Many of the conversations online that concern “genre fiction” generally mean sci/fi, fantasy and horror. This stuff is distinguished from “mainstream” genres like contemporary dramas and comedies, and period pieces that are…well, dramas and comedies. it also doesn't include big genres like romance and psychological thrillers.
The ...
The Crime Genre
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 17, 2020Gimme Strength
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2020
Plenty has been said about giving characters flaws - we've talked about it around the site, on the Quackcast and out loud, to ourselves, on the bus and in the park.
Characters gotta have flaws!
But something I've thought about more lately, in the years well after starting my ...
The Walking Dead
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 29, 2020
The Walking Dead has been a successful comic-to-screen adaptation. Back when the show started, in 2010, the comics-on-film trend had not hit high gear.
High gear wasn't far off, though. Iron Man had already come out and was huge, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe was soon going to take ...
Romanticising Something Terrible
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Oct. 24, 2020
Who doesn't love pirates?
Kids love to dress up as them in Halloween or during carnival season. There was whole a whole era of Hollywood where pirate movies were the blockbuster vein of gold. Pirates in fiction are charming, fun, dastardly, and the epitome of adventure.
Pirates in real ...
Character Design Brainstorming: The Sorceress
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Sept. 5, 2020
The Sorceress is a powerful figure in fiction, just like the Priest/Priestess/Clergy.
In works where magic or God are present and in direct communion with the characters, both can perform miracles, or otherwise astounding feats beyond normal mortal limits.
In works where there is no magic or God ...
No Antagonist, No Arc
Banes at 12:00AM, Aug. 27, 2020
I grabbed the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey 2-pack and rewatched then after many years. I knew those movies well when I was a youngster, especially the first one. Many, many repeat viewings. Both movies held up REALLY well, and feature “Fool ...
When The Monster Is Too Good For Angst
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Aug. 22, 2020
There's nothing more entertaining than the angst of a monster that was once a human being. A monster that hates who he/she is, that strives to regain all the terrible loss he/she has sustained, to strive to become human again.
Or if it starts off a monster ...
Writing More Than You Know
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, June 13, 2020
We're all aware of the classic tennet for writers and creators of all stories- write what you know in order for the story to be good.
We've explored before what it means to write what you know, and where this rule should be adhered to: at the core ...
Knowing What You Write
Banes at 12:00AM, May 14, 2020
Last week we talked about “writing what you know” … but how about ‘knowing what you write’? I knew I wanted to do this one as soon as I posted the previous article…just for the title.
In a TV show, series of books, movie, printed comic series, or newspaper strip ...
Building a character
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, May 1, 2020
A key aspect to creating a strong story is having believable characters. They are, after all, a key backbone to your narrative. So here are three tips that can help you put together a well rounded character.
1. Create a backstory
If you’re naming a character then you got ...