Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting ma...
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Oct 15, 2008
A.J.
rated it: 
I think this is the first time where I read a book solely based off a scene in a movie. The scene can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VseQe4TF...
Lines like, "You cannot have a protagonist without desire! It doesn't make sense! ANY. F****NG. SENSE!" and "WHY THE F*** WOULD YOU WASTE MY TWO PRECIOUS HOURS WITH YOUR MOVIE? I DON'T HAVE ANY USE FOR IT! ANY. BLOODY. USE FOR IT!" more or less had me drooling. For those of you who don't know anything about More...
Lines like, "You cannot have a protagonist without desire! It doesn't make sense! ANY. F****NG. SENSE!" and "WHY THE F*** WOULD YOU WASTE MY TWO PRECIOUS HOURS WITH YOUR MOVIE? I DON'T HAVE ANY USE FOR IT! ANY. BLOODY. USE FOR IT!" more or less had me drooling. For those of you who don't know anything about More...
Jun 05, 2007
caroline
rated it: 
as a newbie (and a scared newbie at that_ screenwriter, i thought i would give this a go before diving into script frenzy. i am very excited to approach this new challenge. the rules he presents you with are very reasuring to those of us who have little experience, but long-term writers may find them restrictive. either way, there is sure to be something thought-provoking in this book for the writer of any sort. at the very least i have to love someone who comes out and takes a stand in favor of
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May 30, 2008
Steven
rated it: 
This is the text that went along with his three-day seminar that I attended. Although it is primarily focused on the screenplay, it is equally suitable for a novel, and there were quite a few novelists in attendance at the seminar. Although the focus is on traditional story structure—something McKee believes has become a lost art—his emphasis is so heavily on character, and writing from the inside out, that if well executed, a reader/viewer would not be consciously aware of the story's structure
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Jun 19, 2008
Josh
rated it:
YES! It took me six months, but I finally, finished this bitch.
The reason it took me six months was that Story is incredibly dense, and in the best possible way. If you want to understand what makes for a good story, and how and why they work, this is the book to read. But you'll need to read it slow because this is the kind of dense where you'll want to stop and think about what you just read after every few pages to make sure it really sinks in.
Though oriented primaril More...
The reason it took me six months was that Story is incredibly dense, and in the best possible way. If you want to understand what makes for a good story, and how and why they work, this is the book to read. But you'll need to read it slow because this is the kind of dense where you'll want to stop and think about what you just read after every few pages to make sure it really sinks in.
Though oriented primaril More...
Dec 03, 2008
Lena
rated it:
Robert McKee is the famous Hollywood screenwriting teacher gently poked fun at in the movie "Adaptation." Though that film could leave one with the impression that McKee teaches formula storytelling, this book is about how good stories transcend formula to become great art.
McKee has a masterful understanding of the fundamentals of story itself, and he writes with clarity about the basic story tools every writer must develop in order to move beyond cliche and into somethi More...
McKee has a masterful understanding of the fundamentals of story itself, and he writes with clarity about the basic story tools every writer must develop in order to move beyond cliche and into somethi More...
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Jul 09, 2009
Wightknyte11
rated it:
This book did have some really great consideration of building and structuring conflict and how that formed a fundamental part of story. I think parts were a little less enjoyable to read because the author seemed so bitter. I guess he's had to read so many badly written scripts that he's gotten frustrated. I can understand, but it still made parts a little less enjoyable. Parts also got a little too abstract, to the point I followed the pattern of his example but not the underlying thing we
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Aug 25, 2011
Jerilyn
rated it:
As a freelance editor of any type of writing, I am always searching for insight, wisdom, guidance, illumination about the many forms of writing that cross my desk. I'd heard about McKee's "Story" but shied away because screenwriting is so far removed from my usual work. Or so I thought. I bought the digital version on a whim thinking that it might prove useful someday as a reference book. I was immediately hooked and read it straight through. Then I went back and highlighted many passa
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Jun 22, 2011
Paul
rated it:
If you're a writer of drama or fiction, you need to master these rules before you consider breaking them.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to write stories, but it wasn't till I was about 17 that I learned that there are actual methods, principles, and techniques involved in storytelling, when I received as a gift a copy of The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri. Wow! What a revelation! I read it greedily.
