The science of storytelling with Will Storr

Lessons from neuroscience and psychology that could transform your storytelling

Drawing upon the latest research from neuroscience and psychology, award-winning writer Will Storr reveals how authors, screenwriters and journalists of all levels can make their writing more compelling. During this fascinating masterclass, you’ll learn how the human brain turns life events into dramatic narratives. Then, you’ll discover how to exploit the brain’s natural storytelling processes within your own writing.

The course comprises a mixture of theoretical talks and fun practical exercises, where you’ll build up a captivating scene using principles from psychology and neuroscience. You’ll also be introduced to some great examples of storytelling in fiction, non-fiction, film and screen – from Kafka to Breaking Bad, Gillian Flynn and Karl Ove Knausgaard. Whether you’re a literary or genre writer, working for page or the screen, you’ll leave the course with new perspectives on your own work and a greater understanding of the neurological common ground of all audiences.

Course content

• The basic principles of how the brain works
• How an understanding of neuroscience and psychology can improve your storytelling
• The hero maker – the psychology of the hero and the psychology of you
• Character design – and the critical importance of mortal outrage
• The science of personality – and the significance of character flaws
• The qualities of great dialogue
• Advice on how to build truly captivating scenes and stories
• Writing techniques that you can apply to your own work
• Examples of great stories from fiction, non-fiction and screenwriting
• Practical writing exercise – build your own scene using lessons from neuroscience and psychology
• Q&A and discussion

Tutor profile

Will Storr is an award-winning writer whose books include The Heretics: Adventures with the Enemies of Science, and the novel The Hunger and Howling of Killian Lone. He’s also a multi-award-winning long-form journalist. Will has written for Guardian Weekend, The New Yorker, Observer Magazine and The Sunday Times Magazine, among other publications. Find out more on his website.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website