Memo from the Story Department

Memo From the Story Department offers a battery of story-generating engines and story-improving tools, and reliable methods tested on hundreds of Hollywood productions. It goes far beyond the standard advice given in most screenwriting manuals. Drawn from sources as varied as vaudeville, classical Greek comedies, and Russian fairy tales, the book outlines a series of practical templates for creating believable characters and emotionally satisfying plots. • It will take writers to the next step, even beyond the breakthrough work of Vogler in The Writer's Journey. • Builds on the legend about Vogler's first book which began as a memo he wrote while working in the Story Department of Walt Disney Studios. That memo caused a revolution in studio thinking and now here's the next installment from the manwho literally wrote the book on mythic story structure. • The authors are working story developers, employed by major studios and top directors and hugely influential in their industry. Vogler has worked with Will Smith and Darren Aronofsky on recent projects and McKenna has influenced a generation of top film writers including Mark Fergus, co-writer of Iron Man. • Memo From the Story Department makes story and character development accessible with clear explanations that break down the processes into manageable steps, like McKenna's six-part regimen for analysing a character's environment, or Vogler's twelve stages of mythic structure and eight archetypes of character. • Draws inspiration from unexpected sources and provides fresh approaches for story development. It offers a lot of variety, inviting writers to look at their work through many useful lenses.