Anatomy of Story Got Me a Book Deal

[@captainnolan5062]

I am working my way through Truby's book now (when I stumbled across your video). 'The Anatomy of Story' is dense and "advanced". However one thing to keep in mind (which you haven't mentioned yet) is that it is primarily aimed at writing screenplays. In screenplays (which are written for the making of a movie) some of Truby's advice can be a little claustrophobic for a novel. Novels have a bit more room to explore than does a tightly written (and budget/production cost conscious) screenplay. In the back of Truby's mind (though at least through page 230) he has not directly said as much, but you can tell he is concerned with creating too many locations (i.e. sets that cost money to build or locations you have to travel to, which costs money for travel and to house and feed actors and crew members); Whereas in a novel, we have no such budgetary constraints. If I want to include things which would be expensive to build or require costly special effects to film, I don't have to worry about that. So keep that in mind as you read; the novel is a different medium than a movie (and the screenplay is written for film). So, for novelists, read and take what you can from his book, but some of his advice needs adjustment when applying it to novel writing (just as 'Save the Cat' [written for screenwriters] was adjusted and rewritten and became 'Save the Cat Writes a Novel' for novelists.

[@taryn3961]

Your writing mastermind brain fascinates me :)

[@LindsayPuckett]

BAH! not a mastermind at all! XD

[@Neil-writer-author]

How have you not hit 5k subs yet? You’re so close!

[@lunathedog6489]

She just did! 🎉

[@LindsayPuckett]

omg well looky there!!!!!

[@Neil-writer-author]

Yay!

[@LeahRummel]

I LOVE using anatomy of story! My craft book trio I pull out for every project is Anatomy, Story Genius, and Save the Cat and I just bounce between them all depending on if I need story help, character help, or plot help Also I love the way you described the designing principle because I legit have to reread that chapter with every project to rewrap my brain around it 😂 Excited for part 2!

[@LindsayPuckett]

the designing principle is so ridiculously written NO ONE understands it! haha And I really enjoyed Story Genius as well!

[@mspratyushasen]

Ooooof. Have been waiting for this video for so long. 😍😍

[@LindsayPuckett]

haha it's been a long time coming!

[@thequestingbard4836]

I have written my second manuscript's first draft. I usually like to this to get it out of my head. It helps because as I am writing them they come to life and I get to know more about them. Side characters are difficult because I spend too much on the main, but I try. It is nice to know that I am not alone in the daydreaming and seeing other paths for my character route. Almost done with my first draft. Finally!

[@LindsayPuckett]

ooh congrats! best of luck!

[@captainnolan5062]

I love "disentangleable!" @ 14:01

[@Raebourn]

This is my favourite writing book! I’m glad you are bringing more attention to it

[@LindsayPuckett]

yay! glad to hear it!

[@malikamaybe]

Ahhh, yes I was so excited for this video! Anatomy is genuinely my favorite, favorite craft book too. I gave it a reread last month in full before starting my third draft rewrite. I am getting ahead of myself and this is prob more of a part two comment, but the revelations sequence (!) was career changing (I don’t have a publishing career yet, but I already know it has lol) especially as someone that had issues with narrative thrust a long while ago (also, lol I started listing all the other things that Anatomy helped me with, but the comment started to get too long lol). Also, take a shot (with a beverage of your choice) every time Truby used Tootsie as an example like the man adored using that movie lol.

[@LindsayPuckett]

yes! The reveals! Love the emphasis he puts on them. It really helps in my books too! and omg Tootsie for reallllll lollll

[@jazzavalon]

I've had it for years and never got around to reading through it omg, thank you Lindsay😃 I'll be diving in right away lol cuz I'm in the middle of outlining and need all the help 😂

[@LindsayPuckett]

aye! Hope it helps!

[@manon1583]

This is exactly what I needed, thank you! And also Pirates of the Caribbean is DEFINETLY a trilogy 🙃

[@LindsayPuckett]

definitely! haha

[@Halliechris_writes]

I've been using Save the Cat and The Emotion Thesaurus (just to help with overused emotions). I recently purchased Story Genius and I will definitely look into buying The Anatomy of Story!

[@LindsayPuckett]

those are all very helpful as well!

[@trisha4life17]

Omg I loved it!!! I don’t think I’ve thought about how much the author has to know about a character before they can write them. Wow

[@LindsayPuckett]

It's a lot! haha

[@victoriatalkswriting8352]

Ooh...this is so exciting! I've been meaning to read this one for forever and just got it for my birthday.

[@LindsayPuckett]

yay!

[@madelinejameswrites]

This was such a great video! I can't wait for part 2! I love anatomy of story

[@LindsayPuckett]

thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[@blueskye2790]

This is also my favorite book and I've read hundreds. I've read this one about 2x but you've made want to read it a 3x time. :D

[@LindsayPuckett]

I skim read it every time I write a new book haha

[@blueskye2790]

Have you read Anatomy of Genres yet? It's so good!@@LindsayPuckett

[@LindsayPuckett]

@@blueskye2790 read half so far!

