5 Storytelling Lessons from Star Wars

Annie Cosby
April 30, 2024 | 3 min read
In the vast galaxy of storytelling, few stories have captured hearts and minds like the epic saga of Star Wars.

Beyond its dazzling lightsabers and iconic characters lies a treasure trove for writers: countless invaluable lessons in the art of storytelling expertly served up by creator George Lucas.

We gathered just a few of those lessons for you to get a quick master class in narrative structure and crafting a compelling tale that will resonate across generations.

Here are five invaluable writing tips from one of the most iconic franchises in cinematic history:

 

George Lucas famously drew inspiration from Joseph Campbell's concept of the "Hero's Journey" when crafting the story of Luke Skywalker.

The concept of the Hero's Journey was first outlined in Campbell's 1949 book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, as a universal motif of adventure and transformation that runs through virtually all of the world’s mythological traditions. The concept is characterized by a hero who leaves the ordinary world, faces trials, and returns home transformed. Sound familiar?

Today, the Hero's Journey is found all across media — from fairy tales and books to films and video games. In fact, George Lucas has publicly said that he wrote "many drafts" of what would become Star Wars, but it wasn't until he read The Hero with a Thousand Faces that he was able to hone in on what would become the essential story and characters of the saga.

(The two writers even met eventually, and watched the original trilogy together.)

As a writer, consider whether the hero's journey fits your story. The roadmap may not resonate with every writer, but it just might give essential structure to that story you've been trying to tell for years.

 

At the heart of Star Wars lies a profound exploration of universal themes like redemption, the power of hope, and good versus evil. For example, take the iconic clash between the Jedi and the Sith.

Through characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, we witness the complexities of morality and the potential for redemption.

By tapping into timeless concepts like these, writers can create narratives that resonate across cultures and generations. Whether your story is set in a galaxy far, far away or in the confines of everyday life, infuse it with themes that speak to the common human experience.

 

Lucas had a background in visual arts, which heavily influenced his approach to storytelling. But you don't need to be an artist to create a vivid world.

As a writer, strive to visualize your story in your own way, considering how each scene will unfold on the page. Whether through sketches, diagrams, or simply vivid imagination, cultivating a strong visual sense can enhance the impact of your writing — whether you're writing for the screen or for the page.

 

From the wise mentorship of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the villainous allure of Darth Vader, George Lucas excels at creating characters that resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.

When developing your own characters, focus on crafting individuals with depth, complexity, and memorable traits. Whether they're heroes, villains, or somewhere in between, give your characters distinct personalities, motivations, and arcs that captivate readers' imaginations.

This is especially important when you're working with fantasy creatures or even robots and droids. Think of all the personality traits and the deft personification that make R2-D2 so lovable!

 

While the final version of Star Wars may seem like a seamless masterpiece, the reality is that it underwent numerous revisions and iterations throughout the creative process.

Lucas wasn't afraid to rework scenes, dialogue, or even entire storylines in pursuit of the best possible outcome.

As a writer, embrace the revision process as an opportunity to refine and improve your work. Be willing to solicit feedback, make tough decisions, and constantly strive for excellence in your craft.

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The contributions of Star Wars to the sci-fi genre, and society at large, are immeasurable. By embracing some of the techniques that led to the creation of such a classic, you can level up your storytelling skills and just maybe create what will become the next Star Wars.

So, grab your Freewrite (or lightsaber) and let the Force guide you on your own epic writing journey.

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I’ve spent years writing while secretly fearing that a single misplaced word would expose me — not just as a bad writer, but as a fraud.

My background is originally in photography, and I see it there, too. A photographer I know recently posted a before-and-after comparison of their editing from 2018 versus now, asking if we also saw changes in our own work over the years.

Naturally, we should. If our work is the same, years apart, have we really grown as artists?

So why is that the growing, the process of it, the daily grind of it, is so painful?

So why is that the growing, the process of it, the daily grind of it, is so painful?

The Haunting

Hitting “publish” on an essay or a blog always stirs up insecurity — the overthinking, the over-editing. The fear that someone will call me out for not being a real writer.

