Author: Mara Scudder

Your story’s written, your characters fleshed out, your first draft done. You’re just about to begin editing — your highlighter hovering above the page, red pen ready by your side to catch any mistakes — when it hits you. One of the characters, or plot lines, or concepts, has been so overused it’s cliched.  Maybe…

I’ve talked a lot on the blog about how damaging it can be for a story when the writers have the characters laugh at themselves, their situation, or (worst of all) emotional moments. Part of why I talk about it so much is because of how popular it’s become. It’s hard to find a single…

There are few scenes as powerful as your climax. No matter how well done the rest of your work is, a poorly paced climax will leave your readers disappointed with your book. On the other hand, a page-turning climax can cover a multitude of flaws in your story. In short, your readers’ conception of your…

It’s been a long time since the DC Extended Universe — home to some of the most famous superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman — has gotten any attention, either positive or negative. But that all changed when it was announced that the DCU was being rebooted this summer. The reboot is facing an…

Throughout this series, we’ve taken a deep-dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and what they did to make sure their emotional moments left an impact on the audience. We’ve looked at everything from the Avenger’s very first team up to their final stand in Infinity War, examining exactly what made those moments powerful. But…

One of the most emotional moments in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the scene where Peter Parker dies. I was lucky enough to be able to watch that moment happen in theatres, and when it did, the entire atmosphere of the room shifted. The scene left an almost tangible impact on the audience….

Last week, we looked at how the buildup to an emotional moment is one of the most effective ways to give that moment meaning when it comes. But this principle also works in the other direction, as well. Simply put, readers will subconsciously judge the significance of something based on its impact on the rest…

There’s something uniquely powerful about the moment the Avengers team up for the very first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU. It’s not just how the music swells or how well done their characters are by the time it finally happens (although those elements are certainly a part of it). There’s another factor…

We’ve all been exposed to some of the classic soap opera plot points that are so cliche that they’re not only found in almost every soap opera, but also mocked across other shows and media. There’s always a secret twin, a hidden lover, or a covered-up crime that keeps the audience bouncing from one heart-jerking…