[@writenowdream3882]

Thank you for the recommendation! I picked up the book and already have solved some story issues i was having. Had to cut some characters, but it was needed. What a great craft book.

[@LindsayPuckett]

so happy it helped!

[@t-helen-price]

I am currently reading this book and am now on Story World chapter and I can already feel my brain workin on my manuscript using Truby’s method. It really is a good book so far and quite underrated if you ask me.

[@LindsayPuckett]

I think so too!

[@captainnolan5062]

The "theme" of A Christmas Carol is not "Trace the rebirth of a man" as you state at 5:49. That is the "story Process." The theme is more along the lines of: "Is it better to be a rich greedy miser, or to live for others and show kindness and generosity.

[@gregbarkhamjr4308]

I loved this book so much, but as a pantser, I panicked so much.

[@LindsayPuckett]

haha understandable! I always tell pansters just to use this on their second drafts!

[@Lara_Ameen]

Oh, wow! I’ve never used the book, but now you have me curious about it. I always do loglines for my books because I’m also a screenwriter and my scripts have loglines as well. It’s also handy since I adapt my own work. I love listening to your process! Thank you for sharing, Lindsay! 💜

[@LindsayPuckett]

Definitely check it out! The book is actual for screenwriters anyway, I just use it for novels!

[@RinRin-ge7bq]

I love this and the book is going on my TBR! I'm excited for the next part because I feel like I need some help with developing "deep characters" 😆 Like, they're super deep in my MIND but I don't know if I necessarily express that effectively on the page, ya know? Thanks for this, Lindsay!

[@LindsayPuckett]

I totally understand! Knowing how to do it and actually executing it are different things I think we all struggle with

[@jaepelton]

YAY I’ve been looking forward to this!!

[@LindsayPuckett]

I'm so glad!!! Hope you enjoyed!

[@TheReelNerdyReview]

I’m still working on my debut novel/rough draft I’ve gotten more ideas I just have to put this puzzle pieces 🧩 together. I’m more of a Pantser writer

[@LindsayPuckett]

this should help!

[@catiehall416]

LOVE THIS!! ive been waiting for this video all summer 😅 im reading thru that book now and love hearing how you apply it. ❤

[@LindsayPuckett]

yay! glad to hear it!

[@wordswithtaylorleigh]

My primary issue with this book was that I didn’t know almost ANY of the examples and that made it sooo difficult for my brain.

[@LindsayPuckett]

LOL honestly same

[@captainnolan5062]

I'm not sure you have described the design principle correctly. For example, in your book, I would say your design principle would be: "Force a chubby girl who feels worthless to enter a beauty pageant and follow her development over the course of 24 hours" (more along the lines of the designing principle in Tootsie; "force a male chauvinist to live as a woman"). That said, I don't think that Truby does a good job explaining this concept. I think we should view it more as: what kind of framework am I going to use to organize (and deliver) my story. For example in the Godfather the author uses the framework of a 'fairy tale', in Meet Me in St. Louis the author uses the framework of 'the four seasons'; in A Christmas Carol the author uses the framework of the 'past, present and future'; and in your book you use the framework of a 'beauty pageant.'

[@Sharath275]

please do analysis on john truby new book anatomy of genres and l love the way u put designing principle. That's helpful.

[@LindsayPuckett]

I'm reading it now!

[@Sharath275]

@@LindsayPuckett its in depth read.. But so inspiring..hope soon there will be video on one of the genre😊

[@captainnolan5062]

Ah Ha! You finally revealed the designing principle of your novel at 14:42 when you revealed that you wanted to write a novel that showed the development of your protagonist over the course of 24 hours. Similar to Ulysses; In a modern day Odyssey through the city, OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE DAY, one man finds a father, and the other man finds a son. This combined with a principle similar to Tootsie's designing principle ("force a male chauvinist to live as a woman"), or in your book "Force a chubby girl who feels worthless to enter a beauty contest" leads to your designing principle (add them together) : "Force a chubby girl who feels worthless to enter a beauty pageant and follow her development over the course of 24 hours."

[@captainnolan5062]

Also, have you read his book Genres?

[@captainnolan5062]

Because Truby does not explain the designing principle well and makes it needlessly complicated (as you point out), you have come to the conclusion that "you can just skip this step." I would advise against skipping it. It is easier thank you think. Look at Harry Potter: The designing principle for the Harry Potter series that the author chose to use was to show Harry's development from a boy to a man by following him through seven years at Hogwarts school for Wizards using one book for each year. That is how the story was designed. Pretty simple.

[@alexcurtis2690]

The most excited I've been at a youtube notification. Thank you for your insights! This was great

[@LindsayPuckett]

so glad you enjoyed!

[@Satishvenky]

This book is useful for beginners?

[@LindsayPuckett]

I would say yes, but introductory learning is needed to lay a foundation for this book. Maybe read along side Story Genius by Lisa Cron and Creating Character Arcs by KM Weiland

[@trisha4life17]

First comment!!!!

[@LindsayPuckett]

wahoo!

[@caesuracrossing5473]

Not me ordering Anatomy of Story!

[@LindsayPuckett]

YUS