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If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The movie they said could NEVER be made. Because there's no screenplay!"

Any additional comments?

Great book. Gotta get it.

Great book for more than just writing.

This is an insightful, intelligent book. I dont agree with all of the author's assertions (mostly on process), but it's still phenomenal. If it's not textbook for all writing programs, it should be.