What is the But and Therefore Rule in Screenwriting?

Matt Stone and Trey Parker But and Therefore Rule

In every screenwriting class, you are going to learn about many rules. However, the most important one is always the same: give the story energy to keep the viewers engaged. …

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How Do You Use the Bookend Technique in Screenwriting?

Memories of a Murder Bookend Technique

Often there are terms in screenwriting that do what they say on the tin. The bookend technique fulfils this mantra. It’s a plot device used to sandwich a story like …

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Narrative Pacing: The KEYS To Mastering Your Screenplay’s Pace

silence of the lambs narrative pacing

When it comes to narrative pacing, we all know the feeling of being on the edge of our seats, biting our nails with anticipation for what’s to come. It’s likely …

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The 10 KEY Building Blocks to Writing Revenge Stories

Kill Bill Revenge Stories

Revenge stories are a popular sub-genre almost guaranteed to satisfy an audience. They’re typically a visceral and cathartic response to injustice and consequently something that elicits easy emotion. We love …

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What is Circular Storytelling? The KEY Lessons For Story Structure

Gone Girl Circular Storytelling

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 …

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5 VITAL Lessons Screenwriters Can Take from Aaron Sorkin Scripts

Social Network Aaron Sorkin Scripts

Aaron Sorkin is one of the few screenwriters whose name alone can get a film greenlit. And Aaron Sorkin scripts not only make great TV or film blueprints but are …

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How to Write an Anthology Series & The BEST Anthology Series Examples

Black Mirror Anthology Series

The wide variety of anthology series that have emerged in contemporary TV can be attributed in part to the success of series such as Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone. …

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

Plant and Payoff Chris Get Out.

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 …

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What is Five Act Structure and How Do Screenwriters Use It?

Introduction to the Five-Act Structure In this article, we’ll look into one of the most popular dramatic structures that screenwriters often utilise in order to create an exciting script: The …

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The Essential Elements of Writing a Fish Out of Water Story

Ted Lasso Fish Out of Water Story

What is a Fish Out of Water Story? A ‘fish out of water’ story is the idiom referring to a character who is removed from their daily lives and forced …

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What is Dan Harmon’s Story Circle? And How to Use It (with Examples)

Dan Harmon's Story Circle - Community

The art of telling a story is ultimately narrowed down to its basic structure. And Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is an example of one of many story structures. These different …

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