The-Story-Solution

THE STORY SOLUTION is a powerful new book on screenwriting by Eric Edson that will help make your screenplay writing more enjoyable, effective and successful. This book offers a completely unique approach to writing a movie script that will keep producers, agents and audiences glued to their chairs. If you are seeking advice on writing a screenplay or looking for screenwriting tips, Eric Edson’s THE STORY SOLUTION is one of the best screenwriting books to consider for your library. Accomplished screenplay writer and university professor Eric Edson reveals the 23 actions used in every successful movie to create dynamic, three-dimensional heroes while linking together all parts of a captivating screenplay from first page to last. This book offers both new screenplay writers and scriptwriting professionals the tools necessary to construct a forceful emotional ride in their storytelling. Writing screenplays is not easy. Eric’s paradigm of HERO GOAL SEQUENCES has raised his book into Amazon’s top list of the best books on screenwriting. Clear and fun to read, THE STORY SOLUTION brings to light an innovative way to insure effective plotlines for both screenplays and novels.

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4.7
Based on 242 Reviews

Excellent. Every writer should have this book in his/her how-to library, preferably close by on his writing desk..

I have learned new tricks for screenwriting. The formula for 23 actions for heroes are spot on. Attended a seminar but only had time to run through a few of these actions. This is why I bought the book.

I had a lot of material to somehow shoehorn into an action plot with multiple subplots. External and internal journies with character growth. This book enabled me to break the story down to hero sequences that generated action and emotional character arcs. A big help

Eric Edson's book does a masterful job of taking a difficult and complex subject like story structure and breaks it down into an easy to comprehend rubric. I especially love the plethora of examples from past films showing his "Hero Goal Sequences" at work. Sure, Syd Field can tell you roughly where your act breaks could be in your script, but Edson's book delves deeper into the nitty-gritty of the path your hero needs to take to achieve their goal, and he does it wonderfully.

Eric Edson was the best screenwriting teacher I had while at CSUN. His book is a reflection of that. Thanks for everything you taught me, Eric.

An absolute must for writers who utilize and respect the use of an outline. These tools can be used at the micro and macro level which I really enjoy. You can get some help with a brief outline, or use it to create an extremely detailed point-by-point plot with character arcs built-in and ready to go. A great buy!

Heroes. They drive your story. Whether their name is Shrek, Luke Skywalker or George Bailey - they are the characters the audience relates to, understands and becomes as the story progresses. You cannot cut your hero short. They MUST accomplish their goals. Eric Edson does a fantastic job of going over the basics of screenwriting (structure, dialogue, arc, heroes v. villains) before diving into the main concept of his book: The Hero Goal Sequence (c). This is where this book takes off. Diving headlong into the reality of heroes, Mr. Edson explores the core 23 Steps your hero MUST take to accomplish their goal. Using the Hero Goal Sequence (c) paradigm - Mr. Edson defines for the reader/writer the steps it will take for your hero to accomplish his/her goal. He then breaks them down per act, giving the reader/writer a clear understanding of what must happen when and where and for how long. In all the books I've read, I've not seen this definition taken to the lengths that Mr. Edson takes it. And as much the definition may cause others to pause - he gives plenty of examples to hold up his side of the argument. That your hero MUST take these steps to accomplish their goal(s), thus creating a story that resonates and has impact beyond just the final credits. And this is where the book excels. Using these examples as concrete evidence, it's hard to argue the points when he makes them so clearly. Then, taking it one step beyond, he uses exercises to help the reader/writer to really understand the concepts and take their hero(es) to another level. Many books on screenwriting will gloss over, or just lightly touch, on the hero's journey - Eric Edson dives in with a depth rarely seen. The Story Solution takes apart the journey with thoughtful insight and relevance - you'll be amazed at what you find.

The beginning, covering basic structure, is great for first-time screenwriters. The 23 actions are brilliant and a great way to check yourself as you write and especially as you do your revisions. One of the best for structure.

