Category: Story Courses

Dangerous Moments

So last September (yes, 2022 not long after I finished my MFA) I started thinking a lot about plot as I struggled with Arizona. The story still wasn’t quite right and I couldn’t figure out what was not clicking. As I was thinking through what I was aiming for–what would make it feel like a […]

August 5, 2023 | Posted in Plot, Story Courses
5 Essential Lessons from Shadow and Bone

It’s hard to know what to say with Shadow and Bone. Are these lessons in writing? Are they lessons in adaptation? I think they must be a bit of both since there’s only 8 episodes to work with, a popular book to draw from and all sorts of things to say. **there’s like spoilers everywhere […]

May 1, 2021 | Posted in 5 lessons
5 Essential Lessons from Timeless

Timeless is one of those shows that I misjudged, badly.  I saw the previews when it debuted on NBC and didn’t think it looked that interesting or that the characters seemed that compelling.  If they’d advertised the auspices of the show I’d probably have given the pilot a chance since I like Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke […]

January 19, 2020 | Posted in 5 lessons, Story Courses, tv
The Danger of Absolution

So I’m reading this trilogy, and it doesn’t really matter which one because this happens all the time in YA fiction. Something bad happens and our heroine of course blames herself. We spend half a page or more with her chastising herself–how could she have let this happen?! If only she’d been…faster or smarter or […]

December 29, 2019 | Posted in Story Courses
How Stories Feel

I read two books back to back, about addicts and falling in love. Spike: It’s called addiction, Angel. We all have them. I believe yours is named slutty the vampire slayer. I read one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Both were contemporary romance and had cute moments, funny moments, sweet moments. One felt heavy […]

October 20, 2019 | Posted in Story Courses
Plotting Part 7,298

I’m plotting again. A new, old story. I actually did pretty good this morning, I mapped out 4 plots for the novel – one for each main character. On the surface, I’m pretty proud of myself because I’m actually figuring out how to do this plotting thing and fit pieces together and maybe even have […]

May 4, 2019 | Posted in Arizona, Plot
5 Essential Lessons from Roswell, New Mexico

The first three minutes of the original Roswell pilot are some of my favorite moments on tv, ever. One scene in BSG also makes the top 5 list, but this is about Roswell. That haunting Sarah McLachlan song, the urgency and intimacy of it all was absolutely captivating when it first aired and it’s never […]

March 13, 2019 | Posted in 5 lessons, Story Courses, tv
5 Essential Lessons from Eureka

Eureka is now on Amazon Prime so it’s a good time to catch up if you haven’t watched it before. There’s 5 seasons which is a good blend of enough episodes to keep you entertained but not drown you in a show you never finish. When it first aired, I watched the pilot and a […]

May 28, 2018 | Posted in 5 lessons, Story Courses, tv
Once Upon a Time Exposes the Lie of the Moonlighting Curse

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Moonlighting Curse. The idea that once a couple gets together on a tv show it ruins either the relationship or the show entirely. It began, of course, with Moonlighting which starred Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. Their bickering and sexual tension carried the show for 3 seasons. And then they […]

May 7, 2018 | Posted in Plot, Story Courses
5 Essential Lessons from The Brave

NBC recently cancelled The Brave which means, much like Haven, I was one of the few people watching it. Which is sad because it was really good. It’s not on Netflix or Amazon Prime (yet – hopefully soon…. or eventually). It’s only 13 episodes so they’re easy to catch up on. And, it’s not entirely […]

April 30, 2018 | Posted in 5 lessons, Story Courses