The Textbook

There are several things:

• The course is comprehensive. It takes you from idea generation to building a writing life. It’s a Total Writing System built to rival the most elite writing programs in the world in terms of practical, actionable value. You can pay 100s of 1000s for an MFA at a top school, but they will not teach more than you learn here, FREE.
• There’s an intuitive logic to the seven modules which fosters retention. You learn ow to decide what to write, build a world, design characters, make them talk, put them into action, fill your story with meaning and then once you know all that, you learn how to execute, to get it done, in the real world – day in and day out.
• The focus is on you, the writer with a story to tell. This is more than a writing course, it’s an exploration, an experience. The value goes far beyond creative writing. You’ll see the principles playing out in every area of your life – politics, religion, marriage, parenting, business, your history, memories, everything.
• The principles are written so simply you can apply them immediately to your work.
• The seven modules cover virtually any problem you face so you can instantly find solutions. No more getting lost, frustrated and quitting. No more doubts.
• The principles make writing as simple as it can be made – without strangling creativity. For example, the principle of Plot Construction is “Drop the hammer.” It has two easy parts: set it up and drop it down. But there’s unlimited ways to do this. So you get the confidence that comes from knowing you’re setting up your story properly and the freedom to do it your own way.
• The course is inspired by the way martial arts are taught. You focus on one principle at a time to master it, then you string them together for a kind of creative nuclear chain reaction. When your characters are active and decisive, operate at the top of their intelligence, navigating richly detailed worlds and their dialogue is actionable, great things happen. And that’s executing just a few principles. Imagine what happens when you execute them all.
• The course is flexible. You can focus on any module or principle as needed. If you’re struggling with a weak, uninteresting hero for example, start with Character Design. Next go to any module that speaks to you in the moment.
• The course has a soul. Each color, represented by a colored-dragon, has meaning. White (Story Selection) is the blank page; Green (World-Building) represents growth; Orange (Character Design) represents the fire of consciousness and personality; Blue (Plot Construction) represents water – it’s ability to flow and crash as great plots do; Red (Theme) represents the blood that runs through your story, infusing it with meaning and Brown (Execution) represents earth, digging in, getting your hands dirty, getting your story finished so it’s even better in reality than it was in your head.
• The certificate award ceremonies are so powerful that if you really do the work and listen to the stirring poetry and soaring music, read and composed by a major award winning actor and composer, you may just burst into tears. Ritual counts. It elevates people. When you master a skill of the craft you love you become a different person. You feel more self-assured, confident, in control. You feel like you’re realizing your dream to become a great writer, a true master of your craft.
• This is a whole different thing. Many will not get this. Some will even scoff! But if you get this, if you open up to it, if you do the work, for real, The Story Principles Writing Course can change your life. No one knows what you could become, not even you.

The fundamentals apply to a story that’s as short as a joke or as long as a novel. When you read through the stories in 27 Essential Principles of Story, you’ll see how they are executed in novels, short stories, screenplays, TV series, stage plays, graphic novels, comic books, video games, lyrics, and spoken word. And they work in all genres – horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc.

All materials were conceived and written by Daniel Joshua Rubin. 

Doug Roussin and Connie Nassios did web design and branding. 

Austin Rhett Thompson filmed and edited the videos.

Ken Berry composed the music. 

Chris Manfre did the animation in the award ceremonies. 

Michael Manuel did the voice over in the award ceremonies.