Critical Analysis

Why My Daughter Will Watch Star vs. The Forces of Evil

Star Butterfly is a magical princess. You've seen it a million times. You've seen girly girls dreaming of love, and you've also seen many "spunky" princesses who "buck the rules." While I love me a spunky, sword-wielding princess, and even don't mind some of the girly girls, it's far more unlikely you've seen a princess… Continue reading Why My Daughter Will Watch Star vs. The Forces of Evil

Writing Techniques

Morsels of Mystery: List of Mystery Subgenres

The mystery genre is about forcing your audience to the edges of their seats by asking them to flex their brain to unravel the clues you've tangled together like Christmas lights or spread out like bread crumbs. But there is a wide array of mystery-based plots, and each has its own unique flavor. Mystery fans… Continue reading Morsels of Mystery: List of Mystery Subgenres

Movie Analysis

Choices Make the Man: An interpretation of Ari Aster’s “Hereditary”

Photo by Jake Blucker on Unsplash Ari Aster’s Hereditary is easily the best horror movie I’ve seen since Get Out, and it’s currently at the top of my favorites list. It’s an examination of mental illness, frayed family dynamics, grief, and the horrifying side of genetics. There’s a ton to unpack in this film. So much that it almost feels like… Continue reading Choices Make the Man: An interpretation of Ari Aster’s “Hereditary”

The Rebel Writer Series, Writing Techniques

How To Head Jump: Properly Implementing Multiple Characters’ Thoughts in Stories

“Don’t head jump” is a command that gets thrown around a lot of Creative Writing 101 classes. It essentially means, don’t allow your reader to view the thoughts and feelings of more than one character in your story, at least not in the same chapter. When characters are talking to each other, you don’t want… Continue reading How To Head Jump: Properly Implementing Multiple Characters’ Thoughts in Stories

Writing Techniques

Literary String Theory Part 1: Multidimensional Characters

Do you fall in love with characters first, or the plot? Characterization has always been my favorite part of reading and writing. A great plot is dulled if I don’t care about the characters undergoing the plot’s hardships. But what makes a phenomenal character like Hermione Granger or Atticus Finch? What does a writer pour… Continue reading Literary String Theory Part 1: Multidimensional Characters

Writing Techniques

Literary String Theory Part 2: Characters Collide

If there is not conflict in your novel, you don’t have a plot. You have nothing for the characters to solve and nothing for the reader to look forward to or dread. Similarly, if your character has no internal conflict, he or she cannot change and thus will have a weak character arc. Now, not… Continue reading Literary String Theory Part 2: Characters Collide