Sequels are a lot like microwaved leftovers: most of the time they’re never as good as the original. When writing a sequel, there are many obstacles to overcome, the most prevalent of which being the often unrealistically high expectations of the audience. From a writing perspective, one very challenging issue to deal with is the...
Picture this: you just finished your newly furnished blog, and it’s all set for you to post on your site. Even before deciding to have it published online, you already have a few of your friends and relatives giving you flattery comments for a job well done. Well, who could blame them? You did a...
For any who are not familiar with the term, “Chekhov’s gun” is a literary term referring to objects mentioned in fiction. The principle, coined by Anton Chekhov, stipulates that if an object is mentioned, it must become directly relevant to the plot. While this is a valid principle, it can sometimes lead to sloppy writing,...
We’ve all seen them. We all know them. Here are the top 8 infomercial clichés: The World of Black and White “The Black and White World”, aka pre “Tub Scrub Shazam 4000”, is a wretched, horrifying, nightmarish purgatory of dirty siding and broken dreams. The lonely world of black and white, inhabited solely by sweating,...
Every villain has a plot; some nefarious scheme structured to undermine the hero, law and order, even the world itself. The villain’s plot is vital to the structure of the villain him/herself as it is the physical representation of their inner motives. Being that the villain’s plot is so critical to both the villain and...
Not many people tend to think of films as an ideal place to pick up great writing tips. Even less consider “kids movies” to be a valuable source of information on story craft. The fact is however, there is no better place to learn about “show don’t tell” then a well-crafted film aimed at a...
Ten Tips for Saving Money and Ridding Yourself of Pesky Self-Respect 1. A great way to save money when you go out to eat is to invite someone else, then halfway through the meal say, “It was so nice of you to invite me.” The inevitable confusion will often end in your friend picking up...
“Blue Bloods” is an intriguing family drama focusing on the lives of a family with a background in law enforcement. Along with intense action and gritty crime, the show focuses on the dynamics of family life. This theme is emphasized by the weekly family dinners which the members of the Regan family partake in....
