Robert McKee's Blog, page 3

Guardians of the Galaxy

Review by Bass Wakil – August 16th, 2014 The biggest movie of August ever. Starring a talking raccoon and a talking tree. No one thought it would work. Because it stars a raccoon and a tree. But: biggest movie of August ever. I am the co-author with Robert McKee on our upcoming book on the […]

Should I Let My Story Go Wherever It Wants?

Robert McKee explains the role of the writer’s subconscious and conscious mind in creating a story, and the ideal relationship between the two.    Quotes of the Week: “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” - Oscar Wilde “God touched […]

Is it Dangerous to Read Other People’s Work?

Robert McKee discusses the potential pitfalls and benefits of reading great writers, and provides a realistic assessment of the risks.     Quotes of the Week: “We know that the nature of genius is to provide idiots with ideas twenty years later.” - Louis Aragon (1928)   “That is what the title of artist means: one who […]

Where is the Power in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint vs. Story. Who wins, and why? What is your reaction when someone says they want to show you a PowerPoint presentation? What is your reaction when someone says they want to tell you a story? We thought so. Robert McKee explains why these approaches feel so different.     Quotes of the Week: “Entrepreneurs tell […]

How Do I Know If My Story Is Good?

Robert McKee delivers a very important insight into knowing whether you have a good story or not, while also answering the question of when you should tell your story to someone else.   Robert McKee reviews Luc Besson’s LUCY: “By nature, we all use 100% of our brain. It’s Luc Besson who uses only 10%.” […]

How Do I Use Story in Non-Fiction?

Robert McKee discusses the differences between invention and interpretation as he tackles the tricky question of how to create a story when the ‘facts’ already exist.     Quote of the Week: “For real masters, stories are vehicles. They don’t tell stories to tell stories. They tell stories to create emotions.” - Frank Daniel  

How Do I Get Over Writer’s Block?

Robert McKee gives advice and makes a recommendation.    Steve Pressfield’s The War or Art is a necessary ally for anyone who has ever faced writer’s block. Robert McKee wrote the foreword for the book and is a long-time fan and friend of Pressfield. For members, Pressfield is featured in a lengthy Storylogue interview.   Quotes of the Week: “To […]

How Does Story Relate to Business?

Robert McKee has taught Story-in-Business all over the world. This quick clip from Brazil hints at some of the content of his one-day seminar.   Six Classic Errors in Business Story: Telling your story from the company’s view. Talking to the customer in the third person. Avoiding reality as way too “heavy”. Creating a gratuitious […]

Do the Principles of Story Apply when Writing for Children?

Robert McKee provides tips on how to adapt his teaching and principles for a younger audience.   Quotes of the Week: “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” “The books […]

Is Your Fictional World Believable?

Can fiction go too far? Robert McKee explains the key to credibility, whether your story stretches reality or exists in an alternate reality.   Quote of the Week: “Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you […]