Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 5 – Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

There are two classic pieces of writing advice that support this storytelling rule:

The first, from William Faulkner, author of The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom!, goes: “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” meaning you must get rid of those elements of your story that serve your ego rather than the story.

The second, from Anton Chekhov, author of countless stories, plays, and novellas, goes: “One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.” Translation: again, only include things that have a purpose.

The message is to always question why elements of your story exist.