
Show Notes
“There is no version of storytelling that does not become therapy.” — Spade Robinson
What if the difference between an average story and a great one has less to do with talent or skill and more to do with self-awareness?
In this episode, screenwriter and story consultant Spade Robinson breaks down why structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the foundation that allows it to thrive.
We explore how unforgiveness shows up on the page, why most writers avoid the emotional core of their work, and how discipline in story design eliminates writer’s block.
Spade also shares hard-earned insights from Sundance and the development world about the changing industry, why writers must think of themselves as studios, and how short-form storytelling and brand partnerships may shape the next era of film.
If you care about story craft, emotional truth, and building a sustainable creative career, this conversation will challenge you in all the right ways.
In this episode, you will learn to: Strengthen your stories by confronting the internal human question driving them Use structure as a creative advantage rather than a limitation Eliminate writer’s block by building a strong outline before drafting Understand art and commerce must work together in today’s industry Position yourself as a creator-studio in an attention-driven economy
Follow Spade Robinson on: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/spaderobinson LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/spade-robinson-5588a231/ Website → https://www.atlantafilmproject.com/
And for more storytelling tips and tricks: Visit → https://rainbennett.com or https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or, follow along at... TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Storytelling Lab
"You've got to manage both sides. You're the captain of the ship. You let the playful side talk and then you get it organized and manage it. People are dominant on one side or the other, and either side can be very bad if you go to the extreme." — Kim Krizan
"Advertising is the loudest, most publicly visible, and highest-stakes storytelling that your brand will do. And one misaligned ad can destroy and erode years of trust that you have built." — Rain Bennett
"Storytelling is local. But we are a global brand, so we do need consistency — and enough flexibility that everything can be used at a local level, because what resonates in China is not the same thing that resonates in Kenya." — Sydnye White
"You do the story that you want to do because you believe in it and it will find an audience. You have to be passionate about something and not try and hop off what's already out there. You have to absolutely 1000% have a vision." — Leslie Zemeckis
"The best of the writers know structures are important. And then they forget that they've been intuitively following a structure and tell the world you don't need structure. The rest of the people think they don't need structure and realize by the hundredth page they don't know what the story is going to be." —Anubhav Srivastava