Study (the world/the craft)

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

Posted on by Caleb J. Ross in Study (the world/the craft), Video | Leave a comment


Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

This time, I’m doing something a bit different: one shot, no cuts. I figure what better way to explore the idea of moving on to new projects than to fully embrace the idea of letting go of a current one.


Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

YouTubeSubscribe

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 7 – Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

Posted on by Caleb J. Ross in Study (the world/the craft), Video | Leave a comment

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

A good outline lays the foundation for a story that honors the core of this rule: you must know your ending of your story so that you can be sure to support that ending with a well-structured beginning and middle.

Vonnegut, too, knew what he was talking about when he said “Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible… Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.”


Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

YouTubeSubscribe

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 6 – What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them.

Posted on by Caleb J. Ross in Study (the world/the craft), Video | 1 Comment

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

Meet my cat, Burrito, which I received as a gift from my caring girlfriend (now wife). I wasn’t expecting to own a cat. I had a certain lifestyle, with a set routine, and established boundaries. How did I handle this change? Watch and find out.


Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

YouTubeSubscribe

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 5 – Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

Posted on by Caleb J. Ross in Mind Effed, Study (the world/the craft), Video | Leave a comment

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

There are two classic pieces of writing advice that support this storytelling rule:

The first, from William Faulkner, author of The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom!, goes: “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” meaning you must get rid of those elements of your story that serve your ego rather than the story.

The second, from Anton Chekhov, author of countless stories, plays, and novellas, goes: “One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.” Translation: again, only include things that have a purpose.

The message is to always question why elements of your story exist.


Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

YouTubeSubscribe

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 4 – Once upon a time there was ____. Every day, ____. Finally ____.

Posted on by Caleb J. Ross in Study (the world/the craft), Video | Leave a comment
Click the image above to view the lesson

Click the image above to view the lesson

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

This “rule” isn’t so much a rule as it is a template for storytelling. A simple and very effective template, I might add.

The most important element of this formula, I feel, is the repetition of the “Because of that” which speaks to the importance of constantly elevating stakes. Nothing is ever stagnant in an engaging story. Even if two characters are alone in a room, or if poo can’t fart, there should always be something imminent to further complicate matters, to stress every potential for conflict.

My immaturity is on full display with this writing lesson. Buckle in and prepare to hate me even more.


Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

YouTubeSubscribe

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”