Product Description

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including "Sleepless in Seattle," "Scream," and "Shrek," "The Anatomy of Story" is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, "The Anatomy of Story" draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach for how to build an effective, multifaceted narrative. Truby's method for constructing a story is at once insightful and practical, focusing on the hero's moral and emotional growth. As a result, writers will dig deep within and explore their own values and worldviews in order to create an effective story. Writers will come away with an extremely precise set of tools to work with--specific, useful techniques to make the audience care about their characters, and that make their characters grow in meaningful ways. They will construct a surprising plot that is unique to their particular concept, and they will learn how to express a moral vision that can genuinely move an audience. The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable--and essential--to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64890 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

Customer Reviews

Highly Recommended
I bought the hardback from Amazon when it came out last November - and I would highly recommend the paperback version now it's published. As the previous reviews here (and elsewhere) will testify, you either love Truby's 22-step paradigm or you hate it (and prefer to stick to the three-act structure propounded by Field, McKee et al). I happen to fall into the former category and agree with Truby's view that stories grow "organically", not dictated by a structure that's more appropriate to theatre than movies or novels. However, what makes Anatomy Of Story so good is the very clear and practical way in which he sets out and explains his principles in a logical pattern with many examples from a wide range of works, both movies and novels. He digs deep into the core of what makes not just a good story but one which "rises above the ordinary" - and this is the main character's change, his/her moral journey and self-realisation (which needs to be identified at the start of the story development process so you know what you are working towards). The book is a perfect companion to Truby's Blockbuster program.

A handbook for creating high quality stories
What Truby has over other story gurus is his focus on creating GREAT stories - stories with emotional, moral and psychological depth.

He says: "A great story is not simply a sequence of events or surprises designed to entertain an audience. It is a sequence of actions, with moral implications and effects, designed to express a larger theme."

Many other story gurus merely concern themselves with story formulae or working methods. They help you put the standard story steps onto your pages. But Truby shows you how to pinpoint the MEANING of your story and how to design it into your story - premise, characters, plot.

If you want to improve as a screenwriter or novelist, and want to make your story mean something to an audience, read Truby.

Here we go again
Well here we go again. I could say 'read my comment on the first review' but what the hell. This isn't 'the best book on writing. Period'. Sorry, but it isn't. Sure it's interesting, but his advice to throw out your three act structure is just bad advice for screenwriters who have problems or are just plain addled by it all. I've read just about every book out there, even the bad, impenetrable ones but they all without fail can easily fit their 'alternative theories' into the three act structure. This isn't a new thing. It's been around since the year zero. Three acts are how humans tell stories or impart information all over the world and that's what's so great about films that play well anywhere because when it works, it works because of our universal recognition of the three act structure. Any other approach is pure gobbledegook and a sure fire way to confuse the heck out of your audience. I suggest that every screen writer starts with 'Screenwriting: The Sequence Approach' by Paul Gulino and go from there. Actually, you'll genuinely find that every other wonder book on screenwriting fits neatly into this approach but the trick is the more you write the more invisible it becomes. It's not an overnight thing. Buying a copy of Final Draft and John Truby's book isn't enough. It's hard graft! Sorry folks, no shortcuts. After devouring so many of these books and attending lord knows how many screenwriting seminars and courses, it's only now that my own screenplays are getting read and seriously considered. It's got more to do with understanding structure and the accompanying genre I'm writing in than some crazy 22 step story idea. Sorry John, I'm sure your new book is interesting but it's useless without 3 acts, so please stop being in denial of it. Oh and for anyone thinking that three acts means cookie cutter movies, well you really don't understand it at all.