Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development [Paperback]

Michael Chase Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Beyond Joseph Campbell and the much ballyhooed hero's journey, Michael Chase Walker takes the aspiring screenwriter into the rarely discusses alternative structures of outlaw stories, inverted myths and Messiah tales.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Lone Eagle (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580650414
• ISBN-13: 978-1580650410
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #679,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Movies are the Dreams of Mankind!, August 7, 2002

By 

Dr. Juliana Dahl (Oxford, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development (Paperback)

We've all suspected it, but Walker reveals definitively how and why movies spring from and reflect our wildest dreams and aspirations, as well as our deepest fears and nightmares. It may seem obvious to many, but somehow with the insights and invaluable techniques he offers and explains in detail, he makes the film writer feel the weight of the world's problems squarely on their shoulders-- and that the ability to remedy them lies within the wordsmith's mind and craft, as well.

When I bought the book after a personal book signing appearance and lecture I thought was merely adding to my already extensive collection of screenwriting guides. I've noticed every time I hit a wall in my thought and development process I would buy another book. What I found with Power Screenwriting was much, much more. Here was the exact process of 'worrying' a story into completion before me. I didn't have to stop and turn to a thousand different manuals or discarded workbooks. I felt I could do my thing and then when I was stuck I could turn to this brilliantly laid out 12 stage approach and find the exact answer I was looking for. Plus,Power Screenwriting encourages and shows you how to write stories from a deep psychological and archetypal level, so that your stories have the greatest impact on the mind of the moviegoer possible. Walker places the onus of social evolution and conscious thought on the screenwriters, mythmakers and storytellers of today, and that writing for film is not just some casual extracurricular past time, but a noble 'calling' for the greatest creative engineers of each generation. I wholly concure and with this book believe I can really achieve so lofty a goal.

Also recommended: The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri The Courage to Create by Rollo May

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earned a Spot Next to McKee's "Story" on my Favorites Shelf, March 6, 2005

By 

Jimbo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development (Paperback)

This book serves up what I believe every good book on writing technique should: a smorgasbord of useful recipes and theories to experiment with and blend into your own writing.

I found Mr. Walker's buffet to include 12 delicious dishes, some more delectable than others.

Choice number one (he calls them stages) is Theme. Yes, he calls it "Theme". That word seems out of vogue these days with other writers refering to this concept as "the controlling idea", "subjective story argument", "premise" or "story's promise". We are talking here about what you are trying to "say" or better yet "prove" in your story. This is the steak behind the sizzle.

Mr. Walker does a fine job of helping us organize this concept using a sentence structure like "blank - leads to - blank". A simple and straight-forward way of looking at the idea behind your story, much akin to McKee's "controlling idea".

Next is the three act structure. Not much new here except his recommendation that you use the subjective story theme sentence (blank - leads to - blank) as an overlay on the three-act template in order to get an idea what each act in your story will primarily be about.

Third he discusses "premise", and it is the concept of premise I most agree with. The premise as "external" story-line. Using the word "when" to preface the inciting incident then an active verb and the result of that action you can develop what some call a "logline" for your story; the story in a sentence. I found this to be a quite helpful chapter.

Fourth Walker delves into the "heroes journey" ala Vogler/Campbell with several original and inciteful twists. This section on the story's structure is brilliant and worth the price of the book by itself. It was my absolute favorite part of the book.

The fifth stage is internal structure, covered in depth with many details regarding the character's inner flaw, desires, motivations, background (he calls this shadow), and growth through conflict.

Sixth we have a short chapter on character relationships, not as tasty as the preceding chapters.

Next is writing a working treatment; ditto to the above.

Eighth is a long and useful chapter on choosing and developing the world of your story, the setting. I really enjoyed this one and got many new ideas for my own work from Mr. Walkers incites and suggestions of how certain settings better reflect and compliment certain themes.

Next is a fairly lengthy and somewhat interesting discussion of genre. I didn't find this as useful to my own work or inciteful/new as the previous chapter.

Tenth is a short chapter on research ... hohum.

Next a short chapter on image systems.

And finally a couple pages about breaking the story down scene by scene. This is a very important stage, and I have read much more detailed advice in other books. I wish this one was longer.

Walker wraps up with a short troubleshooting section.

To sum up the sections on theme, premise, the hero's journey (a fresh look) and setting are wonderful, and worth the price of the book alone. I recommend "Power Screenwriting" and think every screenwriter (or fiction writer) could benefit from at least one new concept in this book.

And as I said in the beginning, this is what I feel is the mark of a truely great and "useful" book on writing craft.

Thumbs up to Michael Chase Walker - "Power Screenwriting" is definitely a keeper.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Power Screenwriting is Required Reading, January 2, 2005

By 

Unmarked Reel (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development (Paperback)

I have literally read thirteen books on screenwriting technique and story development and this one easily trumps every single one of them. I have used his guide on every screenplay I've ever completed, one of which is already in development.

If you are looking for a book which can expand your ideas into full-length screenplays without having to write to Hollywood's block-buster market, "Twelve Steps" will arm you with the perspective, creativity, courage and form to do so.

Among other things, Walker engages his readers in the creative process, developing one's own voice, and structuring that voice around ancient story-telling techniques (like the warrior myth). In twelve steps, you can easily expand a phrase like "tampering with nature | leads to | nature getting out of control" into an entire film like Jurassic Park. Piece by piece, bit by bit.

Don't get me wrong, the writing process is still long and does require substantial effort, but if you are committed and looking for a guide to take you to the next level, Twelve Steps is the only choice. Everyone has an idea, but unless you know how to cultivate it, it will never see the light of day.