One of the main drivers of story is the principle of CONTRAST.
A character in a traditional story arc begins one way and ends up in a very different state of being - the underdog to the victorious hero, or the innocent, unaware victim to the final survivor, or the selfish ...

This and That (the power of contrast)
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 23, 2025The Break Into 3
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 16, 2025
Last Week we looked at the “Break Into 2”, the transition between the beginning of a story: The “Before” picture of the Protagonist and their world, and the “Upside Down World” of Act 2.
So, a little later in your average story will come the “Break Into 3”. This leaves ...
The Break Into 2
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 9, 2025
always someone breakinnn' into twooooo…
AN important part of a story is the good old “Break into Act 2”.
It's not the easiest story structure moment to recognize, but it's one of the early ones I thought about and tried to notice in movies I watched.
Many people ...
The Reimagining of Myth
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, May 28, 2022
Mythologies are fascinating. And with good reason. Each set represents centuries, if not millennia, of common unconscious and community narratives about all aspects of human existence: from the big questions of who we are to the wonders and terrors of nature to the wonders and terrors of society.
In short ...
A Character Equation
Banes at 12:00AM, March 24, 2022
To be honest, I didn't really want to talk about The Book of Boba Fett or Star Wars again in this post.
But nothing else is coming to mind at the moment, and this show has been on my mind, so here we are again!
Many have complained about ...
The Before Picture
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 4, 2021
Awright, first things f*ckin' last…
I just saw a clip of Robert Englund, iconic in his role as Willie on the old TV show “V”…oh, and also as the
horror legend Freddy Krueger, talking about the Nightmare on Elm Street remake, and why it didn't work out ...
Punch to the Midsection
Banes at 12:00AM, March 4, 2021
In the beginning, we set up our character
Iin the middle, we get them into trouble
In the end, we get them out of trouble.
Sounds so simple! It's tougher than that to pull off.
The middle of a story in particular, as people have talked about, is often ...
Audience Commentary - Does it change your story?
Banes at 12:00AM, Aug. 16, 2018
There are lots of fantastic things about making webcomics. Many nice things it has over traditional printing and publishing.
The speed of publishing and presenting your work to the world, the lack of a barrier to entry so anybody with an internet connection can make and publish comics…
…and if ...
What's It About?
Banes at 12:00AM, Feb. 16, 2017
ACT 2 - The Premise
It's about a guy who…
When we try to decide with our friends about seeing a movie, or surf Netflix for something to watch, or try to sell people on a movie/book/story we want them to experience, that's what we have to ...
Shortie
skoolmunkee at 3:53AM, March 29, 2006Howdy folks! I bet you missed me didn't you.
Comic Announcements
Mikyagu reaches 100 strange comics today! Congratulations!
Four Bats is reaching its 50th comic on Friday, and will be twice the normal size for double your comic goodness!
On Saturday, Flirtatious will begin Act 2 at over 50 ...