Story Structure

Showing 731 - 740 of 1516 results

The Hero’s Biggest Fear

September 4, 2017

In every good story, the hero has a fear that he or she hopes will never happen. That’s why you need to make sure that...

The Unsolvable Dilemma

September 1, 2017

What makes a story particularly fascinating is when the hero gets him for herself trapped in an unsolvable dilemma created by the hero. In “Captain...

The Symbol of Hope in Act III

August 29, 2017

Act I poses a question that finally gets answered in Act III. In romantic comedies, Act I poses the question on whether the hero will...

Follow the Symbol of Hope (Act IIa and Act IIb)

August 26, 2017

A typical 120-minute movie can be divided into four Acts of 30 minutes each: Act I Act IIa Act IIb Act III In Act I,...

Follow the Symbol of Hope (Act I)

August 23, 2017

Initially, the hero and villain have no idea the other person even exists. To bring the two of them together, the villain must introduce something...

The Act II Structure

August 20, 2017

The beginning of Act I poses an initial question. Then the end of Act III answers that question. In “Die Hard,” the beginning of Act...

Make Us Care About the Hero

August 17, 2017

Watch “Detroit” and you’ll see a movie that feels more like a documentary than a story. As a result, “Detroit” explains what might have happened...

“Writing Scenes for Screenplays” Released

August 14, 2017

“Writing Scenes for Screenplays” is an updated and retitled edition of my previous “Making a Scene” book about writing scenes. This updated version includes more...

Execution, Not Ideas

August 11, 2017

Watch “Nine Lives” and “The Emoji Movie” to see a good idea poorly executed. In “Nine Lives,” a selfish, businessman gets turned into a cat...

Stripping Away Emotional Meaning

August 8, 2017

There’s a pattern among bad movies like “King Arthur” and “The Dark Tower.” Instead of setting up information that pays off earlier, bad movies simply...

About Wallace Wang

First place winner in Scriptapalooza’s 2023 screenwriting competition for the supernatural horror screenplay titled “Nightmares From a Past Life”. Author of “The 15 Minute Movie Method”, “Story Starter”, and “Writing Scenes for Screenplays” in addition to over 50 computer books. Writer of “Three of a Kind”, a situation comedy produced by San Diego State University’s film class that won a student Emmy award. Designer of the board game “Orbit War”, published by Steve Jackson Games, that simulates satellite warfare in the near future.