Creating is fun! That's why I write! I created 'Scenario Center's Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds' to make that happen

This is Kazuki Arai from the Scenario Center.
To create a general-interest book that allows not just adults, but also children to enjoy creating stories, I worked with KADOKAWA to produce a book titled 'For You Who Want to Keep Loving to Write Even After Becoming an Adult: Scenario Center's Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds.' It will be released on June 19th.

First, the cover! It conveys the atmosphere that makes creating stories fun.

I want to keep creating stories in a fun way, rather than struggling! We have responded to that feeling.

Everyone who is writing stories, or who wants to write stories, is naturally someone who loves writing stories more than anything. Isn't the imagination—no, the daydreaming—before you write just incredibly fun?
Writing stories, and thinking about this and that while trying to write, is incredibly fun.

Creating stories is full of charm that captures our hearts and won't let go!

However, when you actually try to write, there are times when it doesn't go as planned, or your ideas and stories seem cliché, and you stop enjoying writing.

That is actually when the hurdle for yourself has been raised just right. That is precisely why, if you can jump over that hurdle without falling (!), creating stories will become more and more fun!!

So, how can you jump over that hurdle?
To do that, you just need to acquire the expressive techniques used by professional screenwriters and novelists. After all, professional writers are the representatives of adults who have continued to do the story creation they loved since they were children!

That said, you might think, 'Can I really acquire the expressive techniques that professionals use?' Therefore, in 'Scenario Center's Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds,' we explain the Scenario Center method of story creation—which has produced over 700 professional writers—in an easy-to-understand way for those who are 14 now, those who will be 14 soon, and those who were once 14! Furthermore, the book is structured so that it stays by your side like a marathon pacer, allowing you to think and progress practically.
Because it's not just about understanding the logic, your head, hands, and eyes will transform into a 'writer's head, hands, and eyes.'While having fun, please set sail with your ship of imagination into the vast ocean of stories!

Why did I title it 'For 14-Year-Olds'?

There are countless books on creative know-how in the world. However, there are not many creative books aimed at everyone from children to adults.
Even if there are, they are either overly childish or just have an age in the title without being particularly easy to understand for the target age group.

'If you go that far, is it really that kind of book!?' you might think.

To begin with, the Scenario Center is this kind of place.

This book is also based on the 'basic techniques of screenwriting' systematized by Hajime Arai, the founder of the Scenario Center and my grandfather. Therefore, the expressive techniques we convey are professional-grade techniques.

Furthermore, since 2010, the Scenario Center has been conducting an activity called Kids Scenario as outreach classes for elementary and junior high schools. Since we have implemented it for a total of 5,000 people, we have also accumulated methods for conveying this to children. Personally, I have always wanted to create a creative book for children.

Even so, those who have read my previous book, 'Scenario Center-Style Story Creation Method,' might think this: 'You've already summarized that in a book, right? So isn't a 'Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds' unnecessary?' Well, that is certainly true...
That may be, but! It is definitely not the same.

・'Scenario Center-Style' is a book for writing more attractive stories.
・'Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds' is a book for continuing to write stories happily.

Both result in being able to write attractive stories, but the goals are different. Furthermore!
・'Scenario Center-Style' is a book that introduces the expressive techniques necessary for creation without omission by clarifying the 'map of creation'.
・'Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds' is a book where you acquire the expressive techniques necessary for creation by visiting 4 islands, turning the readers' heads, hands, and eyes into writer-spec.

Since it says 'for 14-year-olds,' you might think it's childish, but 'Creative Notebook for 14-Year-Olds' is actually more practical!

I sometimes hear people say that they try reading creative books, but in the end, they can't fully utilize them in their own work. But this book is different. Not only what and how to think to create a story, but we navigate at what timing (when) in story creation you should think about what.

In that sense, it includes practical elements not found in Hajime Arai's 'Basic Techniques of Scenario Writing,' 'Scenario Techniques,' 'Introduction to Scenario Writing,' or books from the Form Art series.

Training the 'Writer's Mind, Hands, and Eyes' needed to create stories

To create stories in a fun way, one approach is to just write whatever comes to mind. However, once you reach a certain point, you hit a wall, thinking things like, 'Somehow, all my stories are the same,' 'I always get stuck in the same place,' or 'For some reason, I can't finish writing.'
If that state continues, it's not fun. Even worse, you might think, 'Maybe I'm not cut out for this,' and distance yourself from story creation. But that's not about aptitude or talent; it's just a lack of expressive technique. As the name suggests, expressive technique is a skill that anyone can acquire.
In other words, by acquiring expressive techniques and turning your mind, hands, and eyes into those of a writer, anyone can write compelling stories. This means you can enjoy creating stories forever!
That is why in this book, we will turn your mind, hands, and eyes into a 'Writer's Mind, Hands, and Eyes'!

Depart on the 'Magical Miso-cho Tour' with four characters!

In 'Creative Notebook for Ages 14 and Up,' we will visit four islands to turn your mind, hands, and eyes into a 'Writer's Mind, Hands, and Eyes.' It's called the 'Magical Miso-cho Tour'!
・'The Island of Creating Characters'
・'The Island of Moving Characters'
・'The Island of Introducing Characters'
・'The Island of Changing Characters'
These are the four!

As for how you will tour, four characters appear in 'Scenario Center's Creative Notebook for Ages 14 and Up.' You will go on the tour together with these characters.
・Hikaru Kobayakawa, who can't enjoy creating stories like they used to.
・Shuji Mashima, who is too busy with club activities and studying to find time for creation.
・Sayaka Otagaki, who is trying hard but can't write as she wants.
・Risaburo Murata, who wants to write stories but has lost a little confidence.

Perhaps these four have worries similar to yours. You will tour with these four, and when you finish reading,'Oh, so if I think about it this way, I can write stories happily!!'
It is sure to be a highly satisfying tour!

Come on, everyone!
Step right up, take a look!!
The 'Magical Miso-cho Tour' is about to begin!!!

If you see it in a bookstore, please pick it up!

For you who want to keep loving 'writing' even after becoming an adult, 'Scenario Center's Creative Notebook for Ages 14 and Up' (KADOKAWA) on sale from June 19, 2024!

'Scenario Center-Style Story Creation Used by Professional Writers and Screenwriters' (Nihon Jitsugyo Shuppansha) is on sale now to great acclaim since July 28, 2023. Thanks to you, it's in its 6th printing with 30,000 copies!