720 books
—
1,490 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting” as Want to Read:
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting
by
Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy Jones, Diane Keaton, Gloria Steinem, Julia Roberts, John Cleese and David Bowie are just a few of his celebrity alumni. Writers, producers, development executives and agents all fl
...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 466 pages
Published
November 25th 1997
by It Books
(first published 1997)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Story,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
A superb book that illuminates the purpose of writing stories and the most effective approach to penning tales that transcend the ordinary.
...more
A superb book that illuminates the purpose of writing stories and the most effective approach to penning tales that transcend the ordinary.
...more
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=_VseQe...
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 Robert McKee, he's the writing tea ...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 Robert McKee, he's the writing tea ...more
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 primarily towards screenwriting, ...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 primarily towards screenwriting, ...more
Excellent. Aimed at aspiring screenwriters but with a ton for everyone else too. It makes a strong argument about an approach to writing that's really clear and seems possible. There's a slightly dated tone that comes across as kind of art bro'y, but if you can get past that there's some gold here.
It's also the rare writing book where I learned something major in every chapter.
I almost wish there was a companion volume of other writers talking about this book. Seems like it warrants some big dis ...more
It's also the rare writing book where I learned something major in every chapter.
I almost wish there was a companion volume of other writers talking about this book. Seems like it warrants some big dis ...more
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, if yo
...more
I can't believe it's taken me so long to read this book. I expected more of the same: structure, story elements, character tips. And those are certainly there. But Story actually deserves its tremendously broad title, because that's exactly what this book is: a discussion of *story.* It's theory and practicality all wrapped up into one module. McKee presents ideas I've never seen elsewhere, backed up by solid example after solid example and all in an extremely engaging and absorbing way. This is
...more
Putting this re-read aside - other priorities - still an excellent book.
This is the most useful book in my writing library. I literally read and reread this book until I had absorbed it's messages into the marrow of my bones.
An endlessly valuable resource that informs the basic structures both large and small of the stories that I write.
Worth reading even if you have no ambition to write for the insights that it will give you into the nature of story and narrative.
Written to support the developm ...more
This is the most useful book in my writing library. I literally read and reread this book until I had absorbed it's messages into the marrow of my bones.
An endlessly valuable resource that informs the basic structures both large and small of the stories that I write.
Worth reading even if you have no ambition to write for the insights that it will give you into the nature of story and narrative.
Written to support the developm ...more
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 passages for fu
...more
This is not a book. This is like a school in a book. A master's degree. The amount of notes I took got out of hand, so I decided to just outright buy it, to have it handy. The best parts are the scene analysis chapters, which are pretty much the same for novel writing and screenwriting. Seeing a scene broken down into manageable bits has made it clear for me how to rewrite my scenes to make them better. Because if I can't write excellent scenes, I can't write an excellent book, period. So glad I
...more
If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.
Mach und Dach: "Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee
(Original review, 1997-11-30)
Aristotle's observations of drama, is very far from the early dramaturgy as 18th century Lessing for instance. In the twenties when dramaturgy started to become a subject on its own in Central Europe (where it started) there was already in the beginning two different approaches, the Pièce bien fait approa ...more
Mach und Dach: "Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee
(Original review, 1997-11-30)
Aristotle's observations of drama, is very far from the early dramaturgy as 18th century Lessing for instance. In the twenties when dramaturgy started to become a subject on its own in Central Europe (where it started) there was already in the beginning two different approaches, the Pièce bien fait approa ...more
McKee may be a great screenwriter, but I certainly hope his classes are less pompous and verbose than this book is. It's poorly edited, with too much preaching, and long lists of movie titles cited as examples of a particular point. Since the style is to use ALL QUOTES for titles, when he goes on for a third of a page it just gets annoying.
In his acknowledgements, he thanks someone for their omnivorous will to omit needless words - his wife. Obviously she was too close to it all to tell him to j ...more
In his acknowledgements, he thanks someone for their omnivorous will to omit needless words - his wife. Obviously she was too close to it all to tell him to j ...more
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 something original. Using examp ...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 something original. Using examp ...more
Holy shit, where to even start with this? It's bad in so many ways. The author comes across as a pompous, arrogant, narcissist who knows practically nothing and is even worse at communicating it. How is this guy so highly regarded? I feel dumber for having read this.
The actual content of this book, what little of it there is, is the most basic advice on writing mixed with the author's opinions on what makes a good movie (by which he clearly means what he personally likes, not what will make a po ...more
The actual content of this book, what little of it there is, is the most basic advice on writing mixed with the author's opinions on what makes a good movie (by which he clearly means what he personally likes, not what will make a po ...more
The truth is that this whole concept of three acts and obligatory antagonist will make you unemployed screenwriter in 99,9% of cases. I know, I've witnessed it myself. In some ways the book is usefull, I think it gives pretty accurate analysis of turning points and different types of screenplays and genres, some other things maybe... But in general film bussiness has moved on from straight-forward "hero against something" concept, festival cinema and mass production for theatres and television a
...more
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 series, The Odyssey, in devel ...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 series, The Odyssey, in devel ...more
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
...more
Why are there so many bad movies out there? I mean seriously - you and I both know that of all the films that are released every year, we probably get only one or two that are actually good. There's some that are good enough to spend an afternoon watching, maybe enjoyable enough that we'll want to watch it again on DVD later. But so many are just... bad.
