Have you ever seen a movie, walked out, and said, “That was awfully good?” Ever said something was your “only choice,” or that your homework was "completely unfinished”? Believe it or not, you’ve already used oxymorons in your everyday life, and maybe you didn’t even know it! Read on to learn more about examples of oxymorons, from daily life to oxymoron examples in Romeo and Juliet!Continue reading Oxymoron Examples in Literature, Poetry, Lyrics & More
As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it out.” The great American writer Mark Twain said these wise words, and they’re as true today as when he said them. The best writers know it’s an art to tell a story efficiently, avoiding overly flowery language without sacrificing emotion, meaning, or sophistication. This is especially true in film, where writers must work within a page limit. This is why it’s important to understand what purple writing is, and how to avoid it. Continue reading What is Purple Prose in Writing — Do’s & Don’ts Explained
Photography is the truth. The cinema is truth twenty-four times per second.” Legendary French director Jean-Luc Godard said this famous quote, emphasizing his belief that film is about truth. And truth is what verisimilitude (your new favorite cocktail party word!) is all about. Read on to find out what it is, and how you can use it to create stories that feel true. Continue reading What is Verisimilitude — Definition & Writing Tips
How do you want to be remembered after you die? While this question might seem morbid, it is an inevitable inquiry that invites us to look deeper into both our own identity and our collective mortality. The art of using language in a concise way that speaks to this question is the art of the epitaph.Continue reading What is an Epitaph – Definition and Examples
Do you have dreams of being the greatest writer to ever grace the planet? Good writers know when to exaggerate, and when to lay low with their prose. This is why it’s important to understand what hyperbole is, and how and when to use it, or when to avoid it. (And after you read this article, you’ll be able to identify the example of hyperbole hidden in that first sentence!) Read on to learn about hyperbole’s meaning and see examples. Continue reading Hyperbole Examples in Speech, Literature, and Poetry
By the time I was caught, I was considered the youngest and most daring con man in US history.” This is the incredible opening line to Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film “Catch Me If You Can.” The movie is based on a biographical book written by Frank Abagnale Jr. - played in the movie by Leonardo DiCaprio. His book was an autobiography, telling the story of his own life. Some of the most iconic movies and books ever written are based on biographies and autobiographies. After reading this article, you’ll understand what biographies are, biographies vs. autobiographies, and more.Continue reading What…
No story can exist without characters. Think of your favorite book or TV show. You likely already have a favorite character, right? That means - perhaps even without knowing it - you’ve already engaged with the world of fictional characters! But what does fictional character mean, and what are some of the all-time great fictional characters from literature, television, and film? Read on to find out the answer to the question “what is a fictional character?” Continue reading What is a Fictional Character — Definition & Types
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Sounds rather lofty, doesn’t it? But you’ve probably heard this commonly cited quote from the King James Bible simplified as the phrase “pride comes before the fall.” The ominous warning tells readers that if they are too arrogant, they may come to regret it. This theme is a common one in storytelling, and many characters exhibit this quality - which is called “hubris” - to their own detriment. But what is hubris, and what are examples of this trait in literature and film? Read on to find out how…
Commas are a common punctuation mark, used to add pauses or separations to sentences. As you can see, we just used one! Commas allow the reader to separate thoughts, and thus, understand a sentence better. Sometimes, commas can be used to separate items in a list. This is where the storied “Oxford comma” comes in. So, what is the Oxford comma, when do you use it, and how? (After you’ll read this, you’ll see how we just used one!).Continue reading What is an Oxford Comma — How & Why They Work
Non-fiction, as a literary genre, has always held a unique position in the realm of literature. It is a genre that revolves around facts, real events, and real people, serving as a window into the realities of our world. In this article, we’ll provide a deeper understanding of non-fiction, its definition, examples, and the various genres it encompasses.Continue reading What is Non-Fiction — Definition, Examples, and Genres
