Skip to content

psychology

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

Share this:

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

Share this:

Into The Spec Pile: 12 Quick Tips On Making Your Submission Stand Out

Into The Spec Pile I’ve been diving into the spec pile of screenplays and novels for 20+ years now. ‘Spec’ is short for ‘speculative’, meaning no one in the industry has asked the writer to create that story. Instead, the writers have done it themselves ‘on spec’. I always call it the SPEC pile rather than the more common ‘slush pile’. To me, ‘spec pile’ is much more neutral, whereas ‘slush pile’ seems very derogatory. It is essential to remember that ANY story – script or novel – is someone’s hopes and dreams. However, I also like to shine a… Read More »Into The Spec Pile: 12 Quick Tips On Making Your Submission Stand Out

Share this:

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

Share this:

5 Steps To Writing Success (Or Why Optimism Bias Kills Your Chances)

What Is ‘Optimism Bias’? Optimism bias is the tendency of an individual to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the possibility of negative events. I see it all the time in writers, who may feel their masterpiece novel or screenplay will get picked up right away … and when they don’t, they get VERY downhearted. All of us are vulnerable to optimism bias, by the way. It’s very easy to get carried away and imagine our futures accepting Oscars, seeing our books on shelves, our TV shows on Netflix, or movie posters in our mind’s eye! What’s more,… Read More »5 Steps To Writing Success (Or Why Optimism Bias Kills Your Chances)

Share this:

Stuck On Act 2? 5 Tips To Take Your Story Towards A Great Ending

The Dreaded Act 2 ‘Slump’ Screenwriter or author, many – if not most? – writers fear Act 2. Lots of Bang2writers I’ve worked one-to-one with label it ‘The Wasteland’! It’s not hard to see why. While Act 1 is full of promise, plus Act 3 is the ‘wrap up’, so it’s easy (and normal!) to stall in Act 2. Many writers stall because they’re not entirely sure what Act 2 is for. So, breaking it down, Act 2 is for … Escalation of the conflict (with characters ‘climbing walls, each one bigger than the last‘) Development of character arcs, so… Read More »Stuck On Act 2? 5 Tips To Take Your Story Towards A Great Ending

Share this:

3 Common Problems Writers Have Getting Words On The Page

Having Issues Getting Words On The Page? If you’re having issues getting words on the page, you’re not alone. It’s probably one of the most common laments I hear from screenwriters and authors. It’s so common as to be NORMAL, with even pro writers wrestling with the page too. The good news is, B2W can help – especially if you’ve found yourself thinking any of these … Ready? Let’s go! 1) “I don’t have enough time to write.” Do you have a day job, a disability, mental health issues, or neurodivergence, money problems, kids or other caring commitments (or maybe… Read More »3 Common Problems Writers Have Getting Words On The Page

Share this:

How NOT To Write at Home (Unless You Enjoy Back Pain and Meltdowns)

The Truth About Writing At Home Ah, the dream: pyjama-clad brilliance, coffee in hand, your genius pouring out between bites of leftover takeout. Writing from home sounds idyllic … until it isn’t. The truth? “Freedom” becomes flailing, the couch becomes a chiropractor’s nightmare, and somehow your word count is still zero after three hours of “getting in the zone.” Let’s bust the myth of the home-writing utopia and talk about the chaos it actually breeds. Because unless you enjoy back pain, creative paralysis, and emotionally bonding with your cat more than your screenplay, it’s time for some real talk. 1)… Read More »How NOT To Write at Home (Unless You Enjoy Back Pain and Meltdowns)

Share this:

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

Share this:

3 Ways Anti-Wokists Are Right About Storytelling In The 2020s

Let’s Talk about So-Called ‘Anti-Wokists’ ‘Anti-wokists’ are those voices in the culture wars claiming stories have become “too political.” They complain that writers are prioritising agendas over quality. They may say that entertainment has lost its way altogether. Let’s get one thing clear first: no, I have not lost or changed my mind. I believe in inclusion, authentic representation, and thoughtful storytelling. (It would be bonkers if I didn’t, I literally wrote an entire book on this!). But I also believe in looking critically at all perspectives … Yes, even the ones we fundamentally disagree with. (Because, obviously – on… Read More »3 Ways Anti-Wokists Are Right About Storytelling In The 2020s

Share this:

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

Share this:

10 Brutal Writing Lessons You’ll Wish You Learned Sooner (I’m Not Kidding)

10 Brutal Writing Lessons I’m not a fan of the term ‘brutal honesty’. This is because too often, the person being honest is paying more heed to the brutality than the honesty. Yuk. No thanks! That said, sometimes we all need a hardcore reality check. This is especially the case in screenwriting, filmmaking and publishing. There’s so much romantic BS and myth-making going on in these industries, it can be difficult to see that reality. I’ve made it my life’s work to demystify the spec pile, the process and the industry. With that in mind, here’s 10 brutal writing lessons… Read More »10 Brutal Writing Lessons You’ll Wish You Learned Sooner (I’m Not Kidding)

Share this: