Into the Woods Audiobook By John Yorke cover art

Into the Woods

How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Into the Woods

By: John Yorke
Narrated by: John Yorke
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.33

Buy for $20.33

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

Brought to you by Penguin.

We all love stories. But why do we tell them? And why do all stories function in an eerily similar way? John Yorke, creator of the BBC Writers' Academy, has brought a vast array of drama to British screens. Here he takes us on a journey to the heart of storytelling, revealing that there truly is a unifying shape to narrative forms - one that echoes the fairytale journey into the woods and, like any great art, comes from deep within. From ancient myths to big-budget blockbusters, he gets to the root of the stories that are all around us, every day.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 John Yorke (P)2023 Penguin Audio Art of Storytelling Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Screenwriting Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing

Critic reviews

'This is a marvellous analysis of screenwriting and, with any luck, should help a great many people achieve their dreams.' (Julian Fellowes, writer/creator of Downton Abbey)

'In an industry full of so called script gurus and snake oil salesmen, at last there's a book about story that treats writers like grown ups. This isn't about providing us with an ABC of story or telling us how to write a script by numbers. It's an intelligent evaluation into the very nature of storytelling... Quite brilliant.' (Tony Jordan, screenwriter, Life on Mars and Hustle)

'Part 'How-to' manual, part 'why-to' celebration, Into The Woods is a wide-reaching and infectiously passionate exploration of storytelling in all its guises...exciting and thought-provoking.' (Emma Frost, screenwriter, The White Queen and Shameless)
All stars
Most relevant  
A very well researched and delivered explanation of the five act structure. This is the screenwriting book I have listened to the most and will continue to go back to it.
It’s told in a conversational tone but highly educational. The author’s points are backed up by plenty of examples from Film, TV, and literature.
While the book is suited more to people familiar with British TV, there’s plenty are plenty of examples here from films like Thelma and Louise, Indiana Jones, and Macbeth all serving his thesis - By subdividing the giant middle act of the traditional 3 act structure to include two more act breaks, you can ensure a more thrilling and cohesive narrative. In 3 dimensional tales, each act relates directly to a stage of the characters progression on their arc. I really can’t state how great a listen this was if you love screenplay writing, films, and story in general.

A must read for screenwriters

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.