The vast majority of romance novels — both historically and in the modern day — fall into the trap of only truly developing their main two protagonists. It’s easy to do, after all. In the end those two characters and the conflict between or around them are the only things driving the story, and their…
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…
Everyone knows the stereotype: the trusted advisor haunts the corners of the throne room, whispering poisonous advice and plotting deadly conspiracies while being beloved and adored by all. The readers know they’re the villain, the protagonist often knows they’re the villain, but no one else seems to notice. And this trope isn’t just confined to…
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…
At some point in your life as a writer, you will have to choose a target audience. If you plan to be published at some point, or even if you simply want your writing to be read by someone other than yourself, you have to know who you’re writing for. It’s impossible to appeal to…
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…
Most of the time, if you are reading a novel, you can trust whoever is telling you the story. Whether it be a character speaking from the first person, or an omniscient voice that whispers from the third, you believe everything they say because there is no other option. That character or that mysterious voice…
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….