"The most powerful tool in my new tool box."
Will Smith
"A total game changer. The Moral Premise gets your story (and all your characters) working for you, instead of the other way around."
Michael Jann, Sr. Writer, Tonight Show with Jay Leno
"The Moral Premise dares to suggest that movies might actually mean something."
Chris Vogler, "The Writer's Journey"
"Thanks for the great book. I will recommend it to all my classes."
Blake Snyder, WGA, Author "Save the Cat"
"An incredibly practical and helpful tool that should be taught in every film school."
Marianne & Cormac Wibberley, WGA (National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets)
"Stan, You are a light and an incredible gift! Thank you for your insight and innovation.The Moral Premise: It's Amazing!"
DeVon Franklin, VP, Sony Entertainment
Author, "Produced by Faith."
"Should be required reading, retroactively, for every working Hollywood screenwriter."
Brian Bird, WGA, Producer
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful Moral Premise, and for all you've done for me and my writing, Stan."
Tamera Alexander, Novelist
"This is really an important book."
Derek Rydall "The Script Doctor"
"Drop all of your 'to-do' lists, get this book, and curl up for the read of your screenwriting lifetime."
Dave Anderson, President, Compass Film Academy
Aspiring or working screenwriters - I have a tip for you. Buy the THE MORAL PREMISE by Stanley D. Williams and read it twice.
Paul Lalonde, Chairman, Cloud Ten Pictures
"More than a must-read; it is groundbreaking."
Curt LaLonde
More Endorsements >>
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PUBLISHED ESSAYS
The articles and essays linked on this page are here to help you structure and write successful stories. The first few essays listed immediately below were published as overviews of how successful stories are structured around a true and consistent moral premise. If you're unfamiliar with the moral premise concept or story structure in general these essays are a good place to start.
For the City of Angels 2006 Film Festival:
The Moral Premise of Braveheart
For MovieMaker Magazines's 2007 Guide to Making Movies:
Making Movies About One Thing
For Various Writing E-Zines:
Say Good-bye to Writer's Block
BLOG ESSAYS
There is more story writing help at THE MORAL PREMISE BLOG. Look under the sidebar head: "Movies & Topics." Some of the more generally relavent blog essays are listed immediately below, in no particular order.
A short discussion of why entertainment cannot be
seperated from message or emotion.
First Entertain
A review of the 3-Acts, 6-Turning Points, and
13-Steps that create the basics of successful drama.
Story Structure Basics
Once you have a basic understanding of the moral premise,
here is something to help you remember to apply it.
The Moral Premise Bookmark Check List
How can romance characters be the protagonist
and antagonist to each other?
Romances and the Conflict of Values
Connecting emotionally with your audience through
the omniscience of the moral premise.
How to Emotionally Connect Your Protagonist to Your Audience
A discussion of Nicomachean Ethics and how Aristotle's "mean virtue"
is diagramed for use by the moral premise.
Conflict of Values: An Expanded Explanation
Why it's important to keep secrets.
Story Secrets of Suspense and Intrigue
How romance characters are each other's foil.
Protagonist Characteristics in Romance Novels
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