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The Anatomy of Story

Description:

"If you're ready to graduate from the boy-meets-girl league of screenwriting, meet John Truby . . . [his lessons inspire] epiphanies that make you see the contours of your psyche as sharply as your script."
LA Weekly

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including
Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach to building an effective, multifaceted narrative.

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Essential Reading

A. · January 2, 2012

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } While I have a few criticisms, I'm still giving this 5 stars because The Anatomy of Story is by far the best book I've ever read on the subject of writing. Reading it has truly been a revelation and I'm so glad to have found it. I've read several other books and was always left with a sense that something fundamental was missing from them. This book fills in all the gaps. Instead of platitudes, Truby gives us explanations, multiple examples and insightful techniques for each point he makes. I was amazed by how many ideas are in this book that I had not seen anywhere else: four-corner opposition, psychological and moral need, attack by an ally, audience revelation - any one of these ideas by themselves are worth the price of the book, yet we get all of these and more in The Anatomy of Story.Don't waste your time on another re-hash of two plot points and a climax; buy The Anatomy of Story instead and prepare to bring your writing skill to a new level. But beware, there is so much new information in this book that you may want to read it twice (like I had to) in order to see the "big picture". Be sure to have your hi-lighter handy, then do the 9 exercises. Did I mention the exercises? Oh yes, that's almost the best part! 22 steps is a lot to weave together, so Truby lays out 9 exercises which guide us through each step in a detailed manner. The completion of the 9 exercises will leave you with a full first-draft story that you will be proud to have written.This is not a "color by numbers" approach. Think of the 22 steps like 22 tools for your writer's tool box; you may use them (or not) as you see fit. Either way, you'll have a clear understanding of how, why and when to use them.If you are an aspiring writer like I am, then you and I have a kinship. As a comrade of sorts, I highly recommend this book to you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, very well written - very useful

M.K. · June 5, 2023

This guy is so thorough and so insightful, with such great explanations that I think this book is a must have for those who want to write original and well crafted stories. I've read a few books on screenwriting, some good ones and some not so good ones. I read another one recently where the writer confused a teaching-book with a comedy club. But this one, The Anatomy of a Story - is professional, well-thought-through, great explanations, lots and lots of "aha! insights" and great details. To be honest, it starts our a bit slow, and the very first chapter is a bit boring... but then it starts. Here is how the greatest writers handle this... here is how great writing includes that, pays attention to this or that structure. While in the very beginning I thought "oh, no... this is dragging here..." - now, 100 pages into it, I can't put it down. Great insights and instructions on every page. Good purchase!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book There is on Writing

M.O. · September 20, 2013

I've read over a hundred books on writing and I can now throw out my entire library and replace it with this one book. In fact this book is still ten times better than everything I have put together on writing.There are simply explained techniques in this book that took me over ten years to figure out (and I only had a crude grasp of how it worked after pouring through dozens of books).Over the past ten years all of the top money making films have been loaded with the techniques in this book. Harry Potter Pirates of the Caribbean X-Men Avengers Iron Man The Dark Knight LOTR etc.The author has worked on over a thousand movies and TV shows - LOST West Wing Star Trek etc.This book will give you such a great understanding of STORYTELLING that you will know why a movie or book fails - it does not use the techniques in this book.If you want to become a great writer you need to get this book.NOTE: This book is NOT formula writing but it is a compilation of the best techniques ever discovered to help authors tell a fantastic story.After using the techniques in this book my writing has drastically improved and my novels get four and five star reviews on Amazon.

4.0 out of 5 stars The book I’ll read again (and again)

T. · June 7, 2021

This book is definitely everything except light and short. It is a pleasure to read, because there are no lengthy rambles or metaphorical journeys before the author gets to the point. However, there is more than enough language about what an unnamed, common author is doing wrong. Sometimes the defensive language the author used got on my nerves, but I can certainly believe all the vitriol the internet can create. The further I got into the book, the more the pages were filled with concrete, highly detailed examples and less with defensive language.This is the main reason why I’m giving this book four stars instead of five.From a practical standpoint this book is well thought out: key information is easy to find, techniques and options are clearly marked out. Chapters are tightly structured and well named once one learns the author’s special vocabulary. This is a happy middle ground between a textbook and a reference book, which is why I’ll return to it time again.There is a lot more in this book than I expected. More than I can hope to use in any one project, which is why I believe this book will be so useful going forward.

Best book

T. · May 9, 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Your just need this. Buy it. And the Anatomy of the Genre

Lives Up To The Hype

P.M. · March 4, 2024

Was sceptical in reading this book as there are so many claiming to have the answers to storytelling at a publishable level. Also relevant to film scriptwriting as many of its examples attest. This isn't an easy book to fully digest, but worth the effort I reckon and one I will study further.

Plunge deep into the art of storytelling

P. · April 29, 2024

As a writer who wants to improve my writing, I've read many books on writing (to learn how to stuff another 'writing' into an overburdened sentence) and John Truby's book is often mentioned as the gold standard of how to write a great story.I can see why, as John is incredibly thorough, going in depth into all the aspects of story telling from premise to character to scene construction. What is appreciate is the organic approach he advocates with many examples from great movies and tales. However, that depth makes it hard to grasp the whole of the approach and sitting down to implement his concepts into a practical structure is challenging.I think it would take a few reads to get his ideas integrated into an author's process but well worth doing. Perhaps it's best to view his concepts as guideposts to make sure you have not wandered far off the path of a great story.

Çok iyi

C. · December 13, 2024

Mükemmel

Excelente libro!

A.D. · September 2, 2025

Excelente libro y el servicio de Amazon!

