Considered by many top professionals to be the most definitive and comprehensive
guide to all things related to story and storymaking, this expanded, completely
revised and long awaited second edition of Stealing Fire from the Gods:
The Complete Guide to Story for Writers and Filmmakers, incorporates many
of the advances evolved in James Bonnet’s professional workshops over
the last seven years. These include new revelations concerning the essence of
story (without which there would be no story), the high concept great idea,
the structures of the whole story passage, the anti-hero’s journey, the
threat (the cause of the problem), the value being pursued, the ultimate source
of unity, and the use of the quintessential to make your characters not only
memorable and merchandisable but truly charismatic. It also contains a critical
assessment of the three act structure, many new and completely revised illustrations,
and the analyses of many important new stories and successful films.
James Bonnet will give you the principles and tools you need to create motion
pictures and novels that are packed with emotion — box office hits and
best sellers that will resonate for generations.
He will teach you:
How to emulate the natural storymaking process and put all your conscious
and unconscious creativity into your work.
The nature and purpose of story, the compass that will orient you
toward the real needs and desires of the audience.
How to use your storymaking to dramatically transform your own and
other people’s lives.
Because it contains important new knowledge about story that is not available
anywhere else and is relevant no matter what kind of story, true or fiction,
you want to create for whatever medium, this book will not only be of interest
to writers and filmmakers, but to anyone whose livelihood depends on an understanding
of what makes a story great or successful. Its special emphasis is on how the
great myths and legends were really created and how contemporary stories with
that kind of magic and power can be created again. Armed with this new, deeper
understanding of story, there is no limit to the power and art that can be created
through them. You will know how to tap powerful creative sources deep within
yourself and have the tools to use modern metaphors to create powerful and entertaining
stories that have a significant impact on the world.
Stealing Fire from the Gods will also be of interest to psychologists
and mythologists. Some important new discoveries have been made in their fields,
most notably concerning the new phenomena revealed by the cracking of story's
symbolic code. The secrets of great stories, it turns out, are the secrets of
the human mind. And the study of story is the study of this remarkable phenomenon.
Every great story reveals some small piece of that magnificent mystery. Unlocking
the secrets of story unlocks the secrets of the mind and awakens the power of
story within you. Work with that power and you can steal fire from the gods.
Master that power and you can create stories that will live forever.
What people say
“Anyone who is interested in structuring feelings and thoughts into
words and story will find Stealing Fire from the Gods stimulating and
worthwhile. A lifetime’s labor of love, it provides the reader with insight
and an overview of the creative process through the history of story. I recommend
it and congratulate Mr. Bonnet on his accomplishment.”
—Elliott Gould, Actor, Academy Award® nominee
“Challenging and provocative. Bonnet is a thoughtful and highly intelligent
writer whose lifetime of experience has led him to an intriguing theory about
how great stories are written. The Golden Paradigm is guaranteed to stimulate
lively new debate on the age old question.”
—David W. Rintels, Emmy, Writer’s Guild, Peabody Award-winning Writer,
Producer
“James Bonnet's ground-breaking book, Stealing Fire from the
Gods, is the fruit of more than four decades of intensive study of various
areas — world mythology, depth psychology, literary classics, and successful
modern novels and movies. Bonnet has been able to discover the secret of the
psychological power and the emotional impact of effective story-telling of all
ages and countries and come up with a true Rosetta stone for modern authors
— a formula for creating masterpieces. A fascinating book and an extremely
useful tool for creative individuals in various avenues of art!”
—Stanislav Grof, M.D., Consciousness Researcher, Author of Psychology
of the Future, Adventure of Self-Discovery, and The Cosmic
Game
“Employing psychological theory and his own hard-won insights, James
Bonnet demystifies the magic of creative storytelling. Stealing Fire from
the Gods is intelligent and fascinating.”
—Robert Crais, New York Times Best-Selling Novelist
“James Bonnet isn’t saying the same old thing. He’s about
challenging you to look deeply into your own fascination and attraction; to
mine your story for the richness and texture that compels you to write; and
to connect you to a noble lineage of story tellers. His tools will jump-start
and intrigue you. Your connection to your craft will deepen, and your horizons
will expand.”
—Raymond Singer, Screenwriter of Disney’s Mulan
“Stealing Fire from the Gods is like a rediscovered, ancient
remedy for the ailing creative soul. Jim has tapped into a wellspring of lost
knowledge that goes to the very core of the creative unconscious, unlocking
the natural storyteller that is encoded in each and every one of us.”
—Bob Camp, Artist, Writer, Director, and Co-creator of The Ren and Stimpy
Show
“My advice to aspiring writers is simple: Read this book. There are
some real pearls here.”
Billy Ray, Screenwriter of Flight Plan, Shattered Glass, Hart’s
War
“Stealing Fire from the Gods is a book that needs to be
read and reread, and isa seminar of great value to all writers.”
—Gene Hines, original Writer, Producer of Cliffhanger
“Bonnet is a brilliant man. He has drawn from the work of C.G. Jung
and Joseph Campbell then has accomplished his own alchemy. The result is a personal
transformation the reader can share. Everyone should read it.”
—Darryl M. Diamond, M.D., Ph.D.
“I recommend this book for every screenwriter. I also recommend it
for producers, actors, and directors with an eye toward Hollywood.”
—Pi Ware, Filmmakers Alliance