After reading Robert McKee and his work on storytelling I wanted to share some of his insights into what makes a story and what a story isn’t. I wanted to take the next few months and go over his story elements in short articles as part of my writing life series and how I understand them and have used them. The first element to discuss is story itself. Here are few takeaways from my reading a tiny section of his book:
Story Rules
A story is simply the narration of events or experiences told in an entertaining way. While many people might tell you there is a right way to tell a story and a wrong way, there are as many ways to tell a story as there are human beings who want to tell them. So why do so many stories fail to have lasting impact or make it on Amazon or New York Times bestseller lists? There must be rules that have to be followed right? A good story follows doesn’t follow rules but use principles instead. Principles according to McKee (I’m paraphrasing) are “what works and has worked for generations.” Rules on the other hand are “do it this way and not that way.” So, what are some principles of storytelling?
Archetypes
Archetypes in storytelling are vivid living expressions of the universal human experience manifested in specific and unique ways. Unlike stereotypes which are flat and uninteresting, archetypes allow us to reconnect to our humanity through different, strange and even alien experiences of others. Archetypes have the power to give a story lasting impact, to make it stand out in a compelling way to readers who feel the truth of the characters you create. Archetypes will allow you to create characters that are rich and nuanced, complicated and yet somehow still predictable, in the best possible way.
No Shortcuts
A good story, a well-made story, has been through many iterations and revisions on its way to becoming the book, movie, or tale that we all enjoy. Don’t be deceived by the finished product believing that it was created in a single move. It underwent many hours of edits, critiques, cuts, and revisions that can only be done by being thorough and careful in the crafting. Be prepared for the marathon and not the sprint. Writing is a long game, in which you the writer, become skilled at your craft through the process of writing and not simply having achieved writing.
Respect your Readers
It is okay, even desirable to write to express a set of emotions, an idea you are passionate about or a concept that you think the world needs to read, but don’t ever do it at the expense of your readers. Most readers are discerning and know a good story even if they can’t articulate it in so many words. Of course, write for yourself and your own passionate desires, but write also for your reader. When thinking of your readers, make sure you write for the smartest, savviest reader you can imagine picking up your work. Write for yourself and then write for that reader. Write for the reader that’s going to see through all your pandering, whining, self-indulgent drivel so that you hold yourself accountable to the best possible version of your work.
Originality
In stories originality is one of the trademarks of great writing. But weird, eccentric and strange are not to be confused with originality. Original work is when form meets content in a way that feels fresh and unique. The form (the choice and arrangement of events) and the content (setting, characters and ideas) are brought together and then shaped into a story that feels like it’s never been told before. You can have a lot of material that is predictable and done before, but you need a few twists and angles that feel new in order to present something that has originality in it. So don’t worry about making the whole thing original, only giving it originality by bringing it the content and the form together and shape it in a way that feels new.
These are just a few elements that can help you understand how you can improve your story. In the coming months we will cover a lot more of Robert McKee’s story elements.
