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Welcome to my blog where I explore what makes stories work, why they're so important to us, and share other thoughts about writing and life.

A while ago I had this idea to create an online writing space called The Creative Kind to help people connect, share, and grow as writers. Only, I never figured out how to make that work, but I made this blog and thought I'd include it here.

Common Character Arcs Part Two: The Different Types of Negative Arcs

Remembering that character arcs are all about inner change, there are many stories where the protagonist fails to change, or changes for...

Carrie Nelson

Aug 13, 20214 min read

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Today is Rudy's 7th birthday! He's the only thing I love in this world more than writing, and stories, and writing about stories. . ....

Carrie Nelson

Aug 4, 20211 min read

Avatar the Last Airbender: A Nearly Perfect Show

Before Avatar leaves Netflix, I'm trying to get all my friends to watch it. It's not just a kids show, I tell them. It's really, really...

Carrie Nelson

Jul 21, 20213 min read

The Dark Knight and The Relationship between Dialogue and Theme

When I mention the movie The Dark Knight and dialogue, which quotes first come to mind? Is it this one? Or perhaps this one? Or perhaps...

Carrie Nelson

Jul 9, 20213 min read

Common Screenwriting Mistakes Part II: Action Lines

The second element in a screenplay is the action line. This is sometimes called description, direction, or just action, and it describes...

Carrie Nelson

Jun 11, 20213 min read

Common Character Arcs Part One: The Different Types of Positive Arcs

This summer I'm teaching a workshop on common character arcs, and as I prepare for it, I'm wondering if I have anything new to add to the...

Carrie Nelson

Jun 2, 20217 min read

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions: The Thing Your Character Needs

While a story's plot may be shaped by the thing your character wants, it's meaning comes from the thing your character needs. It's less...

Carrie Nelson

May 30, 20211 min read

The Lie My Character Believes: A Personal Essay

Using the screenwriting principle of "the lie your character believes" to try and better understand my life.

Carrie Nelson

May 8, 20213 min read

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions: The Thing Your Character Wants

Another common screenwriting term that's used by many professional storytellers is the main character's want. The want is also called the...

Carrie Nelson

Apr 23, 20212 min read

Show Don't Tell and What Fleabag Can Teach Us about Doing Both Well

How to show and tell in screenwriting by looking at Fleabag as an example.

Carrie Nelson

Apr 10, 20214 min read

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Common Character Arcs Part Two: The Different Types of Negative Arcs

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Avatar the Last Airbender: A Nearly Perfect Show

The Dark Knight and The Relationship between Dialogue and Theme

Common Screenwriting Mistakes Part II: Action Lines

Common Character Arcs Part One: The Different Types of Positive Arcs

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions: The Thing Your Character Needs

The Lie My Character Believes: A Personal Essay

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions: The Thing Your Character Wants

Show Don't Tell and What Fleabag Can Teach Us about Doing Both Well