Pixar Storytelling Tips A CISM lesson by Mrs. Kinkade

Written by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj A while back, now-former Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats tweeted a series of pearls of narrative wisdom she had gleaned from working at the studio. This list of 22 rules of storytelling was widely embraced as it was applicable to any writer or anyone who was in the business of communicating, and much of its advice is still as applicable as ever. However, a number of other people have taken the list as a Pixar formula, a set of hard and fast rules that we follow and are “the right way” to approach story. But that is not the spirit in which they were intended. I decided it’d be beneficial to the world’s storytellers for another Pixarian to write a series of blog articles to look at the aphorisms one-by-one and analyze them. In the spirit of inspiration, exploration and discussion in which the advice was intended, I found points of agreement and disagreement, and offer up caveats, expansions, and excisions that I felt made the advice stronger.

Activating Strategy Before Reading: Think about the mental process you go through while writing a storyline for any of your projects. How do you develop the characters, establish a solid theme, and take the audience on a journey during your story? Take a few minutes to answer this question…

Essential Question According to the text, how does the suggested writing process impact the outcome of the storyline? Take a few minutes to predict the answer this question…

Vocabulary Words Amenable [1] Anecdotes [2] Audience [9] Character [8] Compel [10] Concise [5] Critique [9] Pedagogy [2] Provoke [1] Screenwriting [1]

Text Coding Underline – Plot/Storyline Circle – Critique/Feedback Highlight – Audience/Reader *Star* – Writing Tip

Directed Note-Taking Rule 1 – you care = audience cares Rule 2 – interesting moments Rule 3 – style and personality Rule 4 – critique versus advice Rule 5 – time management

Essential Question (again) According to the text, how does the suggested writing process impact the outcome of the storyline? Take a few minutes to answer this question…

I Wonder… I wonder, how a writer can learn to differentiate between critiques and advice, and then choose what feedback to use to better their writing? Take a few minutes to answer this question…

Essential Question (last time) According to the text, how does the suggested writing process impact the outcome of the storyline? Write your original response and your revised response.

Multiple Choice Question Read Rule #1: Write what interests you. The author’s reference to the way an audience/reader reacts to your writing most likely means: a. If you are hired to write something, as long as you are getting a paycheck, do as you are told to please the audience. b. The audience will read anything you write about, no matter the topic, if you use these valuable rules while constructing the storyline. c. Writing can often times be a tedious task, but you have to keep pushing yourself to please the reader. d. Do your best to emulate your favorite writers, keeping in mind things that draw you in as an audience member, instead of focusing on writing in “your voice”. Explain your reasoning for that choice

Extended Writing Outline a story – beginning, middle, end, climax, resolution – about a fictional character, including a comic strip/6 panel storyboard. Write a short story where you are the main character, and describe how you faced and overcame a challenge