I have been exposed to THE STORY SOLUTION both as a graduate student at California State University Northridge and as adjunct faculty at Boston College. In both cases, I have seen the books influence on the story process. As a screenwriter, I have long struggled with building rising plot actionlines that create powerful script conflict - especially in Act Two. Eric Edson's new "Hero Goal Sequences" story paradigm provides me with a powerful tool to bridge that long - and sometimes lonely - seventy page gap between a solid Act One and a great ending. As an educator responsible for guiding students through their first attempt at writing a feature-length script, I witnessed the students' educational arc go from initial Hero Goal Sequence skepticism to copies of their STORY SOLUTION books highlighted and dog-eared and in constant use as a reference source. The end result has been enormously improved student screenplays. THE STORY SOLUTION is now required reading for the Boston College Film Studies program. It's a valuable tool, and the students are both delighted and grateful to have it. Ned O'Neill Screenwriter/Educator/Story Analyst

We've all said some variation of the following while watching a crappy movie: "I can write a movie WAY better than this!" Admit it, you have. But have you ever actually tried to sit down and write a 110 page screenplay that makes the reader stay focused from start to finish and by the end they are begging you to find a way to make your script into a movie? Probably not. The reason isn't that your idea sucks, more than likely it's because your story lacks a sense of focus, depth, and momentum. We've all seen movies that lose out interest and even make us leave the theater wondering why anyone wasted their time and money to bring what you just saw to the big screen. Sometimes it's the studio making a movie ultimately suck; but a majority of the time it all goes back to the fundamentals of story. A lot of books - and I mean A LOT of books - have been written about screenwriting. Syd Field, Robert McKee, John Truby, Blake Snyder, Linda Seger, and host of others have mined the mysterious fields of the screenplay in order to tell new and experienced writers the perfect formula for writing a selling script. While these books do their best to make simplify a very complex process, they often become caught up in their own rhetoric and make the new writer so self-aware of rules, formulas, formats, charts and graphs that they freeze and give up without writing a word. So how do you go from frozen in time with your fingers poised over the keys to actually writing and completing a draft of a screenplay? The answer lies in Eric Edson's The Story Solution. This book breaks each aspect of a screenplay down into bite-size pieces that enable the writer to carefully construct their story and have it fully formed before they ever start to write in script format. What I liked best about the book was that it was very conversational. You never feel as if Edson is speaking down to you like some masterful oracle who knows more than you. He uses current films to exemplify his points and he does something other screenwriting books rarely do: he actually has examples of films that DIDN'T work and explains why. While it's nice to learn about The Godfather and why it's a well-structured film, it's also nice to see why other films don't have the amount of story or other aspects needed in order to make them a commercial success. And it makes sense that a film that has a solid story, strong hero, and even stronger villain can generate plenty of success at the box office. Edson shows the reader how to create a protagonist (hero) that audiences will like, how to make that hero change over the course of the film, and what types of characters can be used to help the hero along his journey. I really liked his emphasis on the villain and his explanations as to why the antagonist is so important and instrumental to the overall structure and development of the story and its hero. After a general overview of screenplay/story structure, we get into the meat and potatoes of Edson's genius: Hero Goal Sequences. He posits that each well-written screenplay contains 23 of these sequences that help guide your hero and the audiences through the course of the story. How exactly does it work? Does it really work on any commercially successful film? Edson not only explains in great detail how it works but also uses more than enough examples from commercially successful movies to prove his point. And you know what? It actually works! Each chapter is filled with exercises that allow you to try out Edson's methodology before you even begin the oftentimes harrowing journey into writing an actual script. Once you gain the confidence needed to go forward and take those first few steps you'll quickly come to realize that Edson's approach is an excellent guide to making your story come alive. Not only is the book an ideal must-read for screenwriters and novelists, but it's also a great book for those who just love and enjoy film. I learned a lot about story structure and character that has since made me a more critical thinker when it comes to watching films. Being able to identify and analyze a movie on a deeper level is something that this book enables you to do and in turn makes you a participant in your viewing experience. The Story Solution is a fantastic and entertaining read, a solid instructional tool, and a great way to delve deeper into the world of screenwriting and film. I highly recommend it.