Flash-forward to 1990. I was 31 and now had my own TV serie More...
I knew from an early age that I wanted to write stories, but it wasn't till I was about 17 that I learned that there are actual methods, principles, and techniques involved in storytelling, when I received as a gift a copy of The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri. Wow! What a revelation! I read it greedily.
Flash-forward to 1990. I was 31 and now had my own TV serie More...
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Aug 17, 2010
Trevor
rated it:
In a past life I did a professional writing degree for my undergraduate BA – half of which was in script writing. I wish we had been taught the stuff that is contained in this book. This is such a good book it is hard to praise it too highly. The advice is clear and all of it good. From avoiding adverbs and adjectives in your treatment to the psychology of interesting characters this book has many very important things to say to anyone thinking about writing a screenplay (or anything else, i
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(6 people liked it)
Mar 11, 2009
Monkey
rated it:
everything from robert mc kee "story" workshop but without the profanity! "story" offers a view of "good story, well told" and how it can be archived. aspiring screenwriters, playwrights, novelists, watercooler raconteurs or cinephile should have a copy or in their writing toolbox. if you can't afford spending 3 days at the feet of mc kee learning the art of story, this is the next best thing. (you'll miss the amazing 6 hour scene by scene analysis of casablanca, bu
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Jan 18, 2012
S.C.
rated it:
"Several years ago, I nearly signed on for Robert McKee’s “Story Structure” workshop in London – tempted by the testimonial from John Cleese, who attri...moreSeveral years ago, I nearly signed on for Robert McKee’s “Story Structure” workshop in London – tempted by the testimonial from John Cleese, who attributed his success in creating the Fawlty Towers scripts to what he learned from this workshop. But I saw it was essentially for screenwriters, and chose to pass on it. I have since recogn
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Jun 18, 2008
Adam
rated it: 
I can understand how this book would be good for potential screenwriters; in fact, that's who this book is for exactly. However, the book does get tedious and has a lot of personal bias involved (a tendency that spills over into McKee's seminar, unfortunately). There is no story in "Story," so unless you are gung-ho about becoming a Hollywood writer, stay away from this one.
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Jun 06, 2010
Karen
rated it:
By reputation this is THE book on screenwriting, but I have tried and failed to get into it several times. In the past, I blamed it on my own exhaustion. Today, perhaps it's no more than my cranky mood since I am no less exhausted than normal, but I'm going to blame it instead on the author's style, so self-consciously pretty, so calculated to impress, that makes me dizzy (or is that sleepy?), and most problematically, actually gets in the way of the information the author is trying to present
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Feb 28, 2010
John
rated it:
This book covers general principles related to plot, characters, and conflict. I'd suggest reading this if you've ever listened to a director's commentary. But be aware that it will cause you to look at movies a bit little differently. (Soon after I read it, I watched "Born on the Fourth of July" and all I could think about was whether or not Kyra Sedgwick's character was really needed, what happened to her, does he still think about her, etc.)
"Story" is more abou More...
"Story" is more abou More...
Apr 05, 2011
Riitta
rated it:
This book has touched me more than almost any other non-fiction book, because McKee's approach so utterly relies on human emotion, and on communication without a word. Screenwriting, excluding some artistic European movies and the bad scripts that never make it, works with the triggers that make the roller coaster of experience roll. McKee explains what makes a story different from real life, and teaches the reader how to build and resolve tensions. Make up your world, know your world, and live
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Jan 31, 2009
David
rated it:
This book did have some really great consideration of building and structuring conflict and how that formed a fundamental part of story. I think parts were a little less enjoyable to read because the author seemed so bitter. I guess he's had to read so many badly written scripts that he's gotten frustrated. I can understand, but it still made parts a little less enjoyable. Parts also got a little too abstract, to the point I followed the pattern of his example but not the underlying thing we
More...
