Justin Kownacki

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perception

Storytelling

Scandal, Star Wars, and Being “Out of Character”

Why some choices can seem so out of character, they leave fans of stories like Scandal and Star Wars feeling betrayed.

By Justin, 5 yearsApril 24, 2018 ago
John Larroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll, Harry Anderson, Charles Robinson, and Marsha Warfield as the cast of Night Court
Storytelling

In Defense of Night Court and Other Guilty Pleasures

Here’s why some media gets called a “guilty pleasure,” and why we need to stop saying that.

By Justin, 5 yearsApril 17, 2018 ago
Daniel Kaluuya as Chris in Jordan Peele's Oscar winner Get Out
Storytelling

How Jordan Peele Changed Get Out from Script to Screen

Compare the biggest changes between Jordan Peele’s screenplay for Get Out and his finished film.

By Justin, 5 yearsMarch 7, 2018 ago
Nick Foles and Tom Brady after Super Bowl LII
Storytelling

The Identity Crisis That Defines Every Sports Story Ever Written

When Nick Foles and the Eagles defeated Tom Brady and the Patriots to win Super Bowl LII, it exposed the fragile “truth” behind every sports narrative.

By Justin, 5 yearsFebruary 5, 2018 ago
Luke, Leia, Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose, Kylo Ren, and the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Armchair Sociology

17 Storytelling Moments That Defined 2017

From Donald Trump to The Last Jedi, here are 17 of the stories that defined us politically, culturally, scientifically, financially, and socially in 2017.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 19, 2017 ago
Tapping a pencil is writer's block personified, by Rennett Stowe
Storytelling

The Secret to Never Getting Writer’s Block Again

Writer’s block is every storyteller’s worst nightmare. Here’s how to retrain your brain to get through it, including tips for some of the most common cases.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 7, 2017 ago
2017 Social Media Survey Results and App Icons
Social Media

2017 Social Media Survey Results

I asked my readers 15 questions about their social media habits in 2017. Here’s what they love, what they hate, and what they wish would improve.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 2, 2017 ago
Miguel and his guitar in Pixar's COCO
Storytelling

The Surprising Theme in Pixar’s Coco

For a hero’s journey story, Pixar’s Coco has an unusual character arc… but its underlying theme is even more surprising.

By Justin, 5 yearsNovember 25, 2017 ago
Dinner
Armchair Sociology

Your Awkward Holiday Conversation Survival Guide

Here’s how to keep your next family gathering from turning into a minefield of awkward conversations.

By Justin, 5 yearsNovember 22, 2017 ago
Tegan and Sara
Armchair Sociology

Why Representation Matters in Storytelling

How many reflections of yourself do you see in the world? Here’s why the stories we tell, and who gets to tell their story, is so important.

By Justin, 5 yearsNovember 13, 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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