The Journey of Crafting "The Protagonist's Journey"

Initially, I had no plans to author "The Protagonist's Journey." With a plethora of screenwriting resources already available, I questioned whether the market needed another addition. However, discussions with the editorial team at Palgrave Macmillan led me to ponder which texts film schools were utilizing to teach screenwriting.

After extensive research, I found a notable absence of literature focused on character development. Most existing books concentrated solely on plot structure, dictating what must occur on specific pages. While plot is undeniably essential, I believe the journey to reach that plot is equally crucial.

In my perspective, the approach should be: Start with character, conclude with character, and discover the narrative in between. This mantra, which I devised over a decade ago, became my guiding principle.

Consequently, I committed to writing "The Protagonist's Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling." I retreated to a cabin in upstate Minnesota for ten days to outline my ideas. The system I devised involved color-coded cards: green for the book's three sections, white for the seven chapters within each section, yellow for movies, and pink for television shows. By the book's completion, I referenced over 300 films and TV series.

Having written more than 30 projects for major Hollywood studios and networks, I found none as daunting to create as "The Protagonist's Journey." Writing a screenplay often involves immersing oneself in scenes, connecting with characters in various situations, and flowing with the writing process. This project, however, required rigorous analysis, comparisons, theories, concepts, and even footnotes—actual footnotes.

While the publisher aimed for an academic tone, I shared that vision. I sought to create something that transcended the typical "how-to" guides prevalent in screenwriting. Yet, I also wanted "The Protagonist's Journey" to be engaging and accessible.

During the height of the COVID pandemic, I dedicated myself to crafting over 100,000 words. Each morning, I would shuffle to my office, often in near darkness, visualizing scenes from films and television before transforming those images into written words.

The writing process was laborious, and there were many days I questioned my ability to finish. But I persevered. It took me twenty-one months to write, rewrite, and refine the manuscript. By March 2022, Palgrave Macmillan published my work, and it quickly ascended to the #1 Best Seller status on Amazon, maintaining that position for seven months.

Upon publication, the book garnered over 30 endorsements from a diverse array of screenwriters, novelists, and scholars. As it circulated within the screenwriting community, the praise continued to grow.

"Scott possesses one of the finest analytical minds in the industry, and his compassionate approach to writing ensures that readers will benefit from this book." — Jessica Ellis, 2018 Black List/Women In Film lab writer.

"I wish I had this book at the outset of my screenwriting journey. Scott's integration of classic films as examples is invaluable." — Gary Scott Thompson (The Fast and the Furious).

"Action is character. Scott skillfully transforms this often-overlooked aspect of dramatic writing into a compelling tutorial." — Arash Amel (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare).

"This book is a must-have for screenwriters at any stage or for anyone passionate about film and TV." — Cole Haddon (Psalms for the End of the World).

"I'm a premise-driven writer, so this in-depth exploration of character-driven storytelling was refreshing." — Bob DeRosa (Killers, The Air I Breathe).

"This work is exceptional. It has reshaped my approach to screenwriting and writing overall." — Matthew Cherry (Academy Award for Hair Love).

Scott's expertise in character-driven narratives makes this book essential reading." — Filipe Coutinho (3-time Black List writer).

It's gratifying to witness "The Protagonist's Journey" being incorporated into film school curricula. I've learned of its usage at institutions like the University of Southern California, Pepperdine, and UCLA. This was a primary objective in writing the book—to inspire screenwriting and filmmaking students to embrace character-driven storytelling, and I hope this trend continues.

Recently, I utilized this unexpected recognition of "The Protagonist's Journey" to illustrate a point in my screenwriting class at DePaul University.

My students are familiar with Joseph Campbell's concept: Follow your bliss. Why? Because I emphasize this each quarter.

Following your bliss means identifying the part of yourself that excites and fulfills you. Pursue that passion, whether as a career or a hobby. Discovering this aspect of yourself leads to a more authentic existence.

I share my own journey as proof that when someone commits to following their passion, opportunities arise.

Just like the chance presented to me by Palgrave Macmillan. While I never planned to write "The Protagonist's Journey," I am grateful that I did. I believe the book offers a crucial perspective for screenwriters: Let your characters guide the narrative development and writing, as it's their story—no one knows it better than they do.

Moreover, the positive reception of my book has opened doors for speaking engagements in various cities, including Mallorca, Paris, Cologne, Athens, Geneva, and numerous locations across North America.

While the travel and experiences have been wonderful, I am thrilled to share the message of character-driven storytelling, and I'm thankful for the enthusiastic response to this approach.

For further insights into "The Protagonist's Journey," visit here.

Chapter 2: Insights from "The Protagonist's Journey"

This video provides an overview of aligning character arcs with story structure, showcasing how characters can influence narrative flow.

In this full interview with Scott Myers, discover foundational lessons in screenwriting and the essence of character-driven narratives.