Sep 18, 2011
James
rated it:
McKee is infuriatingly opinionated. He is stubborn, insulting and sometimes dead wrong, but, wow, I loved this book!
This is the most thorough and knowledgeable investigation into the creation of story for the screen. And while some screenwriters disagree with McKee's structural preparation for writing a screenplay, few would disagree that the man understands storytelling. He completely dissects what makes a screenplay great and lays out a roadmap of how to create a solid script.
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This is the most thorough and knowledgeable investigation into the creation of story for the screen. And while some screenwriters disagree with McKee's structural preparation for writing a screenplay, few would disagree that the man understands storytelling. He completely dissects what makes a screenplay great and lays out a roadmap of how to create a solid script.
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Jul 03, 2009
H.
rated it:
By far the best book on screenwriting I have read or expect to read, and one of the best on film in general. McKee is a very eloquent writer who communicates a mastery of difficult concepts, ideas, and conceits, summarizing in an instructive paragraph what I have many times only vaguely approached in hour-long discussions with fellow fledgling writers and film-lovers. McKee himself is a true lover of film, revisiting the same glorious and complex scenes from favorite movies such as Casablanca an
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Jan 14, 2011
Julie
rated it:
I discovered "Story" during a writing workshop last fall. Although the book focuses on the creation of screenplays, its principles are directly applicable writing the short story and novel.
McKee is an old school storyteller, which suits me to a "T". He insists that the writer respect the audience desire to be entertained, but intelligently and with integrity. He provides a classic structure of plot, progression, character development within one simple but profoun More...
McKee is an old school storyteller, which suits me to a "T". He insists that the writer respect the audience desire to be entertained, but intelligently and with integrity. He provides a classic structure of plot, progression, character development within one simple but profoun More...
Mar 02, 2009
Dup
rated it:
I avoided this book for years because of its cult-like status (think The Fountainhead for screenwriters) and because it was parodied in Adaptation. But then enough playwrights I respect recommended and I was feeling at sea about the question of story in my own plays. So I checked it out of the local library and it ain't bad. There's a lot of diagrams and analyzing going on so it feels a little like Algebra for the Screen at times but McKee is very intelligent and has obviously done a lifetime'
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Jan 17, 2010
Andrew
rated it:
If you've ever seen Adaptation with Nicholas Cage, there's a scene where the protagonist visits a lecture being given by the an actor portraying the author of this book. He comes off sounding so arrogant about his mastery of the craft of story writing that he comes off as cruel. He writes exactly as he is portrayed in that scene. After reading this book, I feel that arrogance is completely justified.
I find myself thinking about movies, stories I've read in the past, and things that h More...
I find myself thinking about movies, stories I've read in the past, and things that h More...
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Aug 31, 2011
Anah
rated it:
Substantial and informative, a writing course all on its own. Worth reading more than once. Each chapter contains as much information as some books I've read on writing. If you're like me and you're constantly referencing your own work for examples or deconstructing it as you go, not a book I'd take on vacation or plan to read over a weekend.
Valuable to screenwriters, novelists, game designers, and anyone intending to communicate via narrative/story—especially in the way that it, like More...
Valuable to screenwriters, novelists, game designers, and anyone intending to communicate via narrative/story—especially in the way that it, like More...
Aug 16, 2009
Sybil
rated it:
I just finished Robert McKee's STORY--if you read only one book about novel writing, this should be the one. Yes, it is really about screenplays, but much of what McKee writes about applies to novels. He also writes about the differences between novels, plays, and screenwriting. This is not a "how to" or formula book.
To quote McKee on page one. "Story is about principles, not rules." And "Story is about eternal, universal forms, not formulas." His explan More...
