10 Screenwriting and Story Tips from Robert McKee

Submit your Feature Screenplay here: Robert McKee is a Screenwriting Guru and Story consultant who is known for his “Story Seminar“, which he developed when he was a professor at the University of Southern California. Robert McKee is the author of Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, Dialogue: the Art of Verbal Action for Stage, Page and Screen, Storynomics: Story-Driven Marketing in the Post-Advertising World and Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen. 1. Your protagonist needs to be the one who takes the decision that brings about the climactic action. 2. Set yourself creative limitations because they will inspire you and help you with your writing 3. You reveal a character’s hidden nature by putting them under pressure. 4. Desire in your character is key. 5. Create a physical picture of a character in your mind, then take them with you wherever you go to discover what kind of desire they have. 6. Draw the audience in with empathy and curiosity, and let them indirectly gather exposition as they go along, rather than overwhelming them with it. 7. You can do whatever you want in your screenplay, as long as you make sure it works and you know why you’re doing it. 8. Create dimensionality in characters by building consistent contradictions within them. 9. When you don’t know what to write about, ask yourself what your favorite movies are and why they are your favorite. 10. Character payoffs should always be emotional unless you have a special reason. Follow us on our main Instagram: Follow us on our video Instagram: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us on Facebook: Support us on Patreon: #robertmckee #screenwriting #screenwriter