What we as writers can learn from directors around storytelling

A few months back I recently watched Behind the scenes of The Mandalorian, I have always been fascinated by how things work, and in particular how films and TV Shows are created.

If you want to grow as a writer and become better at storytelling, this show can provide some interesting insights, even if you are not a massive Star Wars fan! (A bonus if you are)

There is a lot you can learn from others, here is a quick overview before getting into it in any more detail;

1. Create something that you would want to read
2. Surround yourself with great people
3. Take inspiration from all around you and different channels
4. Make it feel real and genuine

Create something that you would want to read

When writing online, it can be easy to get caught up in the data, what is trending and although this is important if you do not love what you are doing, then what is the point? And if you are writing something that you find boring and is sending you to sleep then what is the point?

One of the directors in the show, Deborah Chow, mentioned something that resonated with me when she mentioned creating something SHE would want to watch.

Although I have always agreed on making your reader the main focus, there is always something so refreshing with sitting down and writing your story, something you want to write about, and when you are creating something you are passionate about, your readers will also get value from it.

Write something you would find value or be entertained by reading.

Surround yourself with great people

Great stories come from living, and surrounding yourself with great people.

Watching behind the scenes and saw how several great directors had worked together, leaning in on each other’s strengths and all of them being affected by the Star Wars Franchise. Jon Favreau surrounded himself with great people, which in turn led to a great story.

Take inspiration from all around you and different channels

Some of the best advice and learnings I have taken from writing have come from a lot of different material, books, videos, and life lessons and have not been directly focused on specific writing advice.

“If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.”

Heraclitus.

There is so much you can learn from writing just by reading widely and taking inspiration from life itself.

Jon Favreau, when filming the Mandalorian took inspiration not only from Star Wars itself but what had inspired the original films and George Lucas. Taking from George’s inspiration from Samurai and Westerns, help to shape the Mandalorian and make it feel connected to the Star Wars universe.

Make it feel real and genuine

The best stories ever written have a few things in common. They feel real and they feel genuine.

Take any great story you love, in my case Lord of The Rings, the world Tolkien created and the characters within that world, although a fantasy, it felt real. The more you link your articles and what you write with real experiences from your life, whether you are writing Fiction or Non-fiction, helps turn a story into a great story.

Keep learning, keep growing and keep writing.

If you want to learn more around Storytelling, filmography and help improve your stories as a writer, I would highly recommend watching the Mandalorian behind the scenes show available on Disney Plus, which you can watch online here or search within the app on your smart device.