The ‘All-is-Lost’ Story Beat
The ‘all-is-lost’ story beat is obligatory in just about every story structure from the Hero’s Journey to Save the Cat.
Plotting
Posts on plotting a story
Rings of Power: Three Hours of Setup
I don’t generally review film and TV here, but I have a problem with Amazon’s Rings of Power: Three Hours
The Art of the Long Con
Posting a short story to my writers’ group this week, I’m exploring the art of the Long Con in Selling
Anticipation mingled with Uncertainty
“Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty.” So said British playwright William Archer back in the Edwardian era. A definition that
Six Essential Questions For Writing
Emmy-winning screenwriter, script doctor, and writing coach Glen Gers sums up twenty-five years experience with his six essential questions for
Troubles, Decisions and Consequences
Worry not, no personal woes here; we’re plotting troubles, decisions and consequences in fiction. Another guest lecturer on Sanderson’s BYU
Random Nouns Writers’ Prompt
My writers group over on DDW’s Discourse served up a Random Nouns Writers’ Prompt entitled The Jar of Nouns.
Five Items for Page One
Attention spans are getting shorter, reading choice is getting bigger; which is why writers have to include five items on
Plugging a Plot Hole
Writing across a series, rearranging the jigsaw pieces often reveals some missing; that means plugging a plot hole. Or several.
Story Arcs, Pacing and Plotting
It’s my new obsession, analyzing the story arcs, pacing and plotting in everything from books to TV shows to commercials.