Plot TropesOpen menu What is a Trope What is a Cliche Flashback MacGuffin Plot Twist Red Herring FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free What does deus ex machina mean? Writers work hard to put their characters into terrible situations to find new and creative ways to get them out. It’s… Continue reading Deus ex Machina — Meaning, Definition & Examples
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 Tone in Writing: 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 → 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 What is Colloquialism: Definition & 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
Have you ever rearranged the letters of a word and discovered another hidden within? Welcome to the fascinating world of anagrams, a playful twist on our everyday language. Let’s delve into this linguistic curiosity, exploring its definition, function, and numerous intriguing examples.Continue reading What is an Anagram? Definition & Examples
What is Rhetoric Rhetorical DevicesOpen menu Alliteration Anaphora Hypophora Onomatopoeia Oxymoron Simile Write Your Script For Free → Hypophora is a powerful rhetorical device that captures attention, stokes curiosity, and guides the audience in thinking in a particular direction. Its application spans various fields, from literature and public speaking to advertisement and beyond. But, what… Continue reading What is a Hypophora — Definition and Examples in Writing
You’ve likely encountered parables in religious texts, folktales, or even in everyday conversations, but have you ever stopped to wonder what is a parable and why it has remained such a powerful tool for teaching and conveying wisdom throughout history? In this blog post, we’ll unravel the mystery behind parables, examine their unique characteristics, and discuss… Continue reading What is a Parable — Definition, Examples and Uses
Atmosphere, while often overlooked, is an essential element in literature that deeply shapes readers’ experiences. It’s the emotional climate or mood a writer creates within their work — the unseen thread that binds the narrative together. But what is atmosphere in literature, exactly, and why is it so critical?Continue reading What is Atmosphere in Literature… Continue reading What is Atmosphere in Literature — The Silent Storyteller
Parallelism, or parallel structure, is a grammar style that ensures linguistic clarity. We’re going to explore parallelism examples from writing with the goal of better understanding parallel structure. By the end, you’ll know how parallelism works, and how to implement it in your writing. Tip: that last sentence was an example of parallelism in action!Continue… Continue reading Parallelism Examples — Writing, Speeches, Shakespeare & More
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → An inciting incident is an essential part of every story. But what… Continue reading What is an Inciting Incident — Definition & Script Examples
Poetry BasicsOpen menu What is a Poem How to Write a Poem What is a Stanza in a Poem What is a Haiku What is Prose What is an Ode Types of PoemsOpen menu Types of Poems Guide What is an Acrostic Poem What is an Epic Poem What is Lyric Poetry What is a… Continue reading What is Repetition in Poetry — Examples & Functions
Every screenwriter wants to write quippy, smart dialogue that makes the page sparkle and keeps the actors inspired. But how do you do it? There are dozens, if not hundreds, of lists and guides that provide useful tips for how to write dialogue in a story. In this post, we’ll look at dialogue writing examples,… Continue reading How to Write Dialogue — Examples, Tips & Techniques
H ave you ever wondered why the mockingbird sings in Harper Lee’s classic, or what the green light at the end of the dock means in The Great Gatsby? Or perhaps you’ve pondered on the deeper significance of the spinning top in Christopher Nolan’s Inception. These aren’t just random elements thrown into the mix to make… Continue reading Types of Symbolism — Examples from Literature and Cinema
Anaphora is an important rhetorical device for emphasizing concepts and ideas. But what is anaphora? Fear not, we’re going to explain anaphora by exploring a variety of anaphora examples. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and utilize anaphora in writing.Continue reading Anaphora Examples — Literature, Film, Music, Poetry & More
