“Brilliant. Invaluable for writers and filmmakers. Eric Edson’s book will change the way screenwriting is conceived of and taught.”
— Michael Hauge, Hollywood script consultant, author:
Writing Screenplays That Sell and Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds
“Laser-sharp insight. A great tool for any screenwriter, novice or journeyman. I could not imagine a more thoughtful and thorough analysis of screenwriting.”
— Michael Peretzian, Senior Vice President, The William Morris Agency
“Like discovering a new continent. This book may well be the best cure for writer’s block ever written.”
— Jessica Davis Stein, novelist: Coyote Dream
“The Rosetta Stone for translating story ideas into powerful screenplays. I’ve made over 40 movies and I wish I’d had The Story Solution as a guide for every writer I’ve worked with.”
— Steve White, President of Feature Films, New World Entertainment
“Bravo! Eric Edson compellingly makes the case for his unique approach. An engaging, enjoyable read that will make any student of screenwriting a better writer.”
— Jon Stahl, Professor and Chair, Department of Cinema and Television Arts, California State University, Northridge
“A brilliant presentation… a tremendously valuable contribution to writers everywhere.”
— Michael Wiese, director, producer, publisher
“Strikes off into new territory. A remarkable teaching tool.”
— Tom Rickman, screenwriter, Academy Award nominee: Coal Miner’s Daughter, WGA Award winner: Tuesdays with Morrie, Emmy Award nominee: Truman, The Reagans
“A clear path to a Hollywood sale.”
— Erica Byrne, screenwriter: Hunter, Silk Stalkings, La Femme Nikita
“The Story Solution lifts the veil from screenwriting — it’s more than a tool, this new process takes writers into the breach of successful commercial storytelling.”
— Stephen V. Duncan, co-creator of Tour of Duty, A Man Called Hawk, The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson; Professor of Screenwriting, Loyola Marymount University; author of Genre Screenwriting and A Guide to Screenwriting Success: Writing for Film and Television
“As I write this, I’m knee-deep in a pilot I’ve been developing for 20th Century-Fox that has been, I’ll be honest, kicking my ass. Then I read an advance copy of The Story Solution, and it’s like the smoke dissipated, the angels emerged, and everything became clear. Thank you, Eric Edson.”
— Chad Gervich, writer/producer: After Lately, Cupcake Wars, Wipeout; author: Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer’s Guide to the TV Business
“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.”
— Matthew Terry, filmmaker/screenwriter/teacher, columnist for HollywoodLitSales.com
“A passion for storytelling is what drives Eric Edson’s The Story Solution. Outlining 23 steps toward heroism, Edson reveals the universal elements that all great characters make to achieve their arcs. Filled with dozens of cinematic examples, as well as invaluable chapter summaries, exercises, and suggestions to consider, the book becomes an invaluable interactive resource for any storyteller, regardless of the medium.”
— Stefan Blitz, editor-in-chief, ForcesOfGeek.com
“The Story Solution takes the reader on a very in-depth journey. Eric Edson does a phenomenal job of giving very valuable tools. Well thought out and precise, with excellent examples from top films. It quenches your thirst to understand story and how to make yours work better on every level. A must-read for screenwriters.”
— Jen Grisanti, story/career consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., author: Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, writing instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC
“Writers are like explorers who occasionally find themselves lost in a pitch-black story forest. It’s always a comfort when someone hangs a lantern along the way to help us through. Eric Edson’s book, The Story Solution, has given us 23 lanterns that burn very, very bright.”
—Todd Klick, Director of Story Development, author: Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know
“Eric Edson’s dual gifts as a professional screenwriter and brilliant teacher of screenwriting are fully engaged in this book. He makes the complex accessible through lucid prose, a wealth of contemporary examples, and exercises that work. One of Mr. Edson’s students described him as ‘amazing, concise, and able to convey concepts in a very understandable way.’ As is the man, so is the book.”
— Linda Venis, Ph.D., Director, Department of the Arts, UCLA Extension Program Director, Writers’ Program, UCLA Extension
“Mandatory reading for every serious-minded filmmaker. Eric Edson’s preternatural understanding of cinematic structure, channeled into The Story Solution, will help newcomers create a solid foundation, but it’s guaranteed as well to enlighten even the most experienced screenwriter.”
— Michelle Morgan, screenwriter/producer: Imogene, Middle of Nowhere, Girls Just Want To Have Fun, on Daily Variety’s list of “10 Screenwriters To Watch”
“The Story Solution just might be your secret weapon to constructing a script that will set you apart from the scores of submissions that land in Hollywood’s daily in-box. With a solid approach to structure as well as a validated career as a writer and a teacher, Eric Edson deftly leads writers through his unique scripting process one progressive, dramatic, example-filled step at a time.”
— Kathie Fong Yoneda, consultant, workshop leader, author: The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider’s Look at Getting Your Script Sold and Produced
the STORY SOLUTION
23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
Published by Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
tel. 818.379.8799 | fax 818.986.3408
[email protected] | www.mwp.com
Cover Design: Johnny Ink www.johnnyink.com Interior Book Design: Gina Mansfield Design Illustrations: Niki Kaftan Author Photograph: Victor Balog Indexer: Bruce Tracy
Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan
Manufactured in the United States of America
© 2011 Eric Edson
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Edson, Eric, 1950-
The story solution : 23 steps all great heroes must take / Eric Edson.
p. cm.
Includes filmography.
ISBN 978-1-61593-084-5
1. Motion picture authorship. 2. Motion picture authorship--
Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Motion picture plays--
Technique. 4. Characters and characteristics in motion pictures. 5. Heroes
in motion pictures. I. Title.
PN1996.E37 2012
808.2’3--dc23