Memo From the Story Department offers a battery of story-generating engines and story-improving tools, and reliable methods tested on hundreds of Hollywood productions. It goes far beyond the standard advice given in most screenwriting manuals. Drawn from sources as varied as vaudeville, classical Greek comedies, and Russian fairy tales, the book outlines a series of practical templates for creating believable characters and emotionally satisfying plots.

Writers are storytellers. The best of them have utilized the principles of myth to create masterful stories that are dramatic, entertaining and psychologically true. Based on the work of Joseph Campbell, this edition provides an insider's look at how writers (both fiction and non-fiction) can utilize mythic structure to create powerful narratives. Writers will discover step by step guidelines for structuring plots and creating realistic characters. This new 4th edition adds 30% new material.

Writers are storytellers. The best of them have utilized the principles of myth to create masterful stories that are dramatic, entertaining and psychologically true. Based on the work of Joseph Campbell, this edition provides an insider's look at how writers (both fiction and non-fiction) can utilize mythic structure to create powerful narratives. Writers will discover step by step guidelines for structuring plots and creating realistic characters. This new 4th edition adds 30% new material.

Designed as a companion to The Writer's Journey, Myth & the Movies analyzes 50 U.S. and foreign films in every cinematic genre.

'The Writer's Journey' is an insider's guide to how master storytellers from Hitchcock to Spielberg have used mythic structure to create powerful stories. It can also be used as a practical guide to help readers empower their own work.