It is my own fault, I think, for seeing Transformers 2. I have no one to blame but myself.
The really scary thing is that, in the summer of Trans ...more
It is my own fault, I think, for seeing Transformers 2. I have no one to blame but myself.
The really scary thing is that, in the summer of Trans ...more
Dec 12, 2010
Julie Christine
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Julie Christine by:
Write-O-Rama/Richard Hugo House
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 profound concept: the protagonist has a ...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 profound concept: the protagonist has a ...more
Well, this book certainly covered all the topics one would hope for in a book on writing craft. It was a bit on the theoretical/academic side for me. I was looking for something that was more practical. But if you are looking for something theoretical/academic, then you would have your bases covered here. I will keep the book on my shelf, but for use more as a reference text. Still, solidly written throughout and I am happy with the purchase.
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.
...more
Holy mother of baby Jesus I finished. This thing is a beast and the thought of reading it a second or third time is unthinkable but NECESSARY, at least for me. I highlighted so much that my highlights have highlights. Still, I recommend STORY for anyone wanting a deep understanding of the craft of storytelling. I am a very picky reader and writer, a hyper critic of stories in print or on the screen. If the story doesn't grab me, suck me in whole and squeeze my heart so hard I can't get out of my
...more
UPDATE: Once a year or so I get the urge to return to attempts at screenwriting: it's actually a cheap hobby that's a great mental exercise. In the past, I've bought stacks of books about screenwriting: this is one of a handful I've kept and referenced. It's a stupendously fast read with some very good points. My review below digresses away from the book itself, as all my reviews eventually tend to do, but all in all, McKee is as good as anyone else in Hollywood at kick-starting your career.
ORIG ...more
ORIG ...more
"Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting" is one of the bests books I've ever read about the complex Art of Writing. It's not only a "bible" for all upcoming screenwriters and filmmakers but also a treasure for all writers (novels, short stories...) Robert McKee gives us the basis of STORYTELLING, an art in itself, so complex and rich as the human brain. This book is a delicious journey through human history and the way we built stories, a map that guides us and t
...more
I usually race through how-to-write books in a day or two, but this one took me a month because it is so damned good. And what a month. I found myself wanting to underline sections and scribble in virtual exclamation points!!! In triplicate!!! On my Kindle!!! And I hate exclamation points!!! Because, well, it's not so much that McKee was telling me anything I hadn't read before in the writing-craft circuit, but dammit, the way he said it, the waaaaaay he said made this storytelling business fina
...more
this book is fantastic and it has become my bible since I bought it. it doesn't just give you "How to s"... but also gives deepest views on elements of storytelling. It's one of the best book about screenwriting that I have ever read. so I recommend it to anybody who wants to do serious writing in screenwriting field.
you are the best McKee!!! ...more
you are the best McKee!!! ...more
This should be the bible for any writer of fiction whether writing movies or novels. This book became even more useful after I attended a 3-day McKee Story seminar while writing my third thriller. I highlight the aspects that were most helpful to me as a novelist on my latest website post at www.joannaelm.com/makes-good-story-be...
...more
A classic, but reads a little bit like a dictionary. Don't got through it from cover to cover, but open it when you need a refresher on story structure. Unequaled in depth and understanding of storytelling. If you really want to understand the nuts and bolts of writing narrative fiction, this is your go-to book.
...more
This is one of the very best books on the fundamentals of screenwriting. I found it provided me with inspiration before doing rewrites during pre-production on one of the recent feature films I made.
There is a science to this art, and Mr. McKee seems to understand it quite well. For any aspiring author of screenplays, plays, or novels, this is recommended reading.
Clear and to the point. I wish I would have read it before already writing two novels :P
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World, Writing, W...: McKee: 3. The Principles of Story Design - With Video Tutes by R. Claire | 5 | 38 | Jul 12, 2019 10:13PM | |
| World, Writing, W...: McKee: 2. The Elements of Story - With Video Tutes by R. Claire | 23 | 21 | Aug 23, 2018 02:20PM | |
| Are you SERIOUS about wanting to sell your work? | 1 | 6 | Jul 30, 2018 11:18AM | |
| What screenwriters can teach novelists | 31 | 65 | Aug 20, 2013 12:55PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Robert McKee began his show business career at age nine playing the title role in a community theatre production of MARTIN THE SHOEMAKER. He continued acting as a teenager in theatre productions in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Upon receiving the Evans Scholarship, he attended the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. While an undergraduate, he acted in
...more
Related Articles
Luvvie Ajayi Jones—author, cultural critic, digital entrepreneur—might be best described as a professional truthteller. Her crazily popular...
20 likes · 0 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure - the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature.”
—
150 likes
“A fine work of art - music, dance, painting, story - has the power to silence the chatter in the mind and lift us to another place.”
—
88 likes
More quotes…
