Nicholas C. Rossis

dream-protecting author

The Shape of Stories, according to Kurt Vonnegut

Sep 1, 2023 | Writing

I recently came across this video on Upworthy, where Vonnegut explains the shape of three different types of stories. According to him, any story, from “person gets into trouble” to “boy meets girl” to “Cinderella,” can be summed up on two axes: the Y represents good...

How to Use Irony in Writing

Mar 30, 2023 | Writing

After my host’s sudden passing back in January, I spent a couple of months moving over 100 clients to our new ISP – without any passwords that would let me do so in a seamless way. What ensued was a Sisyphean task of convincing various ISPs to share with...

Looking in the Mirror

Feb 16, 2022 | Writing

I came across a great thread on Facebook the other day and it got me thinking. A (male) writer was asking the following question: I have a female character looking at herself in the mirror. First naked then in a white nightdress which shows her figure. She is a very...

Beware Misguided Writing Advice

Feb 7, 2022 | Writing

Author Anne R. Allen published yesterday a great post titled, 10 Dangerous Critiques: Beware Misguided Writing Advice. In it, she explains how trying to please everybody who beta-reads or critiques your WIP can turn a novel into a kind of jackalope of unrelated parts....

Pixar’s Screenwriting Tips

Jun 30, 2021 | Writing

In my last post, I discussed how to create memorable characters the Pixar way. This one has some more writing tips from No Film School. This one includes several tweets from Director and Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats (@lawnrocket). I hope you find them useful!...

Create Memorable Characters the Pixar Way

Jun 26, 2021 | Writing

No Film School has published some of Pixar’s tips for creating memorable characters. From Woody to Nemo, Pixar’s characters have a unique way of sticking with you, whether it’s due to their hilarious banter or heartbreaking humanity. But what is it...

10 Effective Ways to Avoid Distraction While You Write

Apr 21, 2021 | Writing

As writers, we’ve all struggled with people, thoughts, and objects constantly distracting us while writing. In my case, it’s an energetic 5-year-old who loves interrupting me to show me stuff like the dragon egg she painted as soon as I sit down to...

Back to the Future of Gaming

Feb 9, 2021 | My friends' Guest Posts

This is a guest post by Anastasios Papadopoulos, a full-stack developer with a passion for writing. Back to the Future of Gaming “Video games are going to ruin our lives,” or so many people seem to think (and they may have a point, sort of). If you’re a near-future...

7 Easy Tips to Craft the Perfect Story

Feb 5, 2021 | Writing

This is a guest post by Bella Williams. As an Assignment Expert, Bella delivers online sessions at Expert Assignment Help, helping students with writing essays and assignments. She is the co-founder and education consultant at Top My Grades. Beyond work, you can find...