Storyville: Young Protagonists—MG vs. YA vs. Adult
Some advice for writing young protagonists for Middle Grade, YA, and adult fiction.
Storyville: Are You Unique or Just Difficult with Your Fiction?
Make sure you're not being difficult and vague when trying to write unique stories. Here are some tips.
Want a Masterclass in Character Development? Better Call Saul!
Better Call Saul's pilot, "Uno," focuses on building characters in surprising and patient ways, emphasizing the creation of curiosity over providing the audience with exposition.
Storyville: Writing Compelling Dust Jacket Copy
Tips for writing compelling dust jacket copy that makes the back of your book sing.
The Violence Yet to Come: Breaking Down the 'Taboo' Pilot
A craft-based look at the pilot episode of FX's 'Taboo.'
Representation Matters: A Literary Call To Arms
Representation is key to good writing. This is true whether you're a novelist or a playwright; whether you work in television or in game development. All narrative has the power to impact culture.
What 'Westworld' Can Teach Us About Writers
By BH Shepherd
What the characters of "Westworld," some of them writers, can teach us about writers.
The Mini-Guide To Writing Sex For Your Genre
By Holly Slater
There are approximately a zillion questions to consider when it comes to the craft of sex in fiction. One of the most important being: Does your intended audience expect, crave, or even allow sex?
10 Things We Can Learn About Writing from 'You’re the Worst'
We dig deep into Stephen Falk's complicated FXX series.
What Works & What Doesn't: 'Forrest Gump'
Films are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. And you never know why the hell some flavors are so beloved either...
Buy Your Villain a Birthday Present: 5 More Development Exercises
Here are a few more prompts to get the mind juices going as you sit down and get to know your characters:
What 'Stranger Things' Can Teach Us About Characterization
Not only is "Stranger Things" great television, it's also a required lesson in quality characterization.
I Am So Evil - The Problem With Devilish Bad Guys
By Leah Rhyne
Does your bad guy know he's bad? Does she want to hurt people? Or is your bad guy one who thinks, "Hmm...I'm the good guy here."? Which is more compelling? An exploration of antagonists.
Making A Murderer: How Good Storytelling Made It So Damn Compelling
By Peter Derk
In:
Character, documentary, Legal, Making A Murderer, Netflix, Plot, Steve Avery, Structure, Television, True Crime
'Making A Murderer' was a fascinating story, but good storytelling made it truly excellent.
Advice From A Literary Character: Bridget Jones
One of your favorite literary characters takes on life's big questions.
Jessica Jones vs. Sansa Stark: Rape Culture in Entertainment, and Why We Should Talk About It
By Leah Rhyne
In:
A Song of Ice and Fire, Character, Comics, game of thrones, Jessica Jones, Literary Devices, Marvel, Rape, Theme
Trigger warning: We are going to talk about rape, and our reactions to the loss of innocence vs. the thirst for revenge.
How Backstory Almost Totally Fucked Up the Star Wars Franchise: A Lesson for Writers
By Cath Murphy
The Star Wars prequels almost killed the Star Wars franchise and it wasn't just because of Hayden Christensen's acting. The toxic element was an overdose of backstory.
American Horror Backstory: The Use of Flashbacks in "AHS: Hotel"
This FX TV series may not always concern itself with plot, but it always loves its characters. But how much is too much?