This book will change the way you view character, action, and theme. It's clear, precise, and easy to follow. The elements shared within the pages of this book are priceless - if applied correctly, you'll be well on your way to becoming an excellent screenwriter. I have used his paradigm, applied it to a script I'm currently working on, and have seen the difference -- it's night and day. I suggest you purchase this book straightaway - don't think about it, don't pass go, just buy it. Study it. Apply it.

The insight regarding character, dialog and story foundation are elegantly presented and the 23 actions provides a wonderfully clear blueprint for storytelling. I particularly liked the discussion of Fresh News. Many books and websites tell you that each scene must compel the reader (or viewer) to the next. Your book provides a clear explanation on how to achieve this essential objective. In his seminars, Eric suggests writers should play with words the way a sculptor plays with clay. The Story Solution provides the wire mesh on which to support the clay.

I have been writing using Prof. Edson's theories (as contained in this long-awaited book) for the past 3 years. I can honestly say that it brought my writing to an entirely new level. I used his methodology to craft the story for my recently-released feature film, "

It has always been for me that by reading books such as "Story Solution" I gain a better understanding of myself and others. This book, more than any other, is helping me to write my screenplay. It is definitely required reading if your going to write any story.

Excellent explicit guide to character development and one of the clearest distillations of structure that I have read, with examples from well known films

excellant!!! Gave me a good basis for story telling in a cinematic way and the steps to incorporate an exciting, intriguing story.

Unless you're Robert Towne, William Goldman or Paddy Chayefsky, this is a book you absolutely need to understand how stories on the screen are structured and impactive.

I've been working on the first draft of a novel. The scenes have been planned out (and replanned and replanned) and I've been working my way through them, considering the first draft a big brainstorm. I knew there were still structural problems. For example, the events seemed to be out of order as far as their impact and the heroine has been passive. By the time I finished reading this book on structure, the structure of my novel was completely replanned. Now the heroine drives the story rather than reacting to it and the story drives hard toward the climax just like it should. All the hills and valleys are there now. The part about characters was really great, too. This book provides a lot of examples of roles that characters should play, and this part really brought my novel to life. It had people in it, of course, but they weren't assigned specific roles that I understood very well. This book really pushed my WIP to the next level.

packed with useful information

Stories are challenging to write, whether you’re a screenwriter or a novelist. You might have a good idea for how a story could begin, but the middle of the story tends to knock many writers off their game. There are many great books on story structure because structure is what helps many writers get through the slogging middle of their story. Eric Edson’s Story Solution looks at many of the most popular stories and films and digs deep into their underlying structure to show you how you can make structure work for your story. Edson begins the book by laying a solid foundation for storytelling and screenwriting in particular. He argues for storytellers to seek to give audience members an emotional experience through story. He shows how to do this by discussing the role of conflict in story and Story Solution Highlights Edson’s chapter on dialogue is top notch, giving 11 solid principles for writing great dialogue. This is also part of a section on creating great characters, which is also helpful. The most important section of the book is Edson’s Hero Goal Sequences paradigm. He breaks up the major moments of any story into 23 sequences. It’s a helpful paradigm because it shows how the protagonist of a story chases one smaller physical goal as a step toward his main goal until he receives some new information that marks the end of his pursuit of the smaller goal. The end of one goal sequence is followed by the next. I’ve always struggled with how to create sequences of scenes in my stories and how the scenes tie together. The Story Solution went a long way in helping me understand the sequence breakdown of a story. If you’re struggling with how to structure a story you’re working on, Story Solution is a great resource. Review copy provided by Michael Wiese Productions

I've had the honor of being taught in person by this man, and I'm so happy that this book has finally been released. The techniques and lessons that you will learn from this book are very valuable to any writer. Whether you're trying to break on the scene or you're an already established writer, I will guarantee that you'll learn something that you didn't know before. GREAT READ!!!

Eric Edson has uncovered a remarkable truth. His book is fresh, exciting, and groundbreaking. The concept of "Hero Goal Sequences" is incredibly insightful, and presents a process which must change the way screenwriters, agents, producers, and executives conduct business. His observations demystify the essence of successful film, and provide a common language whereby those involved in both the creative and business aspects of film-making may finally understand each another. This is a must read. I am convinced that it is to modern storytelling what Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" was to his time. It will be studied for years to come. Bravo, Mr. Edson. The crowds cheer a shiny, new chariot in what used to be a tired, dusty arena.

