Letting Story Guide You

Many of you are aware of Don Miller’s next book, tentatively titled “Let Story Guide You”. I won’t go into specifics, but it’s going to be awesome. I’ve read parts and it’s Don’s best and most focused writing. It also contains, in my humble opinion, Don’s most lovable character yet: his cheery rapscallion of a roommate named “Jordan”. Unless “Jordan” gets edited out, which would be a travesty.

Beyond that, the concept of the book is going to change a lot of lives. Since attending the Robert McKee seminar last Spring, and especially through watching Don write this book, the topic of living our lives with great story elements has been on my mind.

The other day, a kid, probably no more than 14, came up to my checkstand. He had a shirt on that said, “Someday They’re Going To Make a Movie About Me”.

“Nice shirt, man,” I said. “So what’s that movie gonna be about?”

“Oh…you know…my life. Just growing up in the city,” he responded. I should point out he lives in a very nice part of town, so the story would probably have to be about the whiny angst of growing up rich. Fortunately, there are plenty of books like that.

“Yeah, that could be a good one,” I said. “But here’s what you need to do. You need to make your story great if you want a movie to be made. You’ve gotta go out there and do crazy stuff, and you’ve gotta help people and make good friends, and you’ve gotta treat people well, and you can’t avoid conflict: you have to meet it head on and overcome. You’ve gotta grow and change, and…”

“Can I get a bag with that?” the kid said.

I wouldn’t have listened to me, either.