Most writers will tell you that one of the hardest things to do is actually sit down and, well, write. There are all kinds of reasons for this: busy schedules, fears or resistance, or, as I recently discovered while reading Rachel Aaron’s 2k to 10k, simply because the writing isn’t fun. Now, for that last …
My dad and I have a shorthand phrase we use when we see incompetent leadership in stories. Whenever it happens, one of us always jokingly says, “Classic Star Trek chain of command.” It’s the trope of idiots presiding over supremely competent middle management and the canon fodder beneath them. It’s so common in sci-fi and …
Story Shots: Competent leadership with Menion Leah Read More »
Author Abigail Morrison discusses how tragedy can be an opportunity to highlight hope in a story, using the musical Hadestown as an example.
Author Abigail Morrison explains how morally good antagonists can add depth and complexity to action stories.
Author Abigail Morrison shows how Die Hard uses tropes to efficiently develop characters, increase tension, and play off viewer expectations.
Author Abigail Morrison lays out three resolutions for her next book.
Author Abigail Morrison discusses how Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates fill the ronin story function and how it can be used effectively in other stories.
Author Abigail Morrison discusses how setups and payoffs are used to create tension, humor, and catharsis in the movie Bullet Train.
Author Abigail Morrison shares a few lessons from publishing her first novel.
Author Abigail Morrison discusses how restraining overpowered characters via relationships, worldbuilding, and plot can lead to more effective stories.