I have read over 200+ books on screenwriting, a most difficult craft to master (I am still on this long journey's path!), most such books rehash the same old same old. Regardless of whatever how-to book(s) on screenwriting you have read so far, get a copy of this book as soon as you can and read it cover to cover. Twice. Three times. Aristotle's three acts, and the typical 8 or so plot points one learns from Syd Field, Michael Hauge, and others is fine for some fundamentals. Then there are a few books that even teach structuring a film minute by minute (literally, as in 120 story beats, a book I read recently). This approach, 23 sequences or beats, seems like the best yet. I already created a template with the 23 actions each hero must take, plugged in my outlined beats for a supernatural thriller I am currently writing, and it worked perfectly. Kudos to the author, Eric Edson, who obviously knows the craft-- he has written many feature screenplays, and also is a professor of screenwriting at UCLA-- who better to get down to business and share wisdom on the craft of proper story development.

This book found me in a book store. I was drawn to it for some reason. When I opened it up, I read a paragraph that gave me the insight I look for in a writing book. Like most writers, my main characters suffer from "the world affecting them" instead of them "affecting the world". This book has helped me understand what it means to be a dynamic main character. We all know there are tons of books out there that claim to have the goods and few of them do. This one has it. But you have to really study it and read it thoroughly because these are complex ideas. If you take the time and really dive deep into this book, I think you will find that it's depth is as limitless as your creativity.

Eric Edson has unlocked a formula any aspiring/professional screenwriter or revisionist must have in their skill set. Many screenplays have great stories, but lack the pacing required to become a major Hollywood film. These proven 23 actions are seen time and time again throughout many major box office hits such as Die Hard and Collateral (to name a few). By using this method, any story will keep the viewer/reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know what will happen next. Hats off to Eric Edison for discovering a beautiful solution to one of the most common problems for any major Hollywood screenplay.

Another helpful angle on screenwriting. I found it helpful for focusing what happens between the well-known way stations. Worth the read.

This amazing book is exactly what its title promises. It details plot twists, or pivotal moments, specifically when and where they must be placed in order to drive the story. Mr. Edson does this by analyzing the plotting of a thousand successful movies and he succeeds in uncovering the crucial element build for a compelling narrative. It"s an exhaustive piece of work that can save any fiction writer from going down that long, wrong, road toward a dead end.

Whether you're a novice, or seasoned professional, "The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take" is a must have in your arsenal. Easy to understand, full of examples, and guidance from an established juggernaut in the industry. I highly recommend this book...no, this treasure.

I've never reviewed anything on Amazon, but after reading this book, I felt compelled to do so. As an aspiring screenwriter, I searched high and low for the perfect book to guide me on my artistic journey. Needless to say, my shelves are full of numerous screenwriting books and materials. Although there are a few good books out there, most of them say the same thing... write in a three act structure, develop meaningful characters, and keep the audience entertained. Of course, all of this information is useful, but no other book will break down your story into 23 specific parts and walk you through each part in complete clarity like "The Story Solution" by Eric Edson. The good news is that my sense of story dramatically improved after reading this book. The bad news is that I wasted a lot of time and money searching for it. Save yourself the hassle and don't waste money on other screenwriting books (unless you're rich and can afford it). This is the only book you'll need!

The best book I've ever bought!

What kind of a person actually dissects successful movies to identify their underlying structure? I'd say a scientist, which is an unusual way to characterize an artist. Yet, in my opinion, that's what Professor Edson certainly is. I thoroughly enjoyed his book and will carefully study it over the coming months to consider ways to improve scripts already written...and to outline stories yet to hit the page. This is a quite masterful work of art and science...and I'm serious about wanting to meet this author some day!

This is a MUST READ for anyone out there wondering how to write a good screenplay. In today's world of too many screenplay books to choose from I'll make it easy for you - just read this one. It breaks things down simply and elegantly. There's a reason why some scripts are just okay and some scripts are truly great. This guy teaches you how to write the truly great kind. You will not be disappointed!!

