Pixar’s 20 Rules of StorytellingEmma Coats, one of Pixar’s Story

Artists, compiled narrative wisdom she has received while working for

the animation studio over the years.

Get creative! Imagine the innovative ways you can apply Pixar’s

rules to your upcoming customer engagements to help you tell a

better story, and make a deeper connection.

1Admire a character

for TRYING

more than for their

successes

You have to keep in mind what is

interesting to yourAUDIENCE

NOT what is fun to do as a writer. They can

be very different

2

Creating a story around a theme is

important, but you will not see what the full

story is about until you are

at the END.

Now, RE-Write!

3

4 Once upon a time,There was _____.Everyday _____.One Day _____.Because of that

____.Because of that

____.Until finally …

5Simplify. Focus.Combine characters

Hop (or fly) Over Detours

You will feel like you are losing valuable stuff

BUT IT SETS YOU

free

6What is your

character good at, comfortable with?Throw the opposite at

themCHALLENGE THEM.HOW DO THEY HANDLE IT?

7Come up with

yourEnding

BEFORE YOU FIGURE OUT Your middle

Seriously. Endings are hard, start here and

work backwards

8 FINISH YOUR STORY,let go

Even if it is not perfect.

Move on, take a break, and

Do better next time

9 When you are Stuck:

• Make• A• List• Of • What• Would not • Happen• Next

Usually, the material will inspire you to get unstuck.

10 Pull apart:

The stories you like. What you like in

them is a part of you! You’ve got to recognize it

before your can use it.

11 Put it on paper!

This allows you start working with it.

If it stays in your head as an idea

You will never be able to share it and develop it

12 Ignore the

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th!idea that comes to

mind. Get the obvious of the way and surprise yourself

13 Give your characters

opinions!PASSIVE &

MALLEABLE might seem likeable to you, but it is boring to the

audience

14 Why must you

tell This story?

What’s the belief burning within you

that your story feeds off of? That

is THE HEART OF IT.

15 If you were the character

in this situation, how would you feel?

HonestyLends credibilityto unbelievable

situations.

16

What are the stakes?GIVE US A

Reason to rootFOR THE CHARACTER.

What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against them!

17

NO WORK IS EVER WASTED

If it is not working, let go and move on –

It will come back around and be useful later.

18

YOU HAVE TOKnow yourself!

Know the difference between doing your best and fussing

over details! Story is testing and not

refining.

19 Coincidences

to get your characters into trouble are great.

But, using them to get out of trouble is

cheating

20

What i s the Essence of your s to ry?

The most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from

there.