Screenwriting Secrets For Copywriters

Screenwriting Secrets For Copywriters

From Copywriters Podcast by David Garfinkel

May 18, 2026 · 34 min

About this episode

David Garfinkel explores the use of micro stories in copywriting, drawing insights from Hollywood screenwriting techniques.

People always talk about opening your copy with a story, but most of the time, when you say what kind of story, they’ll look at you like you’re an idiot and say, “Hero’s journey, of course,” like there were no other viable options. Well, the problem with that is, the way the great purveyors of hero’s journey stories, Hollywood Screenwriters, use them is as a macro story. The whole two hour movie is one long hero’s journey. Within that framework are a lot of micro stories. And today we’re going to look at three types of micro stories. Two of them opened blockbuster movies you’re probably familiar with: The Dark Knight and Inception. The third type of micro story propelled the hit movie Rocky to a rousing finish, and provided its most memorable scene. I’ve never known anyone, including my friends in the screenwriting industry, identify these story types, much less show how they can be used to increase attention and desire in sales letters. So you’re in for a world premiere of these techniques. Get out the popcorn. And… if you’d like some help writing stories that are much simpler and more compact than hero’s journey stories, let me invite you to check out my book, The Persuasion…

People in this episode

Host: David Garfinkel

Topics covered

  • screenwriting
  • copywriting
  • storytelling
  • micro stories
  • sales letters

Keywords

  • copywriting
  • screenwriting
  • micro stories
  • hero's journey
  • sales letters

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Persuasion Story Code

Books & works: The Dark Knight, Inception, Rocky

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