The Anatomy of Story

Product ID: U0865479933
Condition: New

4.7

AED8567

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

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Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Screenwriting”

The Anatomy of Story

Product ID: U0865479933
Condition: New

4.7

Type: Paperback

AED8567

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

"If you're ready to graduate from the boy-meets-girl league of screenwriting, meet John Truby . . . [his lessons inspire] epiphanies that make you see the contours of your psyche as sharply as your script."
LA Weekly

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including
Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach to building an effective, multifaceted narrative.

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Essential Reading

A. · January 2, 2012

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } While I have a few criticisms, I'm still giving this 5 stars because The Anatomy of Story is by far the best book I've ever read on the subject of writing. Reading it has truly been a revelation and I'm so glad to have found it. I've read several other books and was always left with a sense that something fundamental was missing from them. This book fills in all the gaps. Instead of platitudes, Truby gives us explanations, multiple examples and insightful techniques for each point he makes. I was amazed by how many ideas are in this book that I had not seen anywhere else: four-corner opposition, psychological and moral need, attack by an ally, audience revelation - any one of these ideas by themselves are worth the price of the book, yet we get all of these and more in The Anatomy of Story.Don't waste your time on another re-hash of two plot points and a climax; buy The Anatomy of Story instead and prepare to bring your writing skill to a new level. But beware, there is so much new information in this book that you may want to read it twice (like I had to) in order to see the "big picture". Be sure to have your hi-lighter handy, then do the 9 exercises. Did I mention the exercises? Oh yes, that's almost the best part! 22 steps is a lot to weave together, so Truby lays out 9 exercises which guide us through each step in a detailed manner. The completion of the 9 exercises will leave you with a full first-draft story that you will be proud to have written.This is not a "color by numbers" approach. Think of the 22 steps like 22 tools for your writer's tool box; you may use them (or not) as you see fit. Either way, you'll have a clear understanding of how, why and when to use them.If you are an aspiring writer like I am, then you and I have a kinship. As a comrade of sorts, I highly recommend this book to you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, very well written - very useful

M.K. · June 5, 2023

This guy is so thorough and so insightful, with such great explanations that I think this book is a must have for those who want to write original and well crafted stories. I've read a few books on screenwriting, some good ones and some not so good ones. I read another one recently where the writer confused a teaching-book with a comedy club. But this one, The Anatomy of a Story - is professional, well-thought-through, great explanations, lots and lots of "aha! insights" and great details. To be honest, it starts our a bit slow, and the very first chapter is a bit boring... but then it starts. Here is how the greatest writers handle this... here is how great writing includes that, pays attention to this or that structure. While in the very beginning I thought "oh, no... this is dragging here..." - now, 100 pages into it, I can't put it down. Great insights and instructions on every page. Good purchase!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book There is on Writing

M.O. · September 20, 2013

I've read over a hundred books on writing and I can now throw out my entire library and replace it with this one book. In fact this book is still ten times better than everything I have put together on writing.There are simply explained techniques in this book that took me over ten years to figure out (and I only had a crude grasp of how it worked after pouring through dozens of books).Over the past ten years all of the top money making films have been loaded with the techniques in this book. Harry Potter Pirates of the Caribbean X-Men Avengers Iron Man The Dark Knight LOTR etc.The author has worked on over a thousand movies and TV shows - LOST West Wing Star Trek etc.This book will give you such a great understanding of STORYTELLING that you will know why a movie or book fails - it does not use the techniques in this book.If you want to become a great writer you need to get this book.NOTE: This book is NOT formula writing but it is a compilation of the best techniques ever discovered to help authors tell a fantastic story.After using the techniques in this book my writing has drastically improved and my novels get four and five star reviews on Amazon.

4.0 out of 5 stars The book I’ll read again (and again)

T. · June 7, 2021

This book is definitely everything except light and short. It is a pleasure to read, because there are no lengthy rambles or metaphorical journeys before the author gets to the point. However, there is more than enough language about what an unnamed, common author is doing wrong. Sometimes the defensive language the author used got on my nerves, but I can certainly believe all the vitriol the internet can create. The further I got into the book, the more the pages were filled with concrete, highly detailed examples and less with defensive language.This is the main reason why I’m giving this book four stars instead of five.From a practical standpoint this book is well thought out: key information is easy to find, techniques and options are clearly marked out. Chapters are tightly structured and well named once one learns the author’s special vocabulary. This is a happy middle ground between a textbook and a reference book, which is why I’ll return to it time again.There is a lot more in this book than I expected. More than I can hope to use in any one project, which is why I believe this book will be so useful going forward.

Best book

T. · May 9, 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Your just need this. Buy it. And the Anatomy of the Genre

Lives Up To The Hype

P.M. · March 4, 2024

Was sceptical in reading this book as there are so many claiming to have the answers to storytelling at a publishable level. Also relevant to film scriptwriting as many of its examples attest. This isn't an easy book to fully digest, but worth the effort I reckon and one I will study further.

Plunge deep into the art of storytelling

P. · April 29, 2024

As a writer who wants to improve my writing, I've read many books on writing (to learn how to stuff another 'writing' into an overburdened sentence) and John Truby's book is often mentioned as the gold standard of how to write a great story.I can see why, as John is incredibly thorough, going in depth into all the aspects of story telling from premise to character to scene construction. What is appreciate is the organic approach he advocates with many examples from great movies and tales. However, that depth makes it hard to grasp the whole of the approach and sitting down to implement his concepts into a practical structure is challenging.I think it would take a few reads to get his ideas integrated into an author's process but well worth doing. Perhaps it's best to view his concepts as guideposts to make sure you have not wandered far off the path of a great story.

Çok iyi

C. · December 13, 2024

Mükemmel

Excelente libro!

A.D. · September 2, 2025

Excelente libro y el servicio de Amazon!

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Screenwriting”