The Idea

The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction

De: Erik Bork

Narrado por: Erik Bork

Write Stories That Could Actually Sell

Most writing books focus on structure, scenes, dialogue, and execution.

But long before those things matter, a more fundamental question must be answered:

Is the idea itself strong enough?

Many writers spend months—or years—developing stories with hidden weaknesses. Problems with the concept, stakes, originality, emotional connection, or audience appeal often don't become obvious until deep into the writing process—or after the script or manuscript is finished.

The Idea takes a different approach.

Drawing on Emmy-winning writer-producer Erik Bork's experience in film and television, the book identifies seven essential elements found in stories that succeed commercially and creatively.

Together, these elements form the acronym PROBLEM:

• Punishing

• Relatable

• Original

• Believable

• Life-Altering

• Entertaining

• Meaningful

Through examples, analysis, and practical guidance, you'll learn how to evaluate your own ideas before investing months of work in them—and how to strengthen concepts that aren't yet reaching their full potential.

Whether you write screenplays, novels, television pilots, plays, or other narrative forms, The Idea provides a framework for identifying story problems early and building projects with a stronger chance of connecting with audiences.

Most screenwriting books tend to focus on story structure, scene writing, navigating the business, and other parts of the craft that come AFTER the initial choice of the central concept for a story.

©2018 Erik Bork (P)2019 Erik Bork

Good Direction for Starting Out

This book is a great starting point for anyone who thinks they might have the passion to write but isn’t sure. This will pressure test what you think it means to write a good script.

Profound, Insightful, Inspiring!

Profound, insightful, inspiring! Indispensable instruction about how to tell stories (write screenplays) for film and television.

Extremely valuable resource

Great for anyone wanting to develop an idea for a film, TV series, novel or play. Worth listening twice. Thank you!

Should be given a chance

Fantastic Book to those looking to get into the mind of an active screen writer

Vital reading for screenwriters

I have read most books on writing craft, from fiction to screen writing, and I put this at the top tied with Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder. This book references Sabe the Cat several times and works perfectly with it, But provides more of a larger picture of what writer needs to dots be successful in the commercial writing industry. Erik Bork narrates well. He is a screenwriting teacher at UCLA extension and clearly knows how to teach. He has all the experience you want in a teacher. It’s a very short listen. I’m hiring him as a consultant after listening to this book. He does share information that I’ve never heard before, particularly on the subject of being entertaining. He has an entire section on the research he’s done about the kinds of subjects that people find entertaining. I needed this!