To quote McKee on page one. "Story is about principles, not rules." And "Story is about eternal, universal forms, not formulas." His explan More...
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Sep 19, 2010
Jason
rated it:
This book is amazing. Robert McKee might save Hollywood by churning a whole generation of screenwriters into geniuses. Well, maybe that's a bit too much praise. But you get the point.
Mckee's book is specifically made for screenwriters, but many of the lessons and teachings about Story can easily be placed for prose writers. I recommend this to anyone creative with words, be it poet, screenwriter or otherwise.
the book teaches you about many of the things that people forg More...
Mckee's book is specifically made for screenwriters, but many of the lessons and teachings about Story can easily be placed for prose writers. I recommend this to anyone creative with words, be it poet, screenwriter or otherwise.
the book teaches you about many of the things that people forg More...
Oct 21, 2009
Tom
rated it:
McKee is passionate about the art of screenwriting. "No one needs yet another recipe book on how to reheat Hollywood leftovers," he writes. "We need a rediscovery of the underlying tenets of our art, the guiding principles that liberate talent." Story is a true path to just such a rediscovery. In it, McKee offers so much sound advice, drawing from sources as wide ranging as Aristotle and Casablanca, Stanislavski and Chinatown, that it is impossible not to come away feeling im
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Oct 18, 2011
Jared
rated it:
This is the best book I am yet to read on screenplay writing and in story telling in general. The author writes simply and in an entertaining matter. Every chapter he discusses why stories are written why they are, and gives movie examples showing how it is best done. The author always does a good job backing up his ideas. I have read this book once before and got a lot out of it the last time. I read it this time and once again found myself inspired to write, and learned more about story t
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Jul 04, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
Robert McKee attempts to break down screenwriting into one of the most simplistic examinations of the difficulty in creating. He writes in a fairly entertaining way, using specific examples from film history to show how easy writing is, but neglects the creative process to instead show that there's a specific structure that you can follow. He's right, to a point, but he should be inspiring greatness instead of "3-act structures", "the rule of repetition", and so on. There
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Jul 01, 2009
David
rated it:
Of American books on screenwriting this is perhaps the best.
But see Yves Lavandier and William Goldman.
I've read the book twice and was less impressed the second time. I don't like mathematical, algebraic, geometric illustrations of how a story is constructed. But you will still learn much from him. I have an American friends who has worked in TV and film and has attended one of his courses and doesn't rate him. however on the page he has a lot of good things to say. Do not read, wi More...
But see Yves Lavandier and William Goldman.
I've read the book twice and was less impressed the second time. I don't like mathematical, algebraic, geometric illustrations of how a story is constructed. But you will still learn much from him. I have an American friends who has worked in TV and film and has attended one of his courses and doesn't rate him. however on the page he has a lot of good things to say. Do not read, wi More...
Jul 30, 2011
Simply put: one of the best books on writing out there. PERIOD. Even if you are not writing a screenplay, the concepts of story and story construction are universal and essential. Any serious writer should read this book and treat it like a Bible, reading frequently and often, keeping it close at hand. I read it a page or two a day for nearly a year. This slow progression gave me the time to think about pieces and ruminate on detail. It was an excellent experience. I wish I had another just like
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Dec 30, 2008
Ina
rated it:
I've actually never read this book, though I had tried forcing myself to read it when - as an undergrad - i took a playwriting course with a mckee as a grad student instructor... paging through it now, lots of pertinent ideas, brilliantly worded.
finished skimming through the volume - delightful read, every sentence precious and pertinent. well-worded and unexpectedly wise. while i don't personally agree with mckee's tedious story-creation methods, his theory of story structure is de More...
finished skimming through the volume - delightful read, every sentence precious and pertinent. well-worded and unexpectedly wise. while i don't personally agree with mckee's tedious story-creation methods, his theory of story structure is de More...
