Latest Posts
Lateral Thinking
Lateral thinking is a term that was coined by Edward De Bono, a physician and author, in 1967 that involved the process of looking at problems under a new light to come up with creative and indirect solutions to them. Thinking outside of the box, essentially. This manner of thinking can be adapted to most…
British Comic Books Through the Ages
Previously on my blog I have taken a look at American comic books and delved into how they have adapted to fit certain decades. Something that I would like to do once again, except this time a bit closer to home. British companies have been publishing comic books just as long as others across the…
Comic Book Scripts Versus Film Scripts
Film and comic books are objectively very different mediums that may excel in various aspects of storytelling where the other doesn’t. Yet upon comparing their scripts it is not hard to find writing techniques that are commonly shared between both mediums. This overlap is something I want to explore further by first breaking down what…
American Comic Books Through the Ages
The Birth of the Superhero In 1938 up and coming artists Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster finally brought their childhood fantasy to life with the debut of Superman in the first issue of Action Comics. But the road leading up to that point was not an easy one, as comics – which were mostly reprints…
Comic Book Adaptation: Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-part comic book series, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, that tells the realistic story of a fractured band of superheroes in an alternate timeline to our own. What made the series so influential back in 1985 is Moore’s deconstruction and critique of the superhero genre itself, packed in…
Show, Don’t Tell
‘Show, don’t tell’ is a writing technique that immerses readers into a story by delivering details about the plot, characters and setting through actions and sensory descriptions rather than expiratory fact. It fleshes out narratives in more interesting ways and allows readers to deduce certain bits of information themselves, ultimately keeping them more engaged and…
‘Real’ Dialogue Vs Fictional Dialogue
Dialogue is an integral part of the media we consume, whether it be film, TV or books, it can make or break a piece of entertainment depending on how it is handled. But how does it compare to the real life conversations that you or I may have on a daily basis? That is something…
Character Analysis
Media is full of varied characters that infatuate audiences with their acts of heroism, endearing personality and relatable struggles. But writers don’t always stick the landing with them, as some characters – if not done right – end up feeling like flat, one dimensional machines that occasionally deliver a line. So what makes a great…
Writing Styles In Graphic Novels
Comic books have been around for nearly a century and, in recent decades, have seen a boom in popularity thanks in part to the plethora of film adaptations from big companies like Marvel and DC. Their influence in the comic book world is massively widespread as they shaped the way comic book scripts were written…
An Exploration of Horror and Dark Fantasy
What is Horror? The horror genre is fiction intended to scare audiences with horrific imagery and nightmarish monsters, all in the name of entertainment. It’s twisted I know, but what’s worse is that I – and so many others – adore the genre. Not just because of the terrifying thrills or the gruesome kills, but…
Genre and Gothic Literature
What is Genre? Genre is a category of art defined by its composition of particular styles, themes and content. A movie about a group of unsuspecting teens terrorized by an axe wielding maniac belongs to the horror genre. A novel about a band of heroes trekking across a wondrous land filled with dragons and orcs…
Character Archetypes
Archetypes are a set of universal traits that act as blueprints – passed down through generations of storytellers – for the characters we know and love. They differ from stereotypes (oversimplified and usually negative ideas of a person or thing that is widely believed) and clichés (an event or idea that has been overused to…
Witchers and Witches 