Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story (Paperback)

from Opinionated

A definitive argument for all successful stories being told in a 5 act format - even if the author or scriptwriter is unaware of it, or actively kicks against it. Its very well argued, and illustrated - but I did get a sense of the facts being shoehorned into a model, rather than the model necess...

from

Ostensibly this is a book about story structure in film rather than books, but the lessons are the same so it's useful to writers of any sort, be they scriptwriters or novelists. Most writers of fiction will have come across the concept of the three act structure which is largely what this book ...

from boredgames

some useful insights into what makes stories work [basically, timeless truths and fantasies of hope make enduring stories.] human minds crave order and narrative "logic". the five act structure as providing closure and satisfaction? multidimensional protagonists.

from JonArnold

It's refreshing to read a book on the theory of storytelling that doesn't claim to be the oracle on the subject, but is based on years of practice and study and doesn't openly dismiss other approaches; instead Yorke takes each approach on merit and analyses the flaws. His own view on structure is...

from

Stunning! The core theme here is that stories are both enormously complex and refreshingly simple. Their simplicity doesn't in any way undercut their value. It's like a puzzle piece when it snaps together with the one other correct piece. It's simple, yes, but more accurately it just feels right....