narrative arc

How Do You Write a Convincing and Powerful Death Scene?

November 2, 2026December 9, 2022 by Industrial Scripts

How to write a good death scene? This is a question writers may well have been pondering since stories were told on the walls of caves. From Shakespeare to Spielberg, death scenes are ever-present in storytelling. Sometimes death in a film or TV show doesn’t even have to be realistic to have us mourning our favorite characters. Audiences have shed many tears over a fictional, fantastical death before. A great death scene can make or break the legacy of a

What is Circular Storytelling? The KEY Lessons For Story Structure

November 2, 2026August 18, 2022 by Industrial Scripts

Circular storytelling is a structural technique visible in many stories across film, TV, literature and other mediums. But what exactly does the structure entail? And could it be useful to your screenplay? We take a look… Table of ContentsWhat is Narrative Structure?What’s the Point of Circular Storytelling?Circular Storytelling in Other MediumsThe Hero’s JourneyCircular Storytelling in Dan Harmon’s Story CircleCircular Storytelling in SitcomsDetermining the Best Narrative Structure For Your ScreenplayIs Circular Storytelling Right for Your Story? What is Narrative Structure? Everyone

What are A, B and C Plots in TV Screenwriting?

November 2, 2026July 18, 2022 by Industrial Scripts

When we watch a film or TV series, we’re often aware there are multiple storylines running concurrently but take them in as second nature. This is the benefit of TV storytelling after all; the ability to cover many different plots within one cohesive story or world. In the screenwriting process, these overlapping narrative threads are typically referred to as A, B and C plots. A, B and C plots descend the alphabet by order of importance. So your A

What is a MacGuffin? The KEY Points and KEY Examples

November 2, 2026November 20, 2021 by Industrial Scripts

Table of ContentsWhat is a MacGuffin?What is the Purpose of Using a MacGuffin?The Different Types of MacGuffins1. Object MacGuffins2. Background Props3. Mechanical Device Props4. Character MacGuffins5. Conceptual MacGuffinsDifferent Filmmakers and Their Use of MacGuffinsHitchcock & the MacGuffinTarantino & the MacGuffinThe Coen Brothers & the MacGuffinJames Cameron & the MacGuffinIn Conclusion: How to Use a MacGuffin in Your Screenplay What is a MacGuffin? A MacGuffin is a type of plot device that is essential to driving the plot but not necessarily

Sophisticated Plants and Payoffs: Vital Cogs in any Screenwriter’s Engine

November 2, 2026November 9, 2021 by Industrial Scripts

An essential principle not only to screenwriting but also the wider fundamentals of storytelling, plants and payoffs are one of the most effective ways of involving the audience and embedding clever twists, turns, and surprises throughout your screenplay. Premised upon the notion that any element introduced into a script must later prove significant, plants and payoffs exploit the human tendency to make mistakes, overlook details, and misconstrue information. In doing so, they also succeed in tapping into our desire to

The Essential Elements of Writing a Fish Out of Water Story

November 2, 2026November 2, 2021 by Industrial Scripts

Table of ContentsWhat is a Fish Out of Water Story?The Essential Elements of a Fish Out of Water Story1. Subjective Perspective2. Objective Uses 3. Partial Fish Out of Water4. Don’t Be Afraid of Exposition5. Conflict is in the Nature of a Fish Out of Water StoryThe Fish Out of Water Narrative Structure1. The Introduction of a Whole New World2. Making Mistakes3. Success 4. The Biggest Challenge Yet 5. The FutureThe Fish Out of Water – In Conclusion In Summary What

How to Write a Convincing Murder Mystery Script

November 2, 2026October 4, 2021 by Industrial Scripts

There is a timeless formula to writing a murder mystery that shows no sign of waning in popularity. This isn’t to say that writing a murder mystery script, let alone a good one, is easy. Far from it. Being able to draw the audience into the murder mystery and allowing them to feel immersed in the plot is tricky. And the genre is so familiar and popular there are many tropes to avoid. Yet there are also essential beats to

How to Get the Best Out of a Nonlinear Narrative (With the Best Examples)

June 19, 2020 by Industrial Scripts

How to Get the Best Out of a Nonlinear Narrative The nonlinear narrative is a common feature of contemporary movies (and TV as well). It has become such a familiar …