Character, character, character. And thanks for coming to my TED talk.

In most forms of storytelling, character is everything.  Even narratives we'd describe as plot-driven only work - are memorable, compelling, etc - when we emotionally engage with the characters.  Screenwriters are more sensitive to this reality because they are largely collaborative storytellers working in an industry which has a commercial imperative - everything has to work.  That doesn't limit us in the stories we tell, as Anthony Mullins, Australian screenwriter and novelist, points out in his new book, Beyond the Hero's Journey - A Screenwriting Guide For When You Have A Different Story To Tell

There are many books that guide storytellers in this era, for screen and off, including those who reference the standard 'hero's journey' and 'three-act' structure.  Including those approaches, Mullins' book is particularly useful, not least because I'd recommend it for writers in any genre or format.  It's not a how-to, nor is it painfully academic or require wall-covering plot analysis for your WIP. 

Screenwriters focus on character and their arcs.  Mullins points to how that process plays out in a diverse sampling of feature films, and does so simply, succinctly and engagingly.  I recommend it.  So, if you're a writer, with a WIP, and interested in reading a short review about Beyond Hero's, hit the link to the review at Tasmanian Times.