Pixar’s 15 Rules of Storytelling

Writer Emma Coats shares lessons about storytelling she learned at PIXAR. “But I’m writing fiction,” you protest. In my experience the elements of good storytelling cross media, and I study film and television as well as novels to learn the craft of fiction. I recommend copying this list and keep it in your digital back pocket to refer to every once in a while.

Nicholas C. Rossis

On Twitter, Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats has compiled nuggets of narrative wisdom she’s received working for the animation studio over the years. Here are the ones that resonated with me.

Pixar’s 15 Rules of Storytelling


You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to your audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.

Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you…

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