Robert McKee discusses how directing can be an extension of writing. Quotes of the Week “The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as...
Several notable films like UP IN THE AIR and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN have “just ended.” Robert McKee explains why the endings of both films are satisfying and original, though unconventional. Quotes of the Week “I love unhappy endings,...
Is it possible to bring storytelling into marketing or would it be too complex? Robert McKee explains the difference between traditional marketing and marketing using story. Quotes of the Week “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the...
How does the need to create absolute, irreversible change in the protagonist’s life work for TV series and serial characters? Robert McKee explains. Quotes of the Week “Character development is what I value most as a reader of fiction. If an author...
Robert McKee explains why a surprise ending is less satisfying, and how a great turning point can provide insight. Quotes of the Week “It’s really irritating when you open a book, and 10 pages into it you know that the hero you met on page one or...
Robert McKee, formerly an actor himself, explains how to write complex characters with clear intentions so the actor can thrive in their performance. Quote of the Week “Nobody is a villain in their own story. We’re all the heroes of our own...
Robert McKee explains how the difference between free will and destiny depends on your vantage point. Quotes of the Week “Be sure not to discuss your hero’s state of mind. Make it clear from his actions.” – Anton...
Robert McKee provides advice on how pursuing a desire, whether in real life or fiction, will make your story come alive. Quotes of the Week “Writing a story or a novel is one way of discovering sequence in experience, of stumbling upon cause and effect in...
Robert McKee outlines one of the most important questions a writer must answer before beginning a new story. Quotes of the Week “The real writer, the fellow who sends planets spinning and models a man asleep and eagerly tampers with the sleeper’s...
Not all sequels are created equal. Robert McKee comments on why they often disappoint, and how one can go about meeting the audience’s expectations. Quotes of the Week “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in...
Wondering how to account for marketing, conventions, and other spoilers as you write? In this two-part Q&A Robert McKee explains what a writer needs to know about how audiences experience story, including the lead-up to the story. Watch Part 2 here. Quotes...
When it comes to character, is more complexity necessarily better? Robert McKee uses President Obama, and former presidents Bush and Nixon as examples of character complexity and how a life becomes a story. Quotes of the Week “There is no such thing as a...