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I've just come across this article written by screenwriting guru John Truby where he goes to great lengths to explain that the three act structure will kill you. Oh, puh-lease.

Find your inner Charlie, go your own way.

Did you ever think that the many (all) brilliant screenwriting gurus out there might, on occasion, possibly exaggerate just a teensy weensy little? In this instance, John Truby, who's no doubt a class act (after all, he's taught and worked with thousands of writers), explains why the three act structure is bad for you - no wait, it ain't just bad, it'll kill you (don't know why but I'm suddenly reminded of Achmed the Dead Terrorist).

Relax, John - and at the same time also a hearty "relax" to every newbie out there. Please do read all of what the Truby-Meister writes on the subject - but, at the same time, please don't lose perspective. The three act structure isn't a myth, it's there, it's in plain sight - it's in the plays and it's in the movies. Not in all of them (there are always exceptions - thank God!) - but the three act structure is very real and just because John makes a song and dance about it doesn't make it otherwise.

"The so-called 3-act structure is the biggest, most destructive myth ever foisted on writers," says J.T. - he goes on to explain that what he calls myth was created by a story analyst... which no doubt is entirely different from the many brilliant insights/rules/paradigms laid down for us poor screenwriting sinners by such luminaries as McKee, Field, Seger, oh yeah, and Truby, of course. Now, I know I'm being flippant here - these folks have dedicated their lives to teaching their insights, to allow us all to write better films ... we should be thankful, I guess - no really, I mean it ... kinda. But to knock the three act structure as a myth is about as silly as calling Syd Field a myth - might as well call the 22 building blocks a myth, for that matter!

According to John Truby taking the three act structure for a fact is like believing that the emperor is actually wearing new clothes. Fact is, however, that the screenwriting gurus like John Truby actually are the town criers - they are the ones hyping the shiny new clothes and they give them fancy names. If anyone believes that the naked emperor is indeed dressed in lovely new finery, they do so because they believe what the gurus themselves told them.

And herein lies my gripe with the article in question. It purports to shed light - but actually just lays it on as thick as they all do. For any beginning screenwriter out there - please don't let it get to you, don't let it confuse you - do not get sucked into believing that screenwriting is this highly complex thing you'll never manage to grasp. YES, you should read the books. YES, you should watch the movies and YES, you should read the screenplays - read all of them, watch all of them. Learn from the gurus and learn to separate the grandstanding from the basics - the basics is all you need. The basics and years and years of actual writing experience.

Is the three act structure all you need to know? Of course not - but it's there, it's a fact - take it for what it's worth. Use it to analyze all your favorite movies. And do the same with John Truby's building blocks and every other guru element out there - use them, learn from them - but never rely on them to give you ultimate truths. Your story, your life, your passion. Amen.