Treasure Hunt: Following the Clues to a Great Story

I have magically found my way back to one of my favorite things to study: storytelling. I know this seems like an unusual topic to study, after all, as humans, storytelling is practically a part of our DNA, right? Certainly! However, crafting a truly exquisite story requires some effort. Writer and director Andrew Stanton made some excellent points that all aspiring writers should take the time to listen to in a TED talk entitled “The Clues to A Great Story.”

Whether we want to admit it or not, we love stories that make us care – and stories that make us “work for our meal,” as Stanton puts it. What does this mean? We want to be caught up in a story, caught up in a movie. I don’t know about you, but part of the movie experience for me is playing detective: What is going to happen next? Who is the true villain here? Is he going to live?