Snippets of stories arrive into your brain from various thought processes and actions completed in an average day. You could be making dinner, cutting your toe-nails or just browsing the internet for the latest gadget that might just stop you procrastinating (if you find one of these, please let me know).

You could also be reading the fantastic ‘how to’ guides that are readily available to help with plot, structure, chapter set-up etc. The information out there is astounding. It can make your heart soar. At last! You’ve found the doo daa you’ve always wanted!

A pipe dream is something that comes along, usually as a mirage when the words just won’t come and the blank page stares accusingly back at you. You’ve spent hours planning each character, each minute detail of the current scene and nothing. There’s nothing there. Pipes are not involved in these kind of dreams (who knew, right?), it’s just a way of saying to yourself that if you don’t get something written down, then there is no hope for that book-shaped swimming pool.

If there’s no book, there’s no contract, there’s no publication or party cake. It’s just you and your keyboard. Some writers have been very lucky and the film rights for their books have been snapped up for nice sums that might just pay next year’s tax bill. So, what happens to your story when it reaches the sun-lined streets of Hollywood?

For example, what if Pixar loved your story as much as you do? But what if they want to change the arc, the inciting incidents or the drama I have festooned on my literary baby? Would you let them?

It might never happen. But it just might. There is no harm in dreaming.

The link below is a fascinating insight into the break down of the animated story. I was surprised to read that it is very similar to how some writers do it too.

Look out for the 22 Rules of Storytelling – now that is food for thought.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Emma Coats – a Storyboard artist for Pixar:

http://io9.gizmodo.com/5916970/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar