Narratively, a Pixar animation and a multiverse martial arts epic couldn’t be more different. But Inside Out and Everything Everywhere All at Once both use bold, kinetic visuals to explore humanity deeply. Behind the wild colors and chaos lies something surprisingly structured. Syllogism in film is a sequence of reasoning where a conclusion follows from two premises, and it’s the hidden logic that makes even the most animated worlds feel grounded. Joy believes Riley must always be happy, so she suppresses Sadness, a flawed premise that shapes the entire emotional arc. Evelyn believes she’s failed her daughter in every universe,…
We’ve all heard the term internal conflict, but what does it mean? And how does it make your characters stronger on the page? There’s more than one way to do it, so we’re going to take a look at different movies that possess compelling internal conflicts. If you can master creating characters with internal conflict through the help of these examples, your writing won’t just be better, it’ll become unforgettable. Continue reading What is Internal Conflict — The Core of Great Characters
Michael Scott of The Office once said, “They’re trying to make me an escape goat.” That’s hilarious, but it’s also wrong… Which is why it’s a malapropism! But what is a malapropism, and how can you use it in your own script writing? That word may sound intimidating, but don’t worry, we’ll explain what malapropism means, provide examples, and even talk about how to use them in your own scripts to get readers rolling in the isles (read on to see what we did there!). Continue reading What is Malapropism — Definition & Iconic Comedy Examples
We all want to make our writing compelling. The question is - how? Utilizing figurative language is one of the many tools great writers employ to make their work visceral and memorable. Given that there are several different types of figurative language, it’s easy to get confused about what it is and how to use it in your writing. Yet in this post, we won’t just define figurative language, we’ll also dive into how to get the most out of using it in your writing. A writer who can master the use of figurative language is a compelling writer. Continue…
The beauty of poetry lies not only in the meaning of the words within a poem but how poets structure these words. This structure, which is referred to as meter, is a poet's way of directing how we read their work, influencing the pace, tone, and overall feeling of a poem. Continue reading What is Meter in Poetry — Definition and Types Explained
There was a Young Lady of Russia, Who screamed so that no one could hush her; Her screams were extreme, No one heard such a scream, As was screamed by that lady of Russia.” Did reading that make you chuckle? Well, what you just read was a limerick, and making people laugh or smile is the main reason people write these funny poems. Read on to learn more about where limericks came from and how you can write your own to get people laughing! Continue reading What is a Limerick Poem — Definition, Examples for Writers
Heroes are some of the most popular protagonists in storytelling – and there are a lot of types of heroes to use; a byronic hero being one such example. But what is a byronic hero? We’re going to outline a byronic hero definition then break down a variety of byronic hero examples in literature and film. By the end, you’ll know what a byronic hero is and how to use it in writing. Continue reading What is a Byronic Hero — Definition, Examples & Traits
Pastiche is a term thrown around a lot in filmmaking, but what exactly qualifies as pastiche? Pastiche can be both a boon and a pitfall to your creative process, so it’s important to know what it is, what it isn’t, and how to use it effectively in your own work. In this post, we’re going to explain what pastiche is and how it differs from other storytelling devices it’s often confused with. We’ll also take a look at how prolific filmmakers utilize pastiche in their work, and how when done right, pastiche can help define their personal style and voice.…
Diegesis is a word that’s thrown around a lot in film studies – but what is diegesis in film? We’re going to define diegesis by examining its long history; with reference to Aristotle and Ancient Greece. We’re also going to explore some diegesis examples in literature, film, television, and games to see how writers build worlds for their stories. Continue reading What is Diegesis & Why Storytellers Should Know It
