Time equals change, and unless your entire script takes place over a single day or in some alternate universe where time doesn’t exist, you’re going to have multiple days, months, or even years to account for. Storylines are not always written in chronological order, and rarely are they shot in order. So how are you… Continue reading What are Story Days and How They Work in a Script Breakdown
Great poets have the ability to conjure up vivid images in our heads using only the written language. While there are a few techniques and devices that help create such visually detailed poetry, few are more powerful than imagery.Continue reading What is Imagery in Poetry — Definition and Examples
Think for a moment about some of your favorite films and books. How was the story told to you? Is there a voice you can think of behind it? If so, this is the power of the narrator. How much can a narrator impact a story and what exactly is narration? In this read, we’ll… Continue reading What is Narration — Definition, Types, and Examples
When we think back on a film or novel, we may not remember the specificities of a scene, shot, or chapter, but we will remember the essence of the story — the nugget of wisdom we walk away with when the story is over. Every story, from grandiose tales of adventure to the most introspective… Continue reading What is the Moral of the Story — Definition & Examples
Catchphrases are an integral part of our social and cultural fabric. They are everywhere in advertising, bring back memories of our favorite shows or movies, and sometimes even shape our behaviors and attitudes. How do writers and creatives make catchphrases that are so memorable? Continue reading What is a Catchphrase — Definition, Examples & Uses
Repetition and rhythm can make mundane ideas have tremendous impact. A great example of this done in a very specific way is chaismus. While its use has been traced back to ancient texts, including the Bible and works of classical Greek and Latin authors, its formal identification and naming as a distinct rhetorical device occurred… Continue reading What is Chiasmus — Definition, Examples, and Uses
We often find ourselves mostly enveloped with the story arcs of heroes and villains. They often take center stage and become central to most stories. But there’s another character that deserves recognition for their vital role in shaping narratives and enhancing central characters — the sidekick. Continue reading What is a Sidekick — Powerful Supporting Characters
Sometimes, the challenge of communicating can be efficiency. This means communicating large ideas through the least amount of language possible. One of the best devices we have that does this is the adage. You’ve likely encountered adages in your daily life, but had not even recognized them. What is an adage exactly and how are… Continue reading What is an Adage — Definition, Examples & Uses
Superlatives—those words that signify the highest degree or the utmost level of something — are often the best words to use when writing imagery or describing something with emotion. Impactful writing often uses superlatives to paint a vivid description.Continue reading What is a Superlative — Definition & How to Use Them
A soliloquy has the power to give an audience a direct channel into a character’s innermost thoughts and emotions. This monologue, delivered alone on stage, whispers directly into the audience’s ear, offering an intimate glimpse into the character’s psyche. Let’s look deeper on how the best soliloquies have impacted larger stories.Continue reading What is a Soliloquy… Continue reading What is a Soliloquy — Definition and Examples
One step further than the antagonist, is the nemesis. Some of the most memorable characters from stories in cinema and literature are those who have challenged the heroes, characters who’s main role is to be a rivalry force. Let’s look at the impact the nemesis role can have and story and some of the best… Continue reading What Does Nemesis Mean — 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 → Storytellers have been using literary allusion for thousands of years – Sophocles, for example, used Greek mythological allusion in Antigone way back in 441 BC. But while… Continue reading What is an Allusion? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
Is there any better feeling than winning an argument? Fortunately, Aristotle gave us the key to doing just that millennia ago. The Greek philosopher laid out three key components to persuading an audience that continue to be relevant today. So what is the rhetorical triangle? And how can you use it?Continue reading What is the… Continue reading What is the Rhetorical Triangle — Definition & Case Study
Irony is everywhere, both in art and in real life. Ironically, this can make it all the harder to spot. As one of the most misunderstood rhetorical devices, irony can remain elusive for even the most skilled artists and hawk-eyed audience members. In this article, we’ll lay out some of the best irony examples and… Continue reading Irony Examples — 3 Forms of Irony in Literature and Film
We’ve all heard of irony. We hear phrases like “Isn’t it ironic how…” incessantly. And yet, for all its ubiquity, irony remains a tricky term that gets misused over and over again. Understanding what irony means, and what it doesn’t mean, can allow you to further appreciate its use in storytelling, and apply its lessons… Continue reading What is Irony — Definition, Examples & Types Explained
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 can take many forms, each with its own characteristics and purpose. What is understatement? Understatement is a type of verbal… Continue reading What is Understatement? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → The initial idea for… Continue reading Coco Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
Learning how to write dialogue is not easy. You’ve written a pretty good script, but you know it could be GREAT. Could writing better dialogue in your screenplay be that missing piece? Want screenwriting tips that teach you how to write dialogue in a script with writing examples from movies and TV to go with each… Continue reading 22 Screenwriting Tips for Better Movie Dialogue in Your Scripts
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 The future is unwritten — at least that’s what they say — but the past is very much written. From a present-day… Continue reading What is Historical Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
The fact is that almost every writer faces writer’s block at some point in their career. Deadlines, storylines or even airlines can be the cause of this intellectual affliction. Writer’s block is real and can greatly affect your output.Continue reading How to Cure Writer’s Block: 23 Proven Ideas that Actually Work
