Is there something wrong in the third act? Then it is wrong in the first act. Are you writing because you have something to say, or...
People’s critiques will be very subjective and very related to themselves. They may hate a character because it reminds them of someone...
In Jurassic Park, a character diverts a dinosaur’s attention by throwing a flare away from him. The dinosaur chases the flare while they...
Superior position is when the audience knows something the characters do not. It is a useful tool for suspense, but can serve other...
With dialogue, it is important to set up the subtext. If you have established that two people hate each other, and then you have them in...
Do not use subplots to make the world more complex. Use them only to support the main plot. You are a slave to the story. You do not...
Deus Ex Machina is horrible. Do not use it to solve problems. However, feel free to use it to create problems. No one minds it, and it...
The climax should bring masculine and feminine elements together. It shows how a character changed (or didn’t).
Genre is visible (e.g. western, horror, etc). Do not think in terms of genre. Focus on the story, and then choose an appropriate genre....
A storyteller teaches, not preaches. If you talk about what you want to say, you are preaching. If you show, you are teaching. The...
Consider this quote: “The King died and then the Queen died” is a story. “The King died and then the Queen died of grief” is a plot. -...
Truth is not about the facts. In a horror movie, a girl going down a scary basement is not the truth. Real scared women will not do...
Ritual Pain Think of rites of passage. In many cultures, one has to undergo severe pain to become a man (not for women). Gang...
A clone in a story is a tool for showing, not telling. They are characters that represent what could, should, or might happen to the...
People tell stories to teach something. It is likely the origin of stories - a way to teach something beyond simply using boring facts....
Less is more. Don’t go for a complex plot. Simplicity rules. There are seven steps in all narratives: Once upon a time And every day...