Quotes from Larry Brooks

Remember—write this down, it's critical—nothing fuels a story quite like hope.

Storytelling is all about conflict. Some would tell you it's all about character, but that's not accurate. Because character depends on conflict to illuminate itself. Every story has conflict, or it's not a story at all. Conflict is what stands in the way of what the hero needs or wants in the story.

A concept is an idea that has been evolved to the point where a story becomes possible. A concept becomes a platform, a stage, upon which a story may unfold. A concept, it could be said—and it should be viewed this way—is something that asks a question. The answer to the question is your story.

The mission of Part 1 is to set up the plot by creating stakes, backstory, and character empathy, while perhaps foreshadowing the forthcoming conflict.

A non-story example: An idea is to travel to Florida. A concept is to travel by car and stop at all the national parks along the way. A premise is to take your estranged father with you and mend fences while on the road.

If you use your drafts as exploratory vehicles for that purpose, you condemn them to a major rewrite. Because every milestone requires a setup, and many require foreshadowing, neither of which is possible until you know where you're headed.

If you're playing God, you need to get it right.

A clever trick does not a concept make.

Here's the truth about organic writing: It's just story planning by another name.

Men leave women for other women. Women leave men for another way of life.