Why it’s Important for Reoccurring Characters to Inhabit your World Why it’s Important for Reoccurring Characters to Inhabit your World By Megan Cutler | February 5, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment Writing any story involves a complex balancing act between various different elements. Plot and pacing are two of the bigger ones, so they receive a lot of conversation. But lots of things contribute to the overall quality of the composition. Atmosphere is also important, and usually balanced according to individual scenes. Characters are another of … Read More Read More
The Challenges of Writing Strong Female Characters The Challenges of Writing Strong Female Characters By Megan Cutler | November 8, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment People have been talking about strong female characters for a long time. It’s become something of a buzzword since I started reading as a teenager. But what does it mean? In the beginning, I believe the idea of a strong female character was any woman who wasn’t a damsel in distress, a character granted their … Read More Read More
Three Ways to Prevent a Story from Stagnating Three Ways to Prevent a Story from Stagnating By Megan Cutler | September 6, 2021 | Comments 2 comments It’s hard to let go of a story, especially a long one. You get attached to the characters and the world they live in. As a reader, putting down the final installment of a series feels like losing a friend. As a writer, it’s even harder since you eat, sleep and breathe the details of … Read More Read More
The Difference Between Narrative Style and Writing Method The Difference Between Narrative Style and Writing Method By Megan Cutler | May 27, 2019 | Comments 1 comment In the wake of Game of Thrones Season 8 there have been a number of well-reasoned discussions about the differences between plotting and pantsing. And how switching between the two mid-narrative might be a source of trouble. I highly recommend this Twitter thread by Daniel Silvermint. Also this video by Jesse Cox. Both delve into … Read More Read More
Stories Should Sometimes Make Us Uncomfortable Stories Should Sometimes Make Us Uncomfortable By Megan Cutler | May 7, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment Shortly after the release of Mad Max; Fury Road, a friend of mine posted a lengthy Facebook diatribe about why she disliked it. The fact that I loved it and she didn’t has never really bothered me (I don’t believe my friends need to have the same opinions I do). But her reasons for disliking … Read More Read More
4 Annoying Story Tropes I Want to Kill 4 Annoying Story Tropes I Want to Kill By Megan Cutler | April 18, 2016 | Comments 4 comments Our favorite pastimes are full of tropes and cliches. It’s inevitable. Stories fall into predicable patterns. Not all tropes are bad, but it takes skill to make them feel original. And since I’m a romantic sap at heart, there are plenty of tropes I’ll willingly follow. But there are a few that aren’t just eye-rolling, … Read More Read More
Blame the Internet Blame the Internet By Megan Cutler | January 25, 2016 | Comments 0 Comment I’ve read a staggering number of articles lately about how technology is destroying the world. Studies show that people are ‘addicted’ to connectivity, unable to disconnect and walk away. Studies also show that children who grow up with this technological addiction have a harder time empathizing with their fellow human beings. Rather than hailing the … Read More Read More
The Power of Love The Power of Love By Megan Cutler | February 9, 2015 | Comments 1 comment Growing up, we awakened at the fun-filled hour of five AM so that our mom could take us to day care in time to get to work. I don’t remember much from those haze-filled hours where I rolled out of bed and stumbled down the stairs after several attempts to roll over and go back … Read More Read More
Through the Wormhole Through the Wormhole By Megan Cutler | December 8, 2014 | Comments 0 Comment I’ve written a lot about my favourite sci-fi shows and the lessons they’ve taught me. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Stargate SG1. I loved all ten seasons of the show, and I’m still a bit sour over the way the Sci-fi channel dropped it just before they decided it was a good idea … Read More Read More
To Boldly Go To Boldly Go By Megan Cutler | March 24, 2014 | Comments 4 comments I mentioned a few weeks ago that Star Trek, in many of its incarnations, is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. One of my first blog posts detailed the inspiration and lessons I picked up from watching Doctor Who. When I stop to think about it, Star Trek has taught me so much more. … Read More Read More