What People Are Saying
The book (our textbook) is Daniel Joshua Rubin’s 27 Essential Principles of Story, Master the Secrets of Great Writing From Shakespeare to South Park. It is recommended by people who have won the Pulitzer Prize for playwriting, and the Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody awards.
Writing/Acting Professionals
“All the tools you need to craft a great story.”
Paul Giamatti
Oscar Award-winning Actor (The Holdovers)
“Read–then re-read–this elegant exploration of storytelling.”
Tracy Letts
Pulitzer and Tony Award-wining playwright (August: Osage County)
“Get this book immediately!”
J. Quinton Johnson
Actor (Hamilton)
“Daniel Joshua Rubin is the Sensei of Story!”
Andrew Smith
former Head Writer, Saturday Night Live
“I usually hate books like this. But I keep this one on my desk and refer to it often. Dan gets into the nuts and bolts of how Story really works in the most practically valuable way. Strong rec!”
Dana Olsen
Screenwriter, The Burbs, George of the Jungle
“Dan is a master of narrative craft and his book will help you become one too.”
Adam Davidson
Peabody Award-winning writer/producer (This American Life)
“So often people ask me if there’s a book on story I can recommend. This is the one.”
Alexa Junge
Emmy-award winning writer (Friends, Sex and the City)
“I have made it my passion and business to find and read books about creative writing, story structure and how to write. This is one of the best I’ve ever read.”
Clark Peterson
Oscar-winning producer, (Monster)
Publishers
“Perfect for any writer looking to ensure their stories operate and resonate at the top of their potential.”
– Booklist
“This is the new bible of lessons and practices for creators.”
– Library Journal
“This is a no-brainer for both pro and would-be novelists.”
– Publishers Weekly
“This book is a writer’s best friend”
Matthew Cochran
“This book’s examples of each essential principle is so interesting that I think anyone would enjoy reading it… I’ve been recommending it to everyone.”
Theresa Milstein
“This is a fantastic craft book. Even with my MFA I gained so much and I love the way Rubin explains and illustrates concepts!”
Lauren DeCesar
“Amazingly informative.”
Flybyreader
“Five stars because I can’t give it six!”
O.H.
“Daniel Joshua Rubin gives you everything you need to learn how to develop fantastic stories. My copy is dog-eared and sporting Post-Its. I don’t consider my plays complete unless I run them through the 27 Essential Principles of Story test. Thank you Daniel!”
Anonymous
“This is such a brilliant resource.
Kayti
“If you’re a writer in any genre or medium you must read this book.”
Michale Burstein
Hugo award nominee
“This is hands down the best book on writing I have ever read”
Ell
“This is a terrific book.”
Bradon Bailey
Hugo award nominee
“A masterclass in plotting and storytelling.”
Annie
Attending Workshops & Consulting with Daniel Joshua Rubin
“I really enjoyed every minute of it. DJR is an excellent teacher – funny, straightforward and most importantly, authentic. There is no BS , which is so refreshing/ The material was a home run. ”
Ann Garisson
Writer and Restauranteur, IL
“The principles my daughter learned, and the confidence she gained as a writer, are invaluable as she starts college. ”
Wendy Levy
Sales Executive
“Daniel was instrumental in harnessing all of the raw energy and passion of my writing and transforming it into art. His method of success can be traced directly to his ability to get his students to master the principles and structure of classic storytelling. It’s Daniel’s unique approach to the instruction that creates for such a fun and collaborative experience, but what’s most essential, is the way he challenges you to keep pushing your writing to a higher level. He’s the ultimate coach, and looking back, with several scripts now under my belt, I know I never could have gotten this far without him.”
Anonymous
“Daniel’s book, 27 Essential Principles of Story is a must-read for anyone who wishes to write a screenplay, either for the first time or to get back to the fundamentals. It offers guidance that anyone can tap into and one can really feel his passion, sensitivity, and commitment to his readers throughout every page. ”
Gary Portuesi
Founder of Authentic Explorations
“With fearless abandon, Daniel is a truly riveting speaker, every “lesson” wrapped in a funny, engaging anectdote. Like a super-sized burrito of delight. I would recommend this class not just to writers and wannabe writers, but to anybody that wants to be wiser and more enlightened about how to tell a story that someone else may actually want to hear. ”
Cindy Bruckner
Advertising Executive
“Daniel Rubin’s story workshop isn’t just for writers. We as human beings all communicate largely through storytelling, and utilizing his unique process to form and shape the stories you tell will help make you better understood and appreciated no matter who your audience is.”
