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…
Out of all the requests for article topics we’ve gotten, from tips on worldbuilding to character work to theme, the most common question has always been how writers can make sure their emotional scenes matter. If readers are bored throughout the most meaningful parts of a book, or if they feel sappy or overdone, the…
Sometimes, characters tend to sound like their author. And I’m not just talking about the way they talk in dialogue (although that could be a problem too!) I mean the fact that, although certain stories are supposed to be written from one or two point of views, oftentimes the very perspective of those characters end…
We’ve already talked about the two types of scenes that have to happen for a relationship to become more than just a group of characters and begin to feel like a family. We explored bigger scenes, which involve the entire “family” and make up the spirit that defines their group. It’s these scenes that give…
It’s no secret that Disney movies haven’t been great in recent years. With only a few exceptions, most of Disney’s live-action remakes and TV reboots have done nothing to inspire their disappointed fan-base. Although you could blame this on their recent lack of animation or music quality, most of their recent movies have flopped due…
Almost two years ago, I wrote an article on how Big Hero Six is a master class in leveraging cliches to the benefit of a story. They strategically placed certain character tropes, archetypes, and cliches throughout their story so that the viewer assumed they knew where the movie was going, only to be faced with…
One of the hardest parts of writing your climax is deciding how long to make it. In some cases, having your characters teeter on the edge of life and death for extended pages can feel like you’re stretching the climax to fit your word limit. At other times, the extended suspense can create sky-high conflict…
In today’s stories, authors seem intent on including unique characters. Especially when writing relationships, story-tellers everywhere seem to be afraid of repeating even one simple character trait or core desire. Everyone has to be polar opposites from each other. And, it’s fairly easy to understand where this fear is coming from. As writers, we need…
We’ve all encountered minor characters that don’t really have a purpose. It seems like the writer decided their protagonist needed a friend, so they wrote one in who gets plenty of lines, a few scenes, and one or two characteristics that quickly lose interest and depth. These characters feel like a cardboard cutout of an…
Here on Story Fortress, Mara and Sophia talk a lot about how to write a good villain. After all, a well-done villain is a crucial part of any story. There are a couple key components to a well-done villain. He has to have a reason for acting the way he does. He can’t just be…