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?

  • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Musician wise, uh, no you don't. I've been playing in bands for over a decade and have tours under my belt and have no clue what those are.

    • MsUltraViolet [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      well not all writers learn or use story structure mechanics, just like not all musicians learn formal music theory. Nothing is an absolute, I was just giving an example of why it can be useful or beneficial. No one has to do any one method in order to make good art

    • Mardoniush [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Yeah, but I bet you know what it "feels" like for a song to return to the tonic after a passing dissonance. Or how to make the ending of a song "Sound religious."

      You know the rules, you just can't name them (which is fine)