So many video essays about how to get the 3 act structure right, the Hero's journey, analyzing films through this lens, etc. Dan Harmon is always yapping on about his "story circle"... it's like damn is writing really that bland?

I feel like adherence to these guidelines and the quest to find the perfect structure cheapens things and generally gets in the way of things. But I don't know anything about writing so maybe that's nonsense. What do you guys think?

  • twitter [any]
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    3 years ago

    Narrative doesn't have to be that bland, but straying from the industry-approved formula makes work less marketable.

    If you want a less formulaic way of thinking about narrative, pacing, and structure, start with Film Crit Hulk's Why We Should Stop It with the Hero Journey Shit and Myth of the 3 Act Structure. If the all-caps writing hurts your eyes, use DeHulkifier if it's still available, but still give them a read over.

    Note: I haven't read FCH in years and for all I know he got milkshake ducked or me too'd or something but the articles are still useful.