Justin Kownacki

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Danaerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) in HBO's addictive, must-see TV series, Game of Thrones
Storytelling

What Makes Game of Thrones So Addictive?

Every “must-see” TV show uses some of these addictive story tricks, but only Game of Thrones combined them all to create a runaway hit.

By Justin, 7 yearsJuly 26, 2018 ago
Avengers: Infinity War poster art
Storytelling

Avengers: Infinity War Shows How to Write a Huge Ensemble Story

Why Marvel’s biggest movie yet is a great example of how to write for a large ensemble of characters.

By Justin, 7 yearsApril 28, 2018 ago
Girl reading a book with a strong story hook
Storytelling

3 Worldbuilding Details Your Fantasy Story Needs (and 3 It Doesn’t)

If your story doesn’t hook your audience early, they won’t keep reading. Here are three assets every good story needs, and three more that make readers (okay, me) quit.

By Justin, 7 yearsFebruary 12, 2018 ago
Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa) in Star Wars: A New Hope
Storytelling

How Good Editing Saved Star Wars

From Star Wars to Casablanca, some of Hollywood’s best-loved classics were saved in the edit. Here are three ways editing can make or break a film.

By Justin, 7 yearsFebruary 8, 2018 ago
Stranger Things 2 Episode 1 Netflix Poster
Storytelling

Why Stranger Things 2 Episode 1 Is Perfect Storytelling

Stranger Things 2 Episode 1 is a textbook example of how to kick off a new season of a beloved show. Here’s why its writing and pacing work so well.

By Justin, 8 yearsOctober 30, 2017 ago
Luke Cage, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist are Marvel's Defenders
Storytelling

How to Fix the Storytelling Flaws in Marvel’s Defenders

Marvel’s Defenders has some storytelling problems that could have been avoided. Here’s where it went wrong, and how it could improve in Season Two.

By Justin, 8 yearsOctober 23, 2017 ago
Blade Runner 2049 Poster
Storytelling

The Problem with Blade Runner 2049

Let’s explore the structural flaw that causes the film to falter.

By Justin, 8 yearsOctober 8, 2017 ago
Business Advice

How to Make Webinars That Don’t Suck

I don’t ever want to suffer through another terrible webinar. Are you with me? Good. Let’s fix this.

By Justin, 8 yearsSeptember 28, 2017 ago
Suzanne Ciani, the star of the documentary film A Life in Waves
Storytelling

8 Tips to Hook Your Audience

These tips will help your audience get interested and emotionally attached to your stories fast.

By Justin, 8 yearsAugust 2, 2017 ago
Armchair Sociology

Why Procrastination Is Good for You

Why almost completely screwing up is actually a good thing, and why doing it often is a super power.

By Justin, 8 yearsFebruary 6, 2017 ago

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Popular Posts

  • • What Makes Game of Thrones So Addictive?
  • • This Storytelling Flaw Ruined the New Star Wars Trilogy
  • • Why Does Every Marvel Movie Tell the Same Story?
  • • Cobra Kai: How to Build Character Through Conflict
  • • How Iron Man Created the Formula for Every Marvel Movie

Latest Posts

  • • Worldbuilding and Exposition: 6 Writing Tips from Dune
  • • Writing a Perfect Scene: Bunk vs. Omar in The Wire
  • • Screenwriting Lessons from ALIENS
  • • The Story Problem at the Heart of the Snyder Cut
  • • WandaVision's Biggest Question Gets Deep
  • • Why The Queen's Gambit Is Such Smart Storytelling

Frequent Topics

  • • DC
  • • Game of Thrones
  • • Marvel
  • • Star Wars

What Writing Skill Do You Want to Improve?

  • • Character
  • • Pacing
  • • Plot
  • • Story Structure
  • • Theme
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