I initially hesitated to make writing part of my freelance work. My background is in photography and design. Writing was something I gravitated toward, but I had no degree to validate it. No official stamp of approval.

Like many writers, I started with zero confidence in my voice — agonizing over edits, drowning in research, second-guessing every word.

I even created a shield for myself: ghostwriting.

I even created a shield for myself: ghostwriting.

If my words weren’t my own, they couldn’t be wrong. Ghostwriting meant safety — no risk, no vulnerability, just words without ownership.

I still remember the feeling of scrolling to the bottom of an article I had written and seeing someone else’s name, their face beside words that had once been mine.

The truth is, I always wanted to write. As a kid, I imagined it. Yet, I found myself handing over my work, letting someone else own it.

I told myself it didn’t matter. It was work. Getting paid to write should be enough.

But here’s the thing: I wasn’t just playing it safe — I was slowly erasing myself. Word by word. Edit by edit. And finally, in the by-line.

I wasn’t just playing it safe — I was slowly erasing myself. Word by word. Edit by edit. And finally, in the by-line.

The Disappearing Act

This was true when I was writing under my own name, too. The more I worried about getting it right, the less I sounded like me.

I worried. I worried about how long an essay was (“people will be bored”), finding endless examples as proof of my research (“no way my own opinion is valid on its own”), the title I gave a piece (“it has to be a hook”), or editing out personal touches (“better to be safe than be seen”).

I built a guardrail around my writing, adjusting, tweaking, over-correcting. Advice meant to help only locked me in. It created a sentence rewritten to sound smarter, an opinion softened to sound safer, a paragraph reshaped to sound acceptable.

I built a guardrail around my writing, adjusting, tweaking, over-correcting.

But playing it safe makes the work dull. Writing loses its edge.

It took deliberate effort to break this habit. I’m not perfect, but here’s what I know after a year of intentionally letting my writing sound like me:

My work is clearer. It moves with my own rhythm. It’s less shaped by external influence, by fear, by the constant need to smooth it into something more polished, more likable.

But playing it safe makes the work dull. Writing loses its edge.

The Resurrection

The drive for acceptance is a slippery slope — one we don’t always realize we’re sliding down. It’s present in the small choices that pull us away from artistic integrity: checking how others did it first, tweaking our work to fit a mold, hesitating before saying what we actually mean.

And let’s be honest — this isn’t just about writing. It bleeds into everything.

It’s there when we stay silent in the face of wrongdoing, when we hold back our true way of being, when we choose work that feels “respectable,” whatever that means. It’s in every “yes” we say when we really want to say “no.”

If your self-expression is rooted in a need for acceptance, are you creating for yourself — or for others? Does your work help you explore your thoughts, your life? Does it add depth, energy, and meaning?

My work is clearer. It moves with my own rhythm. It’s less shaped by external influence, by fear, by the constant need to smooth it into something more polished, more likable.

I get it. We’re social creatures. Isolation isn’t the answer. Ignoring societal norms won’t make us better writers. Often, the most meaningful work is born from responding to or resisting those norms.

But knowing yourself well enough to recognize when acceptance is shaping your work brings clarity.

Am I doing this to be part of a community, to build connections, to learn and grow?

Or am I doing this to meet someone else’s expectations, dulling my voice just to fit in?

The Revival

Here’s what I know as I look back at my writing: I’m grateful for the years spent learning, for the times I sought acceptance with curiosity. But I’m in a different phase now.

I know who I am, and those who connect with my work reflect that back at me — in the messages they send, in the conversations we share.

I know who I am, and those who connect with my work reflect that back at me — in the messages they send, in the conversations we share.

It’s our differences that drive growth. I want to nurture these connections, to be challenged by difference, to keep writing in a way that feels like me. The me who isn’t afraid to show what I think and care about.

So, I ask you, as I ask myself now:

If no one was watching, if no one could judge, what would you write?

If no one was watching, if no one could judge, what would you write?

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