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How ‘The One with The Embryos’ Nails Stakes, Tension & Pay Off

The One With The Embryos (s4, ep12) The One With The Embryos (aka ‘the quiz episode’) is one of my favourite Friends episodes of all time. In fact, I just lovelovelove s4 of the show; it’s probably my favourite season. The trivia contest is hilarious, but other iconic s4 moments include: Ross saying ‘Rachel’ at the altar Monica getting stung by a jellyfish Chandler and Rachel’s fight over the handcuffs in Joanna’s office Phoebe’s pregnancy with triplets Joey saying ‘How you doin’?’ for the first time and of course ‘The Friendly Finger’ (Ross’ way of giving The Finger with two… Read More »How ‘The One with The Embryos’ Nails Stakes, Tension & Pay Off

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Why Female Characters Should Kill More People In Your Story

The REAL Battle of the Sexes Male characters kill all the time in stories, for a myriad of motivations. While Thriller and Horror are obviously the top genres for body count in TV, movies or novels, we may see killings happen in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama and Literary Fiction too. Look, not everyone likes killing in stories and that’s fine. If that’s you, then you may want to skip this article. But in many genres, life or death stakes mean our characters’ lives are on the line … which means characters may be forced to kill. Male killer characters may be… Read More »Why Female Characters Should Kill More People In Your Story

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5 Tips For Pushing Past The Fear Of Never Getting Published

“What If No One Ever Publishes My Novel?” Worried that your novel might never get published? You’re in good company. Almost every writer I know has stared down that fear – and yes, sometimes it actually happens. It’s normal for a manuscript to be rejected dozens of times (at least!). Rejection tends to sting the most when we’re just starting out. Failing to get noticed right away can feel devastating, or like the universe is giving you a signal. You might even think: if writing is really my path, wouldn’t I get published immediately? Here’s the reality: a “no” doesn’t… Read More »5 Tips For Pushing Past The Fear Of Never Getting Published

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The Genius of THE SHINING: Foreshadowing and Dramatic Irony Done Right

Happy Halloween From B2W The Shining is one of my favourite movies of all time. You may have noticed my fab poster in the background of my Zooms, livestreams and selfies (below). One of the reasons it is one of my favourites is because it was part of my own writing journey. I first watched the movie when I was a teenager. I was a strange kid who loved to watch things over and over in a loop. In doing so, I realised there were a variety of ‘giveaways’ of what would happen in the story. I was confused at… Read More »The Genius of THE SHINING: Foreshadowing and Dramatic Irony Done Right

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Mastering Deep Third POV: How to Write Stories That Feel Fully Immersive

All About Deep Third POV First up: NO, deep third POV is not some kind of porno act. Wash your brain out with soap. Outrageous. It is however something you’re going to want to know how to do if you’re writing a novel. Deep Third POV is a type of third person perspective (she, he, they) that creates an immersive experience. This is because Deep Third POV closely follows a single character’s consciousness, thoughts, sensory experiences and emotions. In short, the reader feels like they’re ‘behind the character’s eyes’ and even inside their body. Think of it like a video… Read More »Mastering Deep Third POV: How to Write Stories That Feel Fully Immersive

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The Curse of Plot Armour: Why Some Characters Can’t Die (and Why It Matters)

What Is Plot Armour? Plot armour is when a character cannot die in a story, no matter what happens to them. It’s … The smooth-talking hero who survives falling off skyscrapers, cliffs, out of planes without a parachute Villains who appear to be dead, yet inexplicably come back to life Kickass hotties who can stop bullets hitting them by being super-fast Characters with supernatural or scientific abilities that stop them dying (including superheroes) Hitmen who have a ‘bulletproof suit’  (hello, literal plot armour in John Wick 4!) Plot armour is most obvious in horror, fantasy or science fiction, though it… Read More »The Curse of Plot Armour: Why Some Characters Can’t Die (and Why It Matters)

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5 Pitch Deck FAILS That Make Industry Pros Say, ‘I’m Out’

