On Writing Child Characters: “Children Don’t Think Like Little Adults”
One of the challenges of writing great characters is getting inside the heads of persons of much different background than yourself. It takes great effort and empathy to understand those of differing gender, age, ethnicity, or orientation in order to portray such characters with authenticity. However, there is one type of character with whom we […]
The Hand of the Princess: Understanding the Romantic Subplot
Michael Welles Schock delves into the cultural origins of the romantic narrative archetype, before exploring its use in film, and its ethics and application in screenwriting.
Michael Welles Schock delves into the cultural origins of the romantic narrative archetype, before exploring its use in film, and its ethics and application in screenwriting.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Cinematic Prototype
Michael Welles Schock reveals what A Christmas Carol can teach us about plot structure, and how it illustrates the relationship between narrative conflict and the character arc.
Michael Welles Schock reveals what A Christmas Carol can teach us about plot structure, and how it illustrates the relationship between narrative conflict and the character arc.
Plot Patterns in Screenwriting
Michael Welles Schock explores plot patterns in films, and explains why the 3 act structure is so successful.
Star Wars, The Godfather and Groundhog Day: They’re all the same film! Michael Welles Schock explains why.
What a Story Believes In: The Thematic Argument
Michael Welles Schock provides an introduction to the basic structure behind a story's communication of theme.
By Michael Welles Schock. Theme is an abstract concept by nature, and thus has always been difficult to define or comprehend. To put things most simply, the theme is what the story “believes in.” It contains the underlying values, principles, or beliefs the story intends to express. A clear and recognizable theme will guide the […]
