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Holiday gift guide for filmmakers
The holidays are right around the corner! With both Christmas and Chanukah beginning on December 25th, it’s time to secure those last minute gifts for the filmmakers in your life! Here’s a round up of just a few of the…Read the Post
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December resource round up: writing character arcs
One of the most important elements of any story are the characters. Characters can make or break a book or screenplay. Well-developed characters make the difference between a stiff and unrealistic story and a dynamic, captivating one. That’s why this…Read the Post
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Journaling prompts for artists
I love the idea of journaling, but when it actually comes time to put pen to paper, I often don’t know what to write. I know it’s good for you to spend time journaling about your feelings, and as an…Read the Post
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Decision fatigue in ADHD
Have you heard of decision fatigue in people with adhd? Decision fatigue can happen to anyone. When I was a teacher, I felt like I had to make a billion decisions each day, so when I got home the idea…Read the Post
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Morning routines for creatives
Do you have a morning routine? For the longest time, I didn’t. I’d roll out of bed at the last possible minute, throw on clothes, brush my teeth, slap on some SPF, and rush out the door. In my head,…Read the Post
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Practicing gratitude as an artist
Practicing gratitude as an artist There is some solid scientific evidence that practicing gratitude is genuinely good for you. Not only does it benefit social connections and mental well-being, it also seems to impact your physical health. That being said,…Read the Post
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Three ADHD hacks for writers
We’ve talked about ADHD and artists before, but this is my whole life, so I have more to share. I’ve been on a mission to maximize my focus and get stuff done even when there’s a medication shortage (sob) and…Read the Post
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November round up: screenwriting resources
For this month, we’ll be looking at all things screenwriting! Check out these ten free screenwriting resources. Scriptnotes Podcast According to the website: “Each week, screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters,…Read the Post
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Ten horror movie tropes
Ten horror movie tropes If you want to write horror, it’s important to know your tropes. This allows you to either utilize them or subvert them, playing with the audience’s expectations and making something that follows genre conventions but isn’t…Read the Post
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How to romanticize your life
How to romanticize your life I’m sure you’ve seen it all over Tiktok, Instagram, and Pinterest: the girlies are romanticizing their lives. But how, exactly, do you do that? Most of us don’t have the picture-perfect apartments or houses, money…Read the Post
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What is body horror?
What is body horror? For a long time I heard that term used and didn’t understand what, exactly, it described. Body horror, also known as biological horror, is a type–or subgenre–of horror that shows disturbing violations of the human body….Read the Post
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What makes a film a cult classic?
What makes a film a cult classic? You can probably name a few cult classic movies. Rocky Horror Picture Show, Planet 9 from Outer Space, and The Big Lebowski are just a few examples. But what makes a film a…Read the Post
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How to embrace Scorpio Season as a creative
How to embrace Scorpio Season as a creative Scorpios get a bad rap. I would know: I am not only a Scorpio sun, but I actually have SEVEN placements in this misunderstood sign\. I’ve heard all the stereotypes: Scorpios are…Read the Post
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Tips for writing horror
It’s spooky season, so I thought I’d share some of my top tips for writing horror. Horror is one of my favorite genres to work in, and with work, you can find effective ways to keep your audience on the…Read the Post
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Horror writing prompts
Horror writing prompts So you want to write something scary, but you don’t know where to start. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these nine horror writing prompts to get you started! Parasocial. A fan wins a…Read the Post
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Thriller vs horror
As a horror writer, I get a lot of questions about the distinction between thriller and horror movies. My answer sometimes leaves people more confused than before they asked, because the truth is, there isn’t a perfect answer to the…Read the Post
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Spooky date nights at home
Spooky date nights at home Spooky season is here, and for me, that means all things autumn all month long. But I also don’t want to constantly be shelling out money for movie tickets and pumpkin patches. So here are…Read the Post
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Indie horror movies to stream this Halloween
Indie horror movies to stream this Halloween Are you looking to have a spooky, yet cozy, good time on Halloween? Check out these eight indie horror movies currently available to stream or rent! Barbarian (2022) Barbarian made a splash at…Read the Post
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Ten ideas for autumn artist dates
Artist dates are important year-round. We already have a list of some options that might work for you, but here is a list of ten ideas for autumn artist dates so that you can flex your creative muscles and fill…Read the Post
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What is a final girl?
What is a final girl? The final girl is a horror movie trope, specifically drawn from slasher movies. The final girl is the woman or girl who, at the end of the film, is alive to confront or be rescued…Read the Post
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October resource round up: Horror edition
Bloodlist According to their website, Bloodlist is a platform that champions unproduced horror, thriller, dark comedy, science fiction, psychological drama, and dark fantasy screenplays. Previous scripts that have gone into production include Severance, Black Swan, and The Autopsy of Jane…Read the Post
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Writing an anti hero
Writing an anti hero Who do you think of when you hear the word “anti hero?” For me, it’s Bojack from Bojack Horseman. This protagonist isn’t exactly what you can call heroic; he’s selfish, makes bad decisions, and leaves a…Read the Post
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The myth of the tortured artist
Do you feel you have to suffer for your art? The myth of the tortured artist has been around for a very, very long time. Hemingway struggled with alcohol abuse. Van Gogh suffered bouts of mania. Slyvia Plath tragically died…Read the Post
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How does character motivation affect a story’s plot?
How does character motivation affect a story’s plot? We’ve chatted before about creating compelling character arcs; to boil it down, you essentially have to design a series of events that is challenging and compels characters to change. Specifically, you need…Read the Post
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How to write a screenplay
How to write a screenplay When I first started writing screenplays, I felt like I’d entered a whole new world. I’d been writing novels for many years, but screenwriting came with its own set of standards, conventions, and expectations. I…Read the Post
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Celebrate the autumnal equinox as an artist
There are two equinoxes a year: one in the spring and one in autumn. Equinoxes are the two times of year when the Earth’s axis is upright, meaning there is almost an equal amount of daylight and darkness. The autumnal…Read the Post
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Film festivals in the southeast
I live in North Carolina, and sometimes when people find out I live here, they ask about the filmmaking opportunities. The truth is, there are lots of filmmakers who live in the southeast, and we’re great at making opportunities for…Read the Post
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Writing strong character arcs
One thing I used to struggle with in my writing was creating strong character arcs. I knew how to create interesting, compelling characters… but I didn’t know how to make them grow. Over time, I came to realize that this…Read the Post
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Writing grief in fiction
Grief is a universal emotion. Everyone experiences grief at some point in their life, and therefore it makes sense that many works of fiction explore the topic of grief. But how does one go about writing grief in fiction? Regardless…Read the Post
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How to set boundaries with yourself
How to set boundaries with yourself Most people have ways in which they want to grow and improve themselves. Maybe you want to save more money, exercise more, or spend less time scrolling your phone, but you struggle to make…Read the Post