Scott B.
Actor
“The 27 Essential Principles of Story has given me the freedom I was digging for. Showing me my thoughts on building character depth and allowing me to go deeper, much more simply, uncovering the beauty in less is more. Dan’s principles have opened me up to become more confident in my skill as a storyteller and has created pavement for my artistry to be palatable for all. The book is keeping me motivated to work! ”
Vincent Raymond Moreno
“Jam-packed with information, this workshop provides all the tools for writers at any stage of their career. Highly recommended.”
Erin Oechsel
Actress
“The book, 27 Essential Principles of Story played a key role in helping me get into the dramatic writing MFA program at NYU. You can have a great idea for a play, but to realize it takes proper structure. The essential principles of plot helped me organize my story and the other principles led to consistently better and more authentic creative decisions. Everyone who wants to write narrative stories in any medium should read this book.”
Téa Wolk
“DJR is a passionate writer who is fiercely devoted to his craft and obsessed with defining and sharing the principles of great storytelling. Writers of all levels will leave his stimulating course armed with the tools and motivation to complete the stories they’ve been longing to tell. ”
Marjie K
North Shore Feature Writer and Sex Columnist
“Daniel’s writing intensive was the most profitable workshop I’ve ever been apart of. Instead of trying to teach the ambiguous art of writing, he supplies and equips his students with a practical and thorough guide that allows anyone to recognize any piece of writing intelligently. Since the storytelling workshop, I have enjoyed reading and writing more than I ever have. I can’t recommend it enough! ”
Taylor Delvecchio
Actor
“Daniel has a refreshingly audacious approach to teaching that rewards his students with not only confidence and guidance, but a strong sense of awareness that mastering key elements of story structure allows you to break all of the rules and write the story that you were born to tell.
Two feature length screenplays later, I still refer to my notes from Daniel’s seminars and use his methodical approach to clarity as a guideline to my writing.”
Ashton B
Writer and Restauranteur, IL
“Daniel has a refreshingly audacious approach to teaching that rewards his students with not only confidence and guidance, but a strong sense of awareness that mastering key elements of story structure allows you to break all of the rules and write the story that you were born to tell.
Two feature length screenplays later, I still refer to my notes from Daniel’s seminars and use his methodical approach to clarity as a guideline to my writing.”
Ashton B
Writer and Restauranteur, IL
“Here in prison I dont have a computer or the internet which limits the resources i can access when developing and writing my stories. That is why the books i purchase must be well written and comprehensive for them to be effective and motivating to use… let alone take up space in my property box. From page one i was enthralled by ideas and help Daniel Joshua Rubin gives in his book, “27 Essential Principles of Story”. Danny’s active writing style was as if i had my own personal writing expert helping guide my story to completion.
I think I figured out Danny’s secret formula. Every principle is followed by a real ” How a Master Did It” example as well as a “Mini Final Exam”, which I would always cheat and check out first before reading the chapter. I had a grin on my face as I read the book and all of Danny’s principles rang true getting the furthest recesses of this old brain of mine firing on all cylinders. How could I in here get so lucky and find a writing guide written by a genius! It was like opening a window into my prison cell and allowed the sun to shine in.
Another great example of the 27 Principles is that I can jump around to the principle that can best help my current story’s road block, whatever stage i am in that story’s development. This allows me to diagnose the weakness in the story and make revisions on the fly in the end making my story great. Also i typed out the headings of all 3 parts of the book and listed all 27 Principles as a reference guide which I keep in the book and use as a bookmark. This make for a great tool as I read the story I am working on , I can quickly scan the list to reference that page.
Today knowing how much use my copy of the book will get, I taped its edges and binding to make sure it can handle all the wear and tear I’m going to put it through. That’s why I want to thank Danny for developing a great tool for writers of all types.”
Sam Bader
