Emotional Charges and Diminishing Returns
Many writing methodologies suggest mapping out the emotional change of each scene. The scene either starts positive, and goes to either negative or “extra positive”, or starts negative and goes to positive or “extra negative” by the end of the scene.
So if a lovelorn ...

Diminishing Returns
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 15, 2016The Table Scene
Tantz_Aerine at 7:01AM, Dec. 3, 2016
It’s the ultimate horror.
You are trapped with your very own demons.
You cannot escape- you will not be excused.
You will need to look at them, as they look back at you, and do a reckoning.
At least until dessert.
In my opinion, in all creative writing/art ...
Your Self-Insert is Everywhere
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 26, 2016
I came across a little blurb the other day about Mary Sues, and fanfiction, and how the writer of a fanfiction is basically writing a fantasy, inserting themselves as the character at the center of attention, immaculate, glittering and perfect. Basically everything you want to smack into a different galaxy ...
No Hugging, No Learning
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Nov. 18, 2016
Recently I wrote a throwaway character for my comic based on a real-life friend of mine. In short, he’s a loveable misanthrope. And because he’s based on a real human being, I felt like I owed the character something: he won’t grow, or change, or become a ...
Stuck In The Middle
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 17, 2016
Stuck in the Middle - Midpoints
I've often found the Midpoint of a story difficult to find and difficult to write.
It's one of the big three pillars in story structure, and it's the
most subtle.
The Midpoint doesn't have the “dragged into a new world” of ...
Emotional Color Wheel
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 10, 2016No pic for this one. I'll add one later if the fates allow!
I was a big fan of all the Indiana Jones movies back in the day. When the fourth one, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, finally came out, it was exciting times! Harrison Ford only seemed ...
Merging, Lane Changes, and Unprotected Turns
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, Nov. 7, 2016
During the October season, I wanted to write a horror article about the things that really scare me, but I was sidetracked with deadlines, longer work hours, and lack of sleep. Halloween is now one week behind us and the Winter cold has drawn us closer into his tight embrace ...
Before the Beginning
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 3, 2016
One of the great things about the original Star Wars movies was the strong sense of a grand, adventurous, and terrible history before the movie started. So much is hinted at through Obi Wan Kenobi about the Jedi Knights, Anakin Skywalker, great friendships, laser swords, and terrible war and loss ...
Character and subtext in horror
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 20, 2016
The Drunk Duck Awards, 2016 are underway! Check 'em out here:
http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Drunk_Duck_Awards_2016/
In the movie “The Innkeepers”, two clerks in an allegedly haunted hotel work on the last night before the place closes down. They deal with some odd final guests, both human and otherwise (maybe ...