What is tone? To answer that question we have to place tone in an appropriate context. Tone can refer to the intonation/pitch of acoustics, the meeting of light and shadow, the firmness of muscles, etc. — but we’re going to focus on what tone means in storytelling. Tone is how an artist feels towards the… Continue reading What is Tone? — A Guide for Storytellers
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Symbolism can create an indelible impression on an audience. Symbolism runs through literature, poetry, and screenwriting. But what is symbolism? In this article, we’ll define symbolism and… Continue reading What is Symbolism? Definition & Examples
Screenplay StructureOpen menu What is The Three Act Structure What is Freytag’s Pyramid What is a Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey What is Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu What is Exposition What is an Inciting Incident What is Rising Action What is the Climax of a… Continue reading What Is a Plot? Types of Plot, Definitions, and Examples
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Have you ever watched a movie or read a book with a plot twist that blew your mind, but when revisiting it you see all the now-obvious… Continue reading What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → What is an antagonist? The simplest explanation is that an antagonist represents the opposite of the protagonist. But there’s much more to the term than that. They… Continue reading What is an Antagonist — Definition & Examples
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Anyone who’s sat down to write knows it isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether penning a poem, a screenplay, or a novel, a writer needs a… Continue reading 46 Literary Devices Every Writer Should Know
Metaphor Mixed Metaphor Visual Metaphor The metaphor is a fundamental pillar of figurative language. Few tools can paint a picture as efficiently and evocatively. As such, metaphors are employed by nearly every kind of writer, whether you are a poet or a playwright. To better understand the literary technique, we’ll look at its definition, subtypes,… Continue reading What is a Metaphor — Definition and Examples
Syntax EssentialsOpen menu What is Syntax What is Passive Voice What is Active Voice Active vs. Passive Voice Sentence StructureOpen menu What is Text Structure What is Sentence Structure Simple Sentence Structure Compound Sentence Structure Compound-Complex Sentence Structure Complex Sentence Structure Syntax is something we use everyday, whether we are writers or not. In everyday… Continue reading What is Syntax — Definition, Examples & Why It Matters
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → What is theme? In the simplest terms, a theme is the subject of a story. But that definition actually does more harm than good in fully understanding… Continue reading What is Theme in Literature and Film? Definition and Examples
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → In any story, it is extremely valuable to be able to compare a new idea to something the audience already knows. One of the best tools to… Continue reading What is a Simile? Definition & Examples
You might not know what a colloquialism is, but I can guarantee you have used one at one point. What is colloquialism used for? In this article, we’ll explore the colloquialism definition and look at why and how it is used by writers in literature and cinema. Continue reading Colloquialism Explained: Definition & Examples
What is an archetype? Archetypes play an integral role in how people understand each other – but what are they? We’re going to answer that question as we define archetype, then we’ll look at some archetype examples from classic literature and film. By the end, you’ll know why archetypes are so important for storytellers –… Continue reading What is an Archetype — Definition & Examples in Storytelling
Dramatic IronyOpen menu Types of Irony What is Tragic Irony Stages of Dramatic Irony Verbal IronyOpen menu Sarcasm Understatement Overstatement Socratic Irony Situational IronyOpen menu Cosmic Irony Poetic Justice Structural Irony Historical Irony Dramatic irony is one of the three main types of irony. Like verbal and situational irony, dramatic irony is an integral element… Continue reading What is Dramatic Irony? Definition and Examples
Dramatic IronyOpen menu Types of Irony What is Tragic Irony Stages of Dramatic Irony Verbal IronyOpen menu Sarcasm Understatement Overstatement Socratic Irony Situational IronyOpen menu Cosmic Irony Poetic Justice Structural Irony Historical Irony Situational irony is a broad term with near-endless applications. At a fundamental level, every story has some aspect of situational irony –… Continue reading What is Situational Irony? Definition and Examples
Dramatic IronyOpen menu Types of Irony What is Tragic Irony Stages of Dramatic Irony Verbal IronyOpen menu Sarcasm Understatement Overstatement Socratic Irony Situational IronyOpen menu Cosmic Irony Poetic Justice Structural Irony Historical Irony Verbal irony is the most common type of irony because it’s tied directly to language – which we use every day. But… Continue reading What is Verbal Irony? Definition and Examples
Dramatic IronyOpen menu Types of Irony What is Tragic Irony Stages of Dramatic Irony Verbal IronyOpen menu Sarcasm Understatement Overstatement Socratic Irony Situational IronyOpen menu Cosmic Irony Poetic Justice Structural Irony Historical Irony We encounter irony every day: in our favorite movies, TV shows, and in our own lives. Most people have a general understanding… Continue reading 3 Types of Irony Explained (+ Examples)
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → What is an allegory? An allegory is an important part of a symbolic story. Many of us have heard the term used when describing literature or film,… Continue reading What is an Allegory? Definition and Examples
Fables have been a cornerstone of human culture and communication for thousands of years, enchanting audiences with their magical blend of creativity, wisdom, and moral lessons. But what is a fable, exactly, and why has this form of storytelling stood the test of time? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the history, structure, and enduring… Continue reading What is a Fable — Definition, Examples & Characteristics
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Have you ever wondered why we use ‘the White House’ to refer to the U.S. administration or ‘the Crown’ to denote a monarchy? This is an example… Continue reading What is Metonymy — Definition, Examples & How to Use It
The rule of three is one of the most important rules in all of writing – but what is the rule of three? We’re going to explore this fascinating and useful rule by looking at examples in sentences, situations, and stories. This article will serve as a referential guide for you to circle back to… Continue reading What is the Rule of Three — A Literary Device for Writers
