Part of Robert McKee’s
2025 GENRE FESTIVAL
Full Program Details
Action
3-Part Webinar Series
Live Online: From April 8 – 10, 2025
On Demand: Until June 30, 2025
$197.00
Action stories are difficult to write well because they have been done so often. Empathy with protagonists in peril provides wonderful excitement to the audience, but audiences know their action stories, and clichés or missed archetypal moments of excitement will disappoint. The Action genre is a specialized and coded story form requiring deep awareness, discipline and a writer who has mastered its principles. In this 3-part series, Robert teaches the core principles of the genre, the structure of action stories, and how to design set pieces in order to maximize the excitement of your audience.
What You’ll Learn
PART 1
The Foundation of Action
In Part 1 of the series, McKee teaches the core principles essential to every action writer, the most effective ways to begin and end your story, and how to maximize the excitement in between.
Topics covered include...
- Introduction: The Love of Action
Why do audiences return again and again to action stories? - The Core of Action
What are the key elements of the genre? - Action Structure
How to hook your audience, drive your story and pay it off with an exciting climax. - Convention vs. Cliché
The difference between the two, and why action stories are the hardest to write.
PART 2
The Shape of Action
In Part 2 of the series, McKee breaks down the core cast of action, how to perfect its design, and the importance of power dynamics in an action story that works.
Topics covered include...
- The Core Cast of Action
The essential cast members of the genre. - Cast Design
What are the differences between roles and characters? - Institutional vs. Tactical Powers
A breakdown of power dynamics in action stories. - Praise and Mockery
How to maximize your dialogue to express the balance of power in your story.
PART 3
Set Pieces and Subgenres
In Part 3 of the series, McKee delivers a masterclass on the action writer’s full range of creative choices within the genre, and the strategies you need to craft effective set pieces.
Topics covered include...
- Set Pieces
What strategies can writers use to craft compelling action sequences? - The 16 Subgenres of Action
What kind of action story are you writing? - Conclusion: Form vs. Formula
Dispelling the myth of foolproof story models.
How it Works
Webinars
Learn online from Robert McKee
This webinar series consists of three live writing lectures delivered online by Robert McKee via Zoom. Each session is 2 hours in length and starts at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada). This series runs from Tuesday, April 8, through Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Students like the online format because...
“I feel like I am part of a brilliant international writing community just by logging in to Zoom in the evenings from my small living room in the middle of Sweden.”
Elin Olofsson
Q&A Sessions
Ask McKee Anything
Every webinar concludes with a Q&A session during which Robert answers your questions on the topics covered during the lecture, or on any aspect of the writing craft. Participants can submit their questions during the live session or in advance by email.
Students like the Q&A periods because...
“I didn’t realize in the beginning how much the questions would help me learn, but it turns out they are just as important as the lectures. I think that is in large part to the careful attention Robert gives to each one.”
Billie Tomlinson
Live & On Demand
Can’t attend live? No problem!
If you can’t join us live, you can catch up at your convenience. Recordings are made available within 24 hours of the conclusion of each event, and can be viewed as many times as you like within the access period. Recordings will be available through June 30, 2025.
Students like recording access because...
“It’s really great to have the chance to watch these webinars at my own convenience and not having to take time off work to attend. I hope he continues to do them, I’ll continue to take them. Can’t wait for the next class.”
Marcos Meconi
What Attendees Are Saying
Natasha Phillips
Marlene Simon
Matt Isner
Jane Olander
Friederike Giley
“I had several ‘light bulb moments’ as I took notes, and was able to incorporate his ideas into my work-in-progress immediately. This webinar was well worth the time and money.”
Erin Brescia
Ed Han
“I am thoroughly enjoying these sessions and have learned so much beyond my collegiate studies. Robert has inspired, encouraged, and empowered me with his wonderful teaching.”
Becky Bulebush
“I am really enjoying the seminars and am so glad that I signed up. These webinars are inspiring me to make more effort to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and pursue my ambitions. I must say that I have attended several different writing courses over the years, but none as inspiring as Robert’s.”
Sharon Grey
Rebecca O'Reilly
Barry Eisler
Cheryl Willis
Carol Roscoe
Robert Robertson
John Jurko
Barbara Seyda
Lilly Chen
Varda Tully
BUNDLE & SAVE UP TO $120
To support your commitment to the craft, we’re offering bundle deals on the Genre Festival.
Save when you enroll in multiple webinars.