Consulting, Speaking, and Teaching

Brian McDonald teaching students and professionals

Powerful Stories
get and keep attention

Every business, artist, and non profit,
needs attention to move people to action.

Momo

Powerful stories motivate people to action by creating emotional connections

Unlock the secrets of storytelling

Learn essential techniques and gain valuable
insights from a master storyteller.

Workshops

Equip Your Team in the Art of Storytelling

Discover the essential techniques of storytelling through multi-day immersive workshops. Led by a seasoned expert, our workshops combine key concepts, hands-on exercises, interactive feedback, and actionable steps to enhance your storytelling prowess.

Explore the real-world applications of storytelling


Understanding how to harness its impact across various mediums and contexts.

Master the art of focus by developing an armature


Learning how to find and craft an armature that becomes a guide for the whole project. Allowing you to evoke profound emotions and create authentic connections with your audience.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of story structures


Including key elements such as plot, character development, and narrative arcs.

Engage in hands-on practice


Putting your newfound storytelling skills into action and refining your techniques under Brian’s expert guidance.

Receive valuable personalized feedback


Enabling you to enhance your storytelling abilities and refine your craft.

Ignite a team’s imagination and unlock the power of storytelling

Brian McDonald’s Intensive Storytelling Workshop was a masterclass in the craft, offering insights that are rare to come by.

Brian’s approach is a breath of fresh air in a field often clouded by criticism and rigid formulas. He brings clarity and supportive guidance that unravels the true essence of storytelling. This approach has been a game-changer for me and many others.

In my role, continuous learning is key. Brian’s teachings have been instrumental in refining my directorial skills and enhancing my mentoring capabilities. ‘Invisible Ink’ is now a staple recommendation for my mentees, and its impact on them is unmistakable. Brian’s insights even resonate profoundly with entry-level students.

His deep understanding of storytelling nuances has significantly influenced both my work as a director and as a teacher. I wholeheartedly endorse Brian McDonald’s work for its invaluable contribution to the art of storytelling.

Thank you, Brian, for your monumental contributions and for allowing me the honor to recognize the impact of your work.

A founding partner and director at Studio AKA, an award-winning animation studio in London

Podcast

Self directed learning key concepts that will help you craft better stories that connect with people.

Classes

On-demand and live-video sessions with a deeper dive into content from books and podcasts.

Speaking

In person one day teaching of key concepts, examples, and intro to tools with live Q&A.

High Praise

Brian McDonald has found yet another fresh and objective way to analyze how great stories function, and emboldens you to face the challenge of scaling whatever story mountain looms before you. If I manage to reach the summit of my next story it will be in no small part due to having read Invisible Ink. – director of WALL-E and Finding Nemo
Invisible Ink is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to become a better screenwriter. With elegance and precision, Brian McDonald uses his deep understanding of story and character to pass on essential truths about dramatic writing. Ignore him at your peril. – Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Descendants and Sideways
If you want to write scripts, listen to Brian. The guy knows what he’s talking about. A very well-thought-out, easy-to-follow guide to the thing all we writers love to pretend we don’t slavishly follow—story structure. – director of Bridesmaids and Freaks and Geeks
There are only a few scholars who seem to truly understand the vital function of storytelling in society and culture. Among them, none can communicate and apply it as clearly as Brian McDonald.
brian-mcdonald-creative-works-memphis

Help your team start telling better stories today

Whether you’re starting from scratch, looking to refine the stories you have, or just want to learn more about telling stories. These courses on storytelling have helped teams establish a common language and move faster together.

Fill out my online form.