Tag: dramatic tension

Drama: Three Simple Ways to HOOK Audiences

drama, dramatic tension, conflict, how to hook an audience, writing tips, Kristen Lamb

Drama needs to be in all content we create. It’s the perfect human bait, guaranteed to hook audiences faster than cocaine-laced kittens.

When Ideas Collide: Powerful Storms Make Superior Stories

Every story begins with an idea. Alas, stories can only be created when at least two vastly different ideas collide. The place where they meet is the BOOM, much like the weather. Storms erupt because two very different bodies of air meet…and don’t get along. Only one will win out. In the meantime, lots of …

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How to Write a Story from the Ending: Twisted Path to Mind-Blowing End

Now that we’ve discussed the Big Boss Trouble Maker who creates the core story problem in need of resolution, we’re going to tackle…endings. When we authors know our story ending ahead of time, we gain major creative advantage. What is this madness? How can I know the END? Calm down. I’ve been there, too. Which …

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Conflict: Elixir of the Muse for Timeless Stories Readers Can’t Put Down

Conflict is the core ingredient required for story. It is the magical elixir with the raw power to transform a story we think we’ve heard a million times before into something wholly unique and mesmerizing. FYI, there are no new stories, only new ways of telling the same stories. Just getting that out of the …

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How to Intensify Conflict & Deepen Characters—The Wound

Wounds drive how we perceive our world, what we believe we want, and how we will (or won’t) interact with others. This is critical for generating story tension and character arc.