by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) The way that a protagonist moves through the world should be filled with challenges and tests of the ego. There is perhaps no better way to accomplish this than by thoughtfully creating differences in power between your character and the others she interacts with. Because there are so many types of power... Continue Reading →
6 Story Lessons from Spike Lee
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Film auteurs have come along less frequently since their heyday in the 1970s. However, a few storytellers have managed to remain relevant, all while writing and directing their own material, throughout the decades. Spike Lee first addressed racism and the struggles of black culture in his third feature film, Do the Right Thing.... Continue Reading →
Four Seasons of Life to Draw Story From
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Some seasons in our life are more exciting than others. Many days come and go without a single notable event. The times that do stand out may be full of joy, great sadness, anxiety-inducing drama, or simple gratitude. When telling stories, we generally want to include a day or term of the... Continue Reading →
UNBELIEVABLE: 4 Steps for Making Peculiar Characters Believable
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Stories rely on the strength of their characters. The more memorable they are – the better. However, if we, as an audience, don’t buy the characters, we quickly lose interest in whatever their goals or struggles are. Crafting characters that feel real can be tricky for a number of reasons. In an... Continue Reading →
Sun, Moon, and Stars: Using Astronomical Symbols in Your Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Many of the most impactful symbols in stories are ancient in origin. Using animals, plants, and trees to represent ideas, feelings, and seasons in the human experience is a practice that dates back to the earliest stories we have record of. There are perhaps no other elements used more often in these... Continue Reading →
A QUIET PLACE: 6 Story Lessons that Apply to Every Genre
This article originally appeared on Medium. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Fair warning: there are spoilers ahead. I never go see horror movies. Never. I wait until they’re available to buy or stream, and then — only if I’m incredibly intrigued by the concept — will I watch a horror movie in the middle of the afternoon... Continue Reading →
Lessons from the Screenplay: Fresh Perspectives in GET OUT
Michael Tucker is the mastermind behind Lessons from the Screenplay, a YouTube channel where he breaks down story and character lessons from great screenplays. Michael has kindly allowed us to repost his awesome videos, so we're going to share one of our favorites today: Get Out -- A New Perspective in Horror. Check out the... Continue Reading →
Stories Within Stories: READY PLAYER ONE and Beyond
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Have you ever wondered if they watched movies in the world of Star Wars? Or if the superheroes in the Marvel films were aware of DC’s Superman and Batman? Some of the most fun moments in Ready Player One were seeing characters ranging from Freddy Krueger to the Iron Giant co-exist in the same world,... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Begin a New Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) The new year has arrived. Many writers are launching into their latest ideas and reviving old ones. One of the most difficult hurdles to overcome when beginning a new story can be the opening. Where do you start? What does the audience need to know immediately and what can be revealed over... Continue Reading →
4 Approaches to the Coming of Age Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Coming of age stories have long been a staple of storytelling. Since the early days of film and television, audiences have enjoyed watching characters that mature before our very eyes. These stories usually offer hard lessons that only experience and living life can teach us. They usually focus on the growth of... Continue Reading →