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Episode 448: Robert McKee

Jul 21, 2021
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INSIGHT

Mind as Story-Making Machine

  • The human mind converts reality into story form, storing it alongside fictional experiences.
  • This explains why real-life events can feel as compelling and structured as fictional stories.
ADVICE

See Beyond Surface Behavior

  • Writers must look beyond surface behavior to grasp what people truly feel and think.
  • Awareness of subconscious motives is essential to create authentic nonfiction or fiction characters.
ANECDOTE

Childhood Aesop's Fables Punishment

  • At six, Robert McKee's father made him copy and interpret Aesop's fables as punishment.
  • This exercise sparked his lifelong habit of seeking subtext and deeper meaning in stories.
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