Character is Structure: The Insider's Guide to Screenwriting

Developing their ideas about screenwriting honed through industry experience and academic practice, Hughes and Wilkes dig into how and why we tell stories for the screen.

In Character is Structure; The Insiders’ Guide to Screenwriting, the pair focus on key elements of narrative design which help writers gain a greater understanding of the characters they are creating and the narratives that they want to tell. With detailed examples and practical exercises Hughes and Wilkes showcase how writers can create work that will resonate with audiences, satisfy studio execs and wow festival juries.

Building on the global traditions of folk and fairy stories the duo have created a set of unique paradigms which are present within the cinematic landscape of the twenty-first century. These will assist screenwriters in delivering narrative arcs that are emotionally satisfying and structurally sound. Using a range of modern examples including Oscar winners (JoJo Rabbit), box office smash hits (Black Widow), indie gems (Lady Bird) and foreign markets (#Alive) Hughes and Wilkes showcase how their ideas can be applied to works in progress right the way through to final polishes.