Universal Themes in Story
While the stories we spin are often deeply personal, they invariably explore themes that are universally relatable. It can feel intimidating to […]
Character vs. Nature Conflict
Character vs. Nature strips a story down to its most primal conflict. There’s no evil villain with a dark motive. No institution […]
How to Outline a Screenplay
Some screenwriters resist outlining. They prefer to follow the story wherever it leads, trusting their instincts over structure, discovery over design. And […]
Five-Act Structure
The Five-Act Structure is a key aspect of dramatic storytelling. The tradition stretches as far back as the ancient Greeks, and it’s […]
Story Structure
Think of story structure as the skeleton of your tale. We all have different lives, different styles, different appearances. But for the […]
What is a Short Film?
Every screenwriter dreams to one day have their own feature length film on the big screen. Regardless of how grand that goal […]
Historical Fiction
If you’ve found yourself enchanted by tales of a bygone era, you’re likely a fan of historical fiction. In this genre, the […]
Pacing in Writing
Many writers struggle to get the pacing right in their stories. We adjust scenes: adding, trimming, and attempting to hike up the […]
External conflict
Without tension or conflict, a story will not only be boring, but absent of meaning. At the heart of every story lies […]
