Writing a great character arc is a challenge. Great characters and their arcs are what drive a plot, make a story relatable, and memorable. In this post, we're going to teach you how to write a great character arc. We'll also discuss some excellent character arc examples along the way. Continue reading How To Write a Compelling Character Arc
Pacing is an elusive yet pivotal element in storytelling, acting as the rhythm that governs the reader's journey through the narrative. It dictates the rate at which a story unfolds, influencing the tension, mood, and emotional resonance. Without pacing, a story can have an awkward sense of movement and flow. The best writers and storytellers are those that master pacing. Continue reading What is Pacing in Writing — And Why It’s So Important
Film, at its best, is a conduit for shared human experience, an art form that transcends boundaries and languages. It's a mirror held up to society, reflecting our triumphs, our failings, our dreams, our fears. And in this medium of storytelling, the role of the movie critic emerges as an important component of the art. If you’re interested in this field, this guide dives into how to become a movie critic in the necessary skills to start your career.Continue reading How to Become a Movie Critic — Career Tips Explained
What is a dynamic character? An essential player in storytelling, a dynamic character might learn a lesson, go from good to bad, or bad to good. These are some of our favorite protagonists, from Walter White in Breaking Bad to Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz to Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. There can be more than one dynamic character in a story, and how they play off of one another is part of what helps them develop. In order to write compelling dynamic characters, you need to know what they are and what they aren’t. Let’s dig…
How do writers make characters into people we can empathize with and understand? One way is through the use of characterization. But what is characterization? We’re going to answer that question by looking at an example from Kill Bill, and by listening to the perspective of some of the world’s foremost writers. But before we get into the examples, let’s review what makes direct characterization different from indirect characterization.Continue reading What is Characterization — A Guide to Character Building
Who is the best movie villain of all time? There are a number of lists that include The Joker, Darth Vader, Freddy Krueger, and Nurse Ratched, but we wanted to make a list that wasn’t so… disparate.In this list, we’re going to give you a list of the best realistic movie villains. These are the people that make your skin crawl because they might be sitting next to you on the subway or behind you in the grocery line, especially if you notice them buying fava beans in bulk.Continue reading 15 Best Realistic Movie Villains, Ranked
Can you tell a good story without a round character? What does it mean to be a round character? There is a good chance most of your favorite movies and shows revolve around the unfolding of these characters. Conversely, stories without any well-developed characters tend to feel unrelatable. They don’t give the audience enough incentive to get invested in the story. In this post we will define what is a round character, and what is not, and show you some examples in film and television so that you can write your own compelling characters. These also work as a round…
Over the last few years, Hollywood has tried to reinvent its definition of the “strong female protagonist” – but the result has been mixed. Although there has been a greater representation of empowered women in Hollywood films, there has also been a dissolution of nuanced characters. All of this begs the question: how do you effectively write a female protagonist? Well, it starts with all of the tenets of effective characterization – and by analyzing the best female protagonists of all-time. We’re going to break down the best female protagonists by looking at what makes them strong and weak. By the…
In most stories, conflict is the engine that drives the narrative, breathing life into the characters and drama into a plot. Depending on the story, different types of conflict can emerge bringing about different forms of drama and various types of stories. Continue reading Types of Conflict in Literature and How to Write Them
While we may not understand how it happens, some characters connect so deeply with us we feel as though we know them. A big part of this, is relating to why they do things. While we may not agree with everything they do, we may understand why they do it. This is where character motivation comes into storytelling and character building. It’s the invisible force driving all their actions and decisions. Continue reading What is Character Motivation in Storytelling
