Comments on: How to Learn Story Structure in Two Minutes or Less

By: Filmtrailer als Übung für die Handlungsstruktur von Geschichten | Schreibberatung & Schreibcoaching

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:13:22 +0000

[...] Brooks ersonnen hat, um das Gespür für die Struktur zu schulen. Er stellt sie in seinem Beitrag How to Learn Story Structure in Two Minutes or Less vor. Seine Theorie ist, dass Filmtrailer, die nicht mehr als zwei Minuten Zeit haben, um die [...]

By: What I Learned from Aladdin about Story Structure | Writing To Publish

What I Learned from Aladdin about Story Structure | Writing To Publish — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:57:47 +0000

[...] today, I read a post on Storyfix.com about how to learn story structure in two minutes or less. I was intrigued and wondered how novelist and blogger Larry Brooks would pull that off. Well, he [...]

By: Must-Read Writing Articles Nov.21

Must-Read Writing Articles Nov.21 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:37:16 +0000

[...] How to Learn Story Structure in Two Minutes or Less, Larry Brooks for Storyfix [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:34:16 +0000

I think I need to know more about theme. I’ve read your articles here and both e-books, but is there another resource that you know of that explains it well? I’m just not catching on with theme.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:30:16 +0000

After I completed my novella, I put together a trailer to market it. After I finished the trailer, I sat back, shocked at how clear the story seemed to come together in really simple words and pictures. In a sense, I think for the next book I want to start with a trailer (succinctly providing the outline/plot/character arc/etc) and then write the novel from there! Part of me thinks that this worked for me so well because I’m an extremely visual person, but who knows. Great post, as usual! And inspiring. Thanks so much!

By: Larry

Larry — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:33:53 +0000

@Pegg — I probably should have pointed out that trailers for comedies, because they aren’t plot-driven, often focus on the best one-liners rather than the storytelling. That’s certainly the case with “Old Dogs.” But if you look closer, you’ll see structure there — a set-up, a probable first plot point (bringing Robin Williams into the family), a reaction to that, a proactive “attack”, and some shenanagans that could be part of the final act.

Trailers are never an exact or complete model for story structure. I just think, as both a fun aside and an academic exercise, that it’s interesting to see what structural elements you can find in them, because to some extent, some are always there. And, some are missing, perhaps to an extent you could argue this glass to be half empty instead of half full. Your call on that. Thanks for commenting, Pegg, appreciate it.

By: Pegg Thomas

Pegg Thomas — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:20:57 +0000

Okay, to test your theory, I went and clicked on some trailer called “Old Dogs.” First, I’m not wasting my money to go see that movie. Second, I think it may add one more point to your post. No structure, so story, not worth going to the theater for.

I saw the set-up, weak. I saw them attack the problem. And then it all fell apart. Or maybe I just missed it. Or maybe it’s a stinky movie with a stinky trailer.