The One Thing They’d Never Do You know that moment in a movie where the character stares down a choice so hard it could break them? That’s what we’re talking about today. The “What Would They Never Do?” framework is one of the best tools I’ve found for writing truly compelling character arcs. Let’s break it down. What’s Their Moral No-Fly Zone? Every character has a line they won’t cross. A belief so central that going against it would wreck their identity. Maybe it’s “I’d never hurt a...
21 days ago • 3 min read
The Clock is Ticking: Use This Plot Device to Build Tension Fast What Makes a Story Feel Urgent? Picture this: your protagonist has 24 hours to save the town. Boom. You’ve got your audience’s heart rate up before page 2. That’s the power of a countdown device. And no, it’s not just for action thrillers. It’s a plot technique that taps into your audience’s psychology—and it works like a charm across every genre. The Ticking Clock: A Plotter’s Secret Weapon We’re wired to pay attention when...
29 days ago • 2 min read
The Secret to Stronger Character Arcs? Start with What’s Broken Quick poll: Would you use an AI prompt (to use in ChatGPT) to help you figure out how to plan your story? Yes Absolutely not I don't know The Problem with Perfect Characters You ever read a story where the main character just... has it all together? Me neither. Even superheroes need therapy these days. Audiences aren’t looking for perfect—they’re looking for real. And nothing says “real” like a flaw that’s holding your character...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Where to Speed Up (and Slow Down) Your Story Plot isn't just action. It's rhythm. And if your scenes all feel the same—tense all the time or chill all the time—then you've got friction, but no flow. Friction without flow? That’s when your audience feels drained instead of pulled in. Like watching someone run a marathon in place. The problem? You’re only pressing one pedal. Some writers think their story needs to stay high-stakes all the time. Others keep things too internal, too long. Both...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
How to Worldbuild for Emotion, Not Just Detail Why Your World Isn’t Sticking with Your Audience Let’s be honest. A detailed world is cool. But a world that makes your audience feel something? That’s unforgettable. Too many stories spend paragraphs describing cool tech or sweeping mountains—and somehow it all still feels flat. Not because the writer isn’t trying. But because the emotional layer is missing. This guide will show you how to build a world that doesn’t just impress—it hits your...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
The Voice Triangle: The Fastest Way to Make Characters Feel Real Why Some Characters Blend Together If you’ve ever written a group scene and realized everyone sounds the same? Yeah, that’s the sign your characters don’t have a voice problem—they have a clarity problem. This happens when you know what a character does in your story, but not how they express themselves moment to moment. That’s where the Voice Triangle comes in. It gives you three things to lock in to make your character’s voice...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Cause > Effect > Emotion: How to Build Plot Beats That Actually Matter Most Plots Break Here Not at the climax. Not in the pacing. Not even in the worldbuilding. They break where cause and effect gets lazy. You’ve probably seen it happen. A character does something out of nowhere. Or they feel something that wasn’t earned. Or a big event happens, and no one reacts like a real person. It feels off. Because it is off. Plot is emotional math. And if the equation doesn’t balance, your audience...
2 months ago • 3 min read
The Domino Effect Framework: Make Each Scene Trigger the Next Why Some Stories Drag (and How to Fix It) Ever start a book or movie where the first 10 minutes are great—but then it feels like you’re just wading through? It’s not because "nothing is happening." It’s because things are happening without impact. That’s where the Domino Effect Framework comes in. It’s a simple shift that can make your story feel sharper, faster, and more addictive—without tacking on cheap action scenes. What Is...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Plot Like Pixar: How the "Story Spine" Makes Your Story Actually Work Wait, What Even Is the Story Spine? It’s one of the simplest, most effective storytelling formulas out there. Originally developed by improv expert Kenn Adams and made popular by Pixar, the Story Spine is a narrative skeleton that builds emotional momentum by stacking cause and effect. Here it is: Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... Because of that... Because of that... Because of that... Until finally... And...
3 months ago • 3 min read