Getting storytelling lessons from Pixar

My experience creating with Story Xperiential

This fall, I decided to stretch my creative muscles and enroll in an animated storytelling class with Story Xperiential.

I know what you’re thinking — Why is a poet trying to learn how to make a Pixar film?! My snarky response is, of course, a Walt Whitman quote: “I am large; I contain multitudes.” But honestly, I have a deep love for storytelling, as I believe all poets do. Don’t we all aim to paint pictures with words?

The objective of the Story Xperiential class is to spend 9 weeks using what you learn from industry professionals to develop your own storyreel.

The heart of the class is the Pixar process. You move step-by-step through ideation, story structure, character building, and each story act. You are also guaranteed to get feedback from a bunch of people at every step.

Feedback on your art isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, but it turned out to be the best part about the class. You actually want to hear from the people who are confused or who don’t get it. Why? Because you can immediately apply that feedback and see if your new approach is successful.

Story Xperiential was created by Pixar and Khan Academy veterans and the experience shows. Even though creating a…