For any review to assist you in making a decision, you must have the context of the reviewer.
First, I must confess I’m more of a plotter than a pantser because that leaning affects the usability of my opinion. Another consideration is where I am in the writing process. At this point, I’ve been writing fiction seriously for almost two years. I’ve finished the first year of the Story Grid Guild, listened to over 300 podcasts on writing, looked at countless online articles, and read over thirty books on storytelling, writing, and editing.
If I had to recommend one book to a new writer, it would be this one. While I don’t believe any writer should have just one book, this one is a must-have on your shelf.
The book covers all the basics of creating a great story in a clear step-by-step manner. It covers each of the main considerations in a measured way without excessive emphasis on one area to the exclusion of others. Another strong story contender is McKee’s book; however, Tuby’s is the one I continue to reference.
Character development and four-corner opposition are my most important takeaway from this book. On my first reading, this was a section that made little impact. Whether that was due to my inexperience or missing depth of discussion is difficult to know, but this is an idea that Truby has developed in more depth over time. The real genius of this concept is best explained in the Four Corner Opposition YouTube post by Tyler Mowery.
By focusing the development of your cast around this concept, conflict is built into the story. Another advantage of this method is how well it ties into the Story Grid concept of the Decision Matrix and explores the entire problem context.
Personally, I’ve incorporated the Four Corner Opposition into my process.
As I’ve gotten deeper into the story creation process, I’ve found pulling from a mixture of concepts as the best method for me personally.
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