22 Rules of Storytelling From Pixar

A must read for any writer

Photo by Max Cortez on Unsplash

I ran across a list of the 22 Rules of Storytelling from Pixar while scrolling through my tweets and I thought it may help writers if I posted it.

At the end of the article is a link to a Google Sheet Document that will allow you to download a copy and save it off for yourself — enjoy!

22 Rules of Storytelling From Pixar

• You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
• You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
• Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about until you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
• Once upon a time there was _____. Every day, _____. One day_____. Because of that, _____. Because of that, _____. Until finally _____.
• Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
• What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
• Come up with your own ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours…