“Theme is the author’s view of how to act in the world. It is your moral vision.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story  (p108)

“A great story is not simply a sequence of events or surprises designed to entertain an audience. It is a sequence of actions, with moral implications and effects, designed to express a larger theme.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story p108

“Don’t think of the opponent as someone the hero hates. He may be, or he may not be. The opponent is simply the person on the other side. He can be a nicer person than the hero, more moral, or even the hero’s lover or friend.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story (p59)

“Remember the key difference: A psychological weakness or need affects just the hero. A moral weakness or need affects others.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story (p53)

“Give your hero a moral need as well as a psychological need.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story

“Don’t censor or judge yourself. Don’t ever tell yourself that any idea you come up with is stupid. “Stupid” ideas often lead to creative breakthroughs.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story

“Always tell a story about your best character. ‘Best’ doesn’t mean ‘nicest’. It means the most fascinating, challenging and complex, even if that character isn’t particularly likeable.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story.

“Each time you compare a character to your hero, you force yourself to distinguish the hero in new ways. You also start to see the secondary characters as complete human beings, as complex and as valuable as your hero.”

– John Truby, Anatomy of Story