The Writer’s Craft – Captivating Catchphrases

(Pensacola, Florida; May 5, 2023,) – "He's dead, Jim," "Make it so," "I'll be back," "Well, gang, it looks like we have another mystery on our hands," "I'm a doctor, not a…" Crafting captivating catchphrases is one of the more enjoyable parts of writing fiction. Catchphrases that click with the public can enter the cultural … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Captivating Catchphrases

The Writer’s Craft – The Winning Formula

(Pensacola, Florida; Jan. 12, 2023,) – The familiar cry often echoes across the hallowed halls of entertainment: this is boring; it's too formulaic! We often disparage disliked books, movies, and TV shows as being 'too formulaic.' However, as writers, we have to ask the question, "What does 'too formulaic' actually mean?” The short answer is … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – The Winning Formula

Sparks1524 Video – 100!

NEW VIDEO!! This is IT! The 100th episode of Sparks1524! Take a moment to see how it all began, and then join me for a brief discussion about the future plans I and my crack staff of one (me!) have in store! Let's celebrate this small, but significant, milestone! https://youtu.be/2QhHSaa1ltk #nathanaelmiller, #sparks1524, #video, #justmythoughts, #travellog, … Continue reading Sparks1524 Video – 100!

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 7—Bonus! Introductions

(Pensacola, Florida; Oct. 28, 2022,) – BONUS! Score! You’ve just stumbled on the bonus seventh part of my six-part series about slaying your audience with the perfect villain! We’ve discussed five factors you need to keep in mind when creating a villain: Characterization Motivations Thematic Opposition Credibility (the villain has to win once in a … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 7—Bonus! Introductions

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 6—The ‘Cool’ Factor

(Pensacola, Florida; Oct. 18, 2022,) – Killing it with the perfect villain is just as critical to good writing as killing it with a great hero is. A story might thrive if the villain is an undeveloped cipher. The hero’s journey, the interaction of the characters, and the exciting events can still create a rip-roaring … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 6—The ‘Cool’ Factor

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 5—The Villain Has to Win Occasionally

(Pensacola, Florida; Sept. 23, 2022,) – The villain has to win, at least occasionally. Creating the perfect villain requires writers to develop them as multifaceted characters with clear motivations, characters who stand in thematic (if not overt) opposition to the hero, but it also requires something else. The villain has to win (at least occasionally) … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 5—The Villain Has to Win Occasionally

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 4—Thematic Opposition

(Pensacola, Florida; Sept. 16, 2022,) – Killing it with the perfect villain is not an overly difficult challenge, but it does require one to ensure several factors are taken into account when building the character. This series has so far looked at two of the five things I believe make a great villain: characterization and … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 4—Thematic Opposition

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 3—Motivation

(Pensacola, Florida; Sept. 9, 2022,) – Slaying your audience with the perfect villain is an aspiration all writers aspire to, be they working in print, on stage, or screen. The villain must have the same care given to his/her/its development as your protagonist. As we move into part 3 of this discussion, let’s look at … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 3—Motivation

The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 2—Characterization

(Pensacola, Florida; August 25, 2022,) – Killing it with the perfect villain is every fiction writer’s dream. All of us dabbling in the realm of fiction yearn to create a villain remembered in that rarified literary firmament along with Darth Vader, Thanos, Lady MacBeth, The White Witch, and the Joker. Conceptualizing, creating, and crafting such … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Killing it with the Perfect Villain, Part 2—Characterization

The Writer’s Craft – Stomping Out the Good Idea Fairy

(Pensacola, Florida; July 28, 2022,) – Writers face few challenges as personal and potentially problematic as the Good Idea Fairy prodding our friends to excitedly suggest ‘a great idea’ for our stories. This situation can be explosive for a number of reasons that have little to do with reason, and everything to do with emotion. … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Stomping Out the Good Idea Fairy