Pitch Deck FAILS I’ve seen a LOT of pitch deck fails in my time as a script editor here at B2W. And whether it’s film funds, script labs or co-production markets, the same problems show up again and again. Here are 5 red flags that make professionals quietly close your deck before you’ve even got to the good bits. Ready? Let’s go! 1) Opening with a bloody quote Look, I get it: you love storytelling. You’re deep, poetic, meaningful. Maybe even a bit mystical. But that’s not what your pitch deck is for!! Agents, investors, broadcasters, producers want clarity and… Read More »5 Pitch Deck FAILS That Make Industry Pros Say, ‘I’m Out’

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6 Top Tips For Writing About Controversial Topics

All About Writing Controversial Topics Writing about controversial topics can feel like walking through a minefield. One wrong step and the internet might explode. These 6 tips on writing controversial topics don’t guarantee that the internet won’t explode. However, the points below gave me the confidence to write about it and even publish the book, Until the Walls Come Down. My novel is a story about a Jewish Israeli woman who discovers her childhood home in Jaffa used to belong to her Palestinian husband’s family. Here’s what I learned navigating the very real – and potentially controversial – elements of my… Read More »6 Top Tips For Writing About Controversial Topics

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Next Level Dialogue: How to Make Your Characters Speak With Power & Purpose

NEWSFLASH: Dialogue Needs Power & Purpose! The purpose of dialogue is consistently underestimated by writers. This in turn saps its power in many spec screenplays and unpublished novels. Yet dialogue is one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal when done right. But too often it’s done wrong … This means dialogue may end up feeling cheesy, expositional or even downright cringey. So, how to avoid this on our novels and screenplays? I’ve dug deep to put dialogue under the microscope … ready? Let’s go! 1)  Understand The Purpose Of Dialogue Many authors and screenwriters misunderstand the purpose… Read More »Next Level Dialogue: How to Make Your Characters Speak With Power & Purpose

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Happy Pride Month! Top 10 Queer Women In Movies And TV

Top 10 Queer Women It’s Pride month, which means queer representation is on the menu here at Bang2write. My Top 10 female character rundowns are super-popular on this site, yet I realised I don’t have any about queer women. Oops! Consider my wrist slapped for this massive oversight. But before I share my faves, a disclaimer of sorts. “iT’s gAy NoT qUeEr!!” Okay, let’s get one thing straight (arf).  Yes, some older members of the LGBTQ+ community still find the word ‘queer’ painful. For them, it brings back memories of the word being weaponised in the ’80s. That hurt is… Read More »Happy Pride Month! Top 10 Queer Women In Movies And TV

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How To Write A Synopsis For Your Screenplay Or Novel

Why Writers Still Need The Traditional Synopsis (Yes, Really!) Let’s get one thing straight upfront, Bang2writers … When it comes to submissions, the traditional synopsis is still very much a thing. It’s true, I’ve advocated for one page pitches A LOT on this site (you can grab a free reference guide, HERE) … But  sometimes you just can’t beat a good old-fashioned traditional synopsis. I know, I know. You’d rather chew glass than try and summarise your 90,000-word novel or your 120-page screenplay in just one or two pages. But here’s the kicker: agents, publishers, and producers EXPECT it. Like… Read More »How To Write A Synopsis For Your Screenplay Or Novel

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3 Top Tips For Writing A Likeable Character In Your Script Or Novel

So, You Want To Write A Likeable Character? A genuinely likeable character can be hard to achieve in your novel or screenplay. In the 2020s, most characters in books, TV shows and movies tend to be antiheroes. This is because target readers and audiences enjoy shades of grey in their characters. However, that doesn’t have to mean writers can’t write a likeable character. In hard times, such characters can be a real comfort to read and watch. Here’s 3 top tips to ensuring your characters are likeable … Ready? Let’s go! TIP #1: Kindness WITHOUT An Agenda A likeable character… Read More »3 Top Tips For Writing A Likeable Character In Your Script Or Novel

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