If you have an interest in writing, particularly if you require any elements of story in your work, you’re likely to enjoy and benefit from this book. Though targeted at screenwriters, Story does a great job of explaining and illustrating how good story works and what doesn’t work. You can take it as a given that the author knows this subject; he spent decades teaching screenwriting and his students include many who met with great success in that field.

One part of the first chapter that I enjoyed was where Robert discusses some of the loves that a writer of story must possess. Here are a few that he touches on: the love of… story, the dramatic, truth, humanity, dreaming, humor, language, duality, perfection, beauty… Don’t worry though, Robert does much more than talk about story; he also gets down into the nuts and bolts and offers plenty of practical information.

Have any favorite books lately? Also, if you’ve read Story, did you find it helpful?