8 Comic Book Writing Tips for Effective Storytelling

8 Comic Book Writing Tips for Effective Storytelling

Storytelling is an integral part of any society, and it can come in many different forms: the oral storytelling around the campfire, the novel, picture books, screenplays, movies, and even comic books. Did you know that comic books also require the same essential...
What Is a Prequel? Definition and Examples 

What Is a Prequel? Definition and Examples 

Have you ever happily discovered an additional book to a series you’ve enjoyed, and then found it contains lots of interesting back story? The book might explain a lot of the things that happen later in the series.  Or, you might be watching a movie about...
Flash Forward: Definition, Examples, and How to Write It

Flash Forward: Definition, Examples, and How to Write It

When you read a story or watch a movie, sometimes the scene changes abruptly to something that happens many years down the road. These scenes can offer a glimpse of something that actually will happen, or something that might happen in the future if things remain as...
Author Surrogate: Definition and Examples 

Author Surrogate: Definition and Examples 

Long before digital avatars came on the scene, authors were already putting themselves into their books, sometimes disguised or using a different name.  In literature, when an author projects themselves onto a character (whether or not the reader is aware), it’s...
How to Build Tension and Keep Your Readers Hooked

How to Build Tension and Keep Your Readers Hooked

Tension is one reason readers keep turning pages, even into the wee hours of the night. You know the feeling: I need to find out what happens. Just one more page… Before you know it, the sky is turning red with the sun peeking out from the horizon, and you’re still...
How to Create a Compelling Character Backstory 

How to Create a Compelling Character Backstory 

The best characters feel so three-dimensional that we think of them almost as real people. This happens when writers make the effort to formulate clear backstories for the characters: these characters don’t fall onto the page as blank puppets; they’ve experienced...