BPS 083: The Science of Storytelling for Screenwriters with Will Storr

I super excited to bring you today's show. Today on the podcast we
have best-selling author Will Storr. Will's latest book The Science
of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them
Better is a deep dive into how story affects the brain. Here's
a bit about the book:

Who would we be without stories?

Stories mold who we are, from our character to our cultural
identity. They drive us to act out our dreams and ambitions and
shape our politics and beliefs. We use them to construct our
relationships, to keep order in our law courts, to interpret events
in our newspapers and social media. Storytelling is an essential
part of what makes us human.

There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story
– from Joseph Campbell’s well-worn theories about myth and
archetype to recent attempts to crack the ‘Bestseller Code’. But
few have used a scientific approach. This is curious, for if we are
to truly understand storytelling in its grandest sense, we must
first come to understand the ultimate storyteller – the human
brain.

In this scalpel-sharp, thought-provoking book, Will Storr
demonstrates how master storytellers manipulate and compel us,
leading us on a journey from the Hebrew scriptures to Mr. Men, from
Booker Prize-winning literature to box set TV. Applying dazzling
psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to the
foundations of our myths and archetypes, he shows how we can use
these tools to tell better stories – and make sense of our chaotic
modern world.

His TED Talk is a must-watch for all filmmakers and screenwriters.
After interview hundreds of the world's thought-leaders on story
it's rare for me to find a completely new way of looking at story.
 I can't tell you how fascinating this conversation is. If
this episode doesn't spark an idea or two in your screenwriting I
don't know what will.

Enjoy my conversation with Will Storr.

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