I've read about a dozen books like this over the years but this one is the one that has helped me the most. Most books books cover plot, characters, scenes, etc. But no one talk about the order and placement and how you know when you are ready to move on to the next scene. The way Professor Edson writes it-gives you concrete things to work with. I remember when I took a cooking class the chef was very specific on the order to place the ingredigents and the grouping of certain ingredients together. The chef told us to watch for a certain texture in the food. That was signal that it was ready to add more ingredients. This book is the same way. No more driving around in the dark trying out this or that. I love how the Professor says if you your hero doesn't have 4 out of the 6 character traits. Go back and try again. I love that. Its like if you are going to bake bread and you don't put the right amount of yeast along with just the right around of moisture in the bread-it won't come out right and you can't blame the oven! Professor Ed edson is the William Vennard of screen writing! He teaches you the fundamentals so that you have a solid foundation to stand on. The brilliant soprano Renee Fleming always stressed the importance of knowing the fundamentals of how the voice produces sound so that you aren't a victim to the whims of your body, mental stress or environment. The same here-knowing the fundamentals of story telling and all the ingredients that goes into making a great story will give you the freedom and confidence to create your own original story regardless of the whims of the the studio executives or market. Solid story telling will stand time and time again. Thanks professor for this wonderful and much needed book! I am now ready to pull those dusty unfinished screenplays and novels out of the drawers! I feel less frustrated because now I know all the ingredients to the recipes and know when to add them in the pot and how long to cook it!! Run don't walk to get this book. You will be thanking me!

This is both a how-to guide and an I depth analysis of many blockbuster motion pictures. The 23 steps still follows classic 3 act structure with buildup to the midpoint and climax, so if you've read a lot of writing guides you may find there's not a whole lot that's new. But I've gotten a lot out of the simplistic way of looking at plot and logic in story telling. Eric Edson is an academic but doesn't write in academese or metaphor, just simple and clear descriptions and examples right out of mainstream movies.

This is the best book on story writing I found. I've bought and read about 50 or so. THis is so precise in it's advice. The examples are so clear as well. It can be used almost like a checklist to see if you have all the elements you need to lift your story up and make people lean forward and want to know what happens next.

Eric Edson's method is great for writing a heart-racing, fast-paced action/thriller. It won't work for every genre, but think "The Sons of Katie Elder" or "Back to the Future" type scripts. The five top books in my script writer's tool box is this one, Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Story by Mckee, Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier and Anatomy of a Premise Line by Jeff Lyons. All different approaches for the same or different genres and types of scripts.

I'm a professional screenwriter and took Eric Edson's class at UCLA several times when I was working towards my certificate in screenwriting because it was simply the best class in structure I'd ever taken. Each semester we analyzed new movies according to his breakdown and it really clicked for me more than just hearing about 3 acts, or 8 sequences that others teach. Eric Edson's breakdown is precise, accurate, and helped me rewrite every one of my scripts. I've used my notes from his classes all those years ago, and was thrilled to find his book at the UCLA bookstore the other day as it contains all the same class information plus much more. Once again, it is helping me figure out what I need to do to fix my latest scripts. Thank you Professor Edson. One of these days I'll owe you a shout out from the Academy Awards!

Makes sense. Have learned a lot as a writer from this.

A great book. The book to have for any writer.

As an aspiring screenwriter, I've struggled with two aspects of the craft most, why do some characters engage us and other don't? Once you have your catalyst and act breaks, where do you go from there? Eric Edson's book is an invaluable solution to get you through the "fog" of figuring these things out for your story. While most screenwriting books only concentrate on the act breaks, Eric covers this and also guides you through everything that happens in between. Learning and knowing these steps really frees one up to concentrate on the story they actually want to tell. In addition, Eric demonstrates character traits all compelling characters exhibit, a great asset to keep your audience or reader engaged in your story. While many screenwriting books give you a compass of sorts, Eric provides a map that will help you avoid the swamps and pitfalls of the dreaded second act. In addition, he'll help you build your protagonist in a way that will keep him/her in the audience's hearts. I had the privilege of learning from some of Eric's graduate classes and The Story Solution in book form is the next best thing. With both classic and contemporary examples to illustrate the solution, I heartily recommend this book for any writer's tool box.

Usual knowledge not found in any other screenwriting book I've read, and I've read many. An easy read with current examples in film.

"Solution" alright ... for writers! Finally there's a book that provides essential tools for both beginner and expert writers alike. There are scores of screenwriting books out there (I've read most of them) but this one's approach should be read first before all of them. A cinematographer achieves focus via complex optics, lighting and lenses. For a writer to achieve focus, Mr. Edson explains how to critically focus on your hero's specific goals and purpose. To take your hero on an 'emotional' journey will definitely give you the writer (and reader/viewer) clarity like never before. "The Story Solution" has helped me to achieve better focus and structure with my screenwriting. I recommend that you read it, read it again and use it as a guide for all of your writing endeavors. Plus, it's fun!

As screenwriters, we often start with a great premise or an unforgetable hero. We know some of the conflicts our character must endure in his goal pursuit and the perfect climax. Often though, we are lost in Act II as we work out all the series of events that must take this character through his or her trials. This book will help screenwriters find their second act, and furthermore, help writers avoid passive heroes (a common problem). Are the steps easy to learn? As with anything, it requires a little dedication and effort. You have to approach the book with a sincere desire to learn why other screenplays have been successful. The book breaks down the individual hero goal sequences from numerous films. Edson shows how an active hero goes through phases in his journey, but never ceases to employ some type of effort to attain the goal. Once you analyze the pattern, easily found in many major films, you can see why a book like this was an essential addition to any discussion of film structure. Also, it's a good troubleshooting guide for rewriting a script. Edson's section on character will help you find the missing link between your character arc and his goal pursuit. Or perhaps you're having trouble establishing a midpoint, leading up to the finals strive towards your Act II turning point. Use the sequences to decipher where your screenplay leads your character and how. Then you'll be able to isolate how certain scenes might not build to this midpoint or the turning point in a dramatic way. Thus, this book proves an important text for any serious screenwriter looking for a solidly structured screenplay with active heroes and a high stakes, engaging goal pursuit.

After reading a variety of "How-To" books on screenwriting, I thought I knew a lot about screen story. I didn't. This is the only book that will walk you through the specific steps your hero must take in order for you to create a successful Hollywood script!

This book starts off some great how-tos I found very useful, and then it goes into structure, and I made notes on the entire book. I first read it, and then went back and wrote up notes on what I was learning. Wonderful book.

excellent!

There are so many screenwriting books on the market, but there are few that bring a new approach to storytelling. This book will make you look at movies in a whole new way and give you the key understanding to help bring your ideas to life. If you know anything about screenplay writing, you're probably already aware of the 3 Act structure, blah, blah, blah...this book dives into the nuts and bolts as to the "how" and the "why". The author introduces us to Hero Goal Sequences, an approach I have found to be extremely helpful. Now, my piles and piles of notes of my scattered ideas now have the tools to become a successful screenplay.

As an aspiring screenwriter I found "THE STORY SOLUTION" by Eric Edson an amazing resource. This book is an easy read and very helpful. I'm going back to my first three screenplays and applying what I learned from, Eric to improve my stories.

I just finished writing a screenplay using Eric Edson's Story Solution method. It is the best one I've turned out yet! My hero is active and the story really moves well. This book is a must read for the novice and experienced writer or reviewer who can't figure out what's wrong with a movie that they should love but don't. I highly recommend it.

This is a book every screenwriter should keep nearby when working on a script. The analogy of screenplay to myth is both helpful and illuminating; it reminds me of Neil Gaiman's illustrated children's book, Instructions, which symbolizes through mythical figures the journey every hero must take in a well-told story. It also echoes Joseph Campbell's Hero of a Thousand Faces, but gives closer inspection to the individual steps of the hero's journey in a contemporary context. It's impossible to look at movies the same way now; I see these 23 steps in all sorts of films (and not just the ones covered in the book). Already I've started incorporating this paradigm into my own writing process; not only have I seen improvements in the strength of my story structure, but all of my characters (let alone the heroes) have more depth. My writing looks and feels more professional, and I'm more confident about achieving success as a screenwriter and bringing evocative, compelling stories to the screen.