Scan barcode
A review by larrys
Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
5.0
I read this some years ago. Coming back to it after having read much more on story in general, I see that Edgerton's terminology lines up with others':
Story-worthy problem = Truby's psychological and moral weakness. Others call it a flaw or 'fatal flaw'.
Surface-level problem = Truby's 'Desire'. Others call it a 'goal'.
I love Thelma and Louise so I'm glad he focuses on that as a case study, as I know it inside out and back to front. It's impossible learning anything from a description of a story unless you know the story.
This book is not just about the opening few pages. Rather, it's about what the writer needs to set up in order to sustain the entire book. This is a writing book about the whole book.
But in Anatomy of Story, John Truby digs deeper. Specifically, he divides 'story worthy problem' (Need) into two separate parts (moral and psychological weakness), which is vital. Edgerton doesn't do that.
Story-worthy problem = Truby's psychological and moral weakness. Others call it a flaw or 'fatal flaw'.
Surface-level problem = Truby's 'Desire'. Others call it a 'goal'.
I love Thelma and Louise so I'm glad he focuses on that as a case study, as I know it inside out and back to front. It's impossible learning anything from a description of a story unless you know the story.
This book is not just about the opening few pages. Rather, it's about what the writer needs to set up in order to sustain the entire book. This is a writing book about the whole book.
But in Anatomy of Story, John Truby digs deeper. Specifically, he divides 'story worthy problem' (Need) into two separate parts (moral and psychological weakness), which is vital. Edgerton doesn't do that.