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Index of Essays
This essay explores the human need for stories. A good introduction to story concepts that will be explored in detail in other essays.*
Foundation Principles of Storytelling
This essay lays out and discusses 15 principles that I believe underlie the creation of a dramatic story.
Understanding the Process of Storytelling
This essay lays out the process of constructing a story from idea to premise to movement to plot to fulfillment. A long essay, but helpful in giving an overview of the process of storytelling in action.
*(I suggest readers start with these three essays.)
Techniques To Create a Story Premise
Many writers struggle with understanding the difference between what a story is and character goals. This essay offers a method to create a one sentence story premise that sets out a story's dramatic foundation.
This essay offers practical steps on how to create dynamic characters.
Understanding How To Create A Dramatic Plot
Insights on the relationship between a plot and a story, and how to create a dynamic plot.
A review of The Hunt For Red October. The essay explores how the story's plot was designed and created.
Perceiving What's At Stake In Your Story
Being clear about what's at stake in a story can help writers populate their stories with characters clearly driven by a story's events and the character's own internal needs.
The "Why" of Dramatic Dialogue
An essay that offers practical advice on why certain types of dialogue appear in certain scenes. Posted 1/8/96.
Explores how to create a quality of dramatic, engaging story movement.
Many writers struggle with writing a one page description of their stories. This essay offers tips on how to write a synopsis that clearly identifies the dramatic issues at stake in a story.
Stories and Ideas -- A Review of Toto le Hero
This review explores how a story's ideas are at the service of advancing a story toward its dramatic resolution and fulfillment.
Transcendence and Stories -- A Review of L.A. Story
This review explores how a story creates the effect of transcendence for its audience.
Is the action of your story fresh and engaging? This essays offers some tips on how to create dramatic revelations. Includes a review of Stargate.
Explores why detective stories are popular. Reviews Lethal Weapon.
Practical examples of how characters must act in a way that ties their actions into the story premise. Includes a review of Last Action Hero.
Anatomy of An Action Adventure Movie
A review that explores the story structure of Die Hard.
A review of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Explores how this story introduces it characters as they react to what's at stake in the story.
Coming soon...essays on how to outline your story, conflict, how stories can create the effect of transcendence; the difference between stories and ideas, and why ideas are confused for stories.
All essays on The Craft of Dramatic Writing are copyright 1995 Bill Johnson